rs a clear view of the attacking force when the sun set. They
posted sentries, and stood to their arms, expecting to be attacked.

As soon as night had fallen the buccaneers weighed anchor. A bright moon
was shining, and by the moonlight the ships steered seaward under bare
poles. As they came abreast of the castle on the gentle current of the
ebb, they loosed their sails to a fair wind blowing seaward. At the same
moment, while the top-sails were yet slatting, Captain Morgan fired
seven great guns "with bullets" as a last defiance. The Spaniards
dragged their cannon across the fortress, "and began to fire very
furiously," without much success. The wind freshened, and as the ships
drew clear of the narrows they felt its force, and began to slip through
the water. One or two shots took effect upon them before they drew out
of range, but "the Pirates lost not many of their men, nor received any
considerable damage in their ships." They hove to at a distance of a
mile from the fort in order to send a boat in with a number of the
prisoners. They then squared their yards, and stood away towards
Jamaica, where they arrived safely, after very heavy weather, a few days
later. Here they went ashore in their stolen velvets and silks to spend
their silver dollars in the Port Royal rum shops. Some mates of theirs
were ashore at that time after an unlucky cruise. It was their pleasure
"to mock and jeer" these unsuccessful pirates, "often telling them: Let
us see what money you brought from Comana, and if it be as good silver
as that which we bring from Maracaibo."

_Note._--On his return from Maracaibo, Morgan gave out that he had
met with further information of an intended Spanish attack on
Jamaica. He may have made the claim to justify his actions on the
Main, which were considerably in excess of the commission Modyford
had given him. On the other hand, a Spanish attack may have been
preparing, as he stated; but the preparations could not have gone
far, for had the Spaniards been prepared for such an expedition
Morgan's Panama raid could never have succeeded.

_Authorities._--Exquemeling's "History of The Bucaniers of America";
Exquemeling's "History" (the Malthus edition), 1684. Cal. State
Papers: West Indian and Colonial Series.

For my account of Porto Bello I am indebted to various brief
accounts in Hakluyt, and to a book entitled "A Description of the
Spanish Islands,