-clothes, a three-cornered hat on his head, and a silver-mounted
sword by his side. I did not expect to encounter such a personage in so
out-of-the-way and rough-and-ready sort of a place.

"May I ask, sir, to what cause we are indebted for the honour of a visit
from the King of England's ships?" said he, bowing low.

I thought that there was more of mock humility than of respect in his
manner, though. I delivered the message the captain had given me.

"Certainly, sir, certainly," replied my friend, smiling: "the arguments
you use are incontrovertible under our present circumstances. I doubt
not that they will make all the inhabitants of this place true and
faithful servants of King George."

I was rather amused than offended with his manner, and was pleased that
I had to deal with a gentleman instead of a lout.

"Do not let us weigh the force of the arguments, sir," I replied. "I
shall be perfectly satisfied if I have your word that you will not allow
any attempt to be made to molest our watering party, and will collect
for us any provisions we require."

I gave him a list the purser had supplied me with.

"All your demands shall be complied with. You have my word for it,
sir," said he, bowing as before.

This matter being settled, I pulled back to the ship. The watering
place was some little way from the town. The signal was made for the
boats to take the watering party on shore. It was considered necessary
at the same time, as a precautionary measure, to send a strong body of
men on shore to protect the others, and, accordingly, a hundred marines
and two hundred seamen from the three ships were told off for that
purpose. We certainly had rather a warlike than a peaceable aspect as
the squadron of boats made for the shore.

We were met, as we landed, by our friend the mayor with a flag of truce.
He came to inquire why we approached in so warlike a guise. Mr
Willis, who commanded the party, replied that, while we did not wish to
injure others, we always liked to be in a position to take care of
ourselves. Satisfied with this answer the mayor took his departure. A
wood was before us. A succession of sandy hummocks were between it and
the shore. Among them we made our bivouac. The spring from which we
were to fill our casks was on the borders of the wood.

According to rule, as we were in an enemy's country, we placed the usual
lines of sentries, while the seamen, as rapidly as they could, filled