University of Virginia Library

3. PART III.
THE CONCLUSION OE THE CAPTAIN'S STORY..

`After we had cleared the guard-ship which a few moments afterwards
opened her fire upon a Portuguese brigantine on our quarter instead
of upon us, the fort on the point began to blaze away, but not
knowing exactly what to fire at, her shot did more mischief than it did
our vessel.'

`I am surprised,' I remarked, on hearing his extraordinary account,
`at your remarkable escape. I remember how well guarded the harbor
was; that it was crowded with vessels of the enemy; that the entrance
was not a quarter of a mile across, a third of which was taken
up by the huge hulk of the guard-ship, with a fort on either shore. It
was a great risk.'

`Not greater than remaining behind. Besides you must not forget
the beautiful Buenos Ayrean and the perils from which I rescued her,
as well as my ship and cargo. One will do a great deal where a lovely
woman is interested,' added the Captain with a mixture of sentiment
and courage.'

`And for one so eminently beautiful as Senorita Garcia.'

`Yes. Well, we got but one shot from the guard ship which passed
through the fore topsail, and two shots from the fort, one of which
knocked our starboard cat-head overboard and the other glanced along
the main yard, splintering a place six feet long and parting the earing.
The wind now blew stronger as we cleared the land, and the ship went
bowling along with every thing drawing at the rate of seven knots.—
We rapidly left the harbor and its lights far behind us, for they kept
up an irregular hammering away from the fort for half an hour after we
were safely beyond gun shot, probably at the other vessels coming out
—two of which only escaped. You remember the British frigate
`Dorris.'

`Commanded by Sir John Sinclair? She lay at anchor in the outer
roads, six miles from town.'

`Yes. Well I soon came up with her, and on account of the shoal
water had to run pretty close to her. I was hailed and gave my ship's
name and rounded to under her stern, and went on board. Sir John
whom I knew was in his birth but was called and after expressing his
surprise at seeing me at that time, invited me into his state room, where
I communicated to him what I had learned in relation to the blockade.
He was very indignant and swore if a single British merchant-man was
detained he would lay his frigate before the town and cannonade it.—
I advised him, as there was yet four hours to daylight, to send in to
the Captain's of the merchant-men and give them orders to get out
the best way they could. I understood afterwards that he went directly
on shore—waited on General D— before he was up, and demanded
and obtained permits for the vessels to depart before the blockade
should be enforced. After taking a glass of wine with Sir John and
his `First,' I returned on board my ship. I found Senorita Garcia
awaiting me on the deck, very much alarmed at my delay, and fearful
of our being pursued. Her fears were not without foundation as I
very soon discovered. I had hardly filled away when my mate asked
me to look astern in the direction of the port. I took my glass and

saw plainly a large ship standing out and stretching after us. I could
not tell whether she was a large sized merchant-man or a ship of war.
I resolved, however, to act on the safest side, and gave orders to have
every thing set that would hold wind. I had not been running in this
way more than twenty minutes and was not more than two leagues
from the frigate Dorris, when the look out in the bows called out suddenly,
`sail ho.'

`Where away?' I asked.

`Dead ahead. There's two sir. The other a point off the lee bow.'

`I sprang forward, and standing on the heel of the bowsprit, saw
not a mile distant two vessels directly ahead. I well knew the river
was full of cruizers, and it was the part of discretion for me to believe
these to be such and act accordingly. I stood on for a few minutes,
till I was able to make them out to be two large ships, laying to within
a half a mile of each other, but whether vessels of war or not I could not
tell. But taking it for granted that merchant vessels would be likely
to be in a hurry in such dangerous waters and could have no business
laying to in a seven knot breeze, I made up my mind that they were
a part of old Admiral Lobo's fleet, which was in the river, though I
supposed lower down. So I took the bearing of both with the compass,
and giving my mate the helm I took my station on the heel of the bowsprit
and directed him how to steer so as to give the suspicious fellows
an equal birth on either side of my ship.

`We were now within half a mile of them. The firing in the direction
of the town had ceased, and the ship which had followed us out
was scarcely visible astern. I had, therdfore, nothing to fear save from
these two bull-dogs that lay in my path. Confident that they had no
more knowledge of my character than I of their's, I kept boldly on,
keeping a hair-line between them.

`Steady,' said I to the mate.

`Steady it is!' `Port a little!' `Port a little!' answered Brown
in his deep voice. `As you are!' `As we are.' `Starboard!'

`Starboard, 'tis!' I now made them out to be both ships of war.—
One of them was a large frigate and the other a corvette. Both of them
were under their three topsails with the main laid to the mast, and with
jibs and spankers set. I now went aft and sent Senorita Garcia to her
state room, who left the deck with reluctance, wishing with noble generosity
to share the danger, `that,' as she said, `menaced her deliverers!'
`Brown, you might as well sit down on the deck and steer,' said I,
`we are likely to have a shot if we don't heave to, which I have no intention
of doing. I wouldn't like to have you made a head shorter.'—
`Hadn't I better go below and keep the lady company, Sir?' said the
mate dryly. `I shall stand and steer, Sir!'

`Well, then have your own way.' I then sent below every man I did
not want on deck and took my place in the weather fore-rigging.—
The ships were now nearly abeain, looking dark and sullen, and showing
no signs of motion. Each was a quarter of a mile from me on either
bow. I had every thing set, to royals and lower and top mast
studdensails, and looked as if I was making the best of my legs.—
They doubtless thought so too; for all at once the frigate was illumined
with a flash like lightning, and then came a report that told me they
had no intention of letting me go past without scraping an acquaintance
with me. The gun was, I well knew for me to heave to. But I
only replied by giving an order to Brown to keep her `steady.' In a

moment afterwards came another gun with a sharp, hard report which
told me that it was shotted. The missile went between my main and
mizzen not ten feet from the deck, and the next instant I heard it distinctly
plunge pung! into the ribs of the corvette opposite. The frigate
evidently saw that her shot endangered her consort and waited
until we had passed out of range and then she opened her bow guns
smartly. The corvette followed her example and for a few minutes I
was exposed to as heavy a fire as I should ever wish to be. I owed
my escape from entire destruction, from being fairly blowed out of
water partly to the darkness of the night, the constant onward motion
of my vessel and the fact that they could at first only bring their bow
guns to bear upon me.

As it was I was hulled in half a dozen places; my main yard was
shot out of the slings and came down upon the deck, the lee quarter
boat was stove, and three of my men were wounded between decks,
not one being hurt on deck except Brown whose right arm was severely
bruised by a splinter; but he dryly said he could steer quite as well
with his left and would not quit the wheel. Running as we were at
full eight knots an hour I was soon beyond reach of their shot. The
corvette now ceased firing, and filling away began to make sail. In a
few minutes she was covered with clouds of canvass and came after us
barking from her bow-guns as savage as a mastiff. The frigate, after
firing a little longer and finding she did not disable us, imitated the
example of the corvette and also made sail. By this time I was half a
mile ahead, and had every way the advantage. Rapidly increasing the
distance between us, in an hour I was two mile ahead of them and at
daylight I had the pleasure of seeing them a league astern. I then set
the American colors and fired one only eighteen pounder gun to windward,
and bade them a good morning.

`I afterwards understood that Admiral Lobo had placed his fleet in
the river three days before with the intention of turning back all vessels
even before the blockade should be enforced, and that there were
two vessels of the squadron, which amounted to sixty sail, stretching
from shore to shore where the river is about sixty-five miles wide, laying
to or anchored a mile or so apart. So you see I have fairly run the
guantlet of this illegal blockade.”

`It was a bold act.'

`What could I do! Well, all that day I kept on, the frigate and
corvette giving up the chase; and about four in the afternoon I discovered
a fleet of a dozen sail ahead. With my glass from the fore top I
made out the Buenos Ayrean colors, and knew they were friends!'

`It was admiral Browne with his squadron going down to attack Lobo,
was it not?'

`Yes. He had heard this morning as he lay below Ensanada, by a
Baltimore schooner that had run through the fleet, that Lobo had
brought his squadron up. Whereupon he resolved to drive him from
his position. He had but a single sloop of war, that had once been a
New York merchantman, four brigs, a half a dozen schooners and gun
boats. But Browne never counted guns or numbers. He possessed
that indomitable energy which conquers where it wills to. It was just
sun-set as we met his fleet. I came to and waited for the flag ship to
approach, when I was hailed by the admiral in person, told him what
had transpired. He requested me to come on board. He met me at
the gangway, and gave me a hearty shake of the hand and invited me

into his cabin. I then gave him an account of my escape and where I
had left the two Brazilians. He told me that he was on his way to break
the blockade, and felt confident that he should do it. Browne is an
Irishman and had once been an officer in the British navy. He is you
know, for he is still in commann in the La Plata, bold and full of courage.
He was then about fifty, and limped from a wound he had got in
battle. After a little further conversation I left him and he made sail,
and I did the same, standing up the river while he went down. You
have probably heard the result of his expedition. Te found the two
vessels that had cannonaded me at anchor, and laying his ship between
them before they could weigh he let them have it right and left, dismasting
the covette, and hulling the frigate so badly that she had to put
into Monte Video, all the time kept afloat only by the pumps. His
other vessels acted with equal gallantry. The blockading force was
dispersed and several merchant vessels that were waiting below went up
with their freights.'

`I remember the account of the action. It was a brave affair. But
now your own adventures! What has become of Dona Garcia?'

`The next day I reached Ensanada, and put in there for safe harbor.
From this port to Buenos Ayres is but thirty miles. This I pulled in
my long boat, making a nice little apartment in the stern with awning
and mattresses for the Senorita Francisca. On the afternoon of the
third day after leaving Monte Video we came in sight of Buenos Ayres.
It has eight or nine domes as large as that of the State House in Boston,
crossing its cathedrals, and to every dome there is from three to
four stately towers. The buildings have flat roofs and battlements and
are ornamented with urns and turrets. Altogether it is one of the
finest cities in South America. As we pulled along the green shores
towards the city, Senorita Garcia grasped my hand and with tears of
eloquent gratitude thanked me for her life and happiness. Shall I tell
you,' said my friend slightly embarrassed and smiling, that I discovered
in her eyes and in the tones of her voice a deeper and tenderer sentiment
than mere gratitude!'

`I should have anticipated this,' I said.

`I felt myself a happy fellow, when I discovered it; for I was already
in love with her as deeply as one could be with a pretty woman.'

`Ah, I see you have never told this story to your wife, my dear Captain.'

A significant, yet to me mysterious smile was his only reply; and he
then continued,

`We got opposite the town, but as the water was so shoal I was not
able to get within a quarter of a mile of the shore with the boat, and
run aground in two feet and a half of water. But there was no danger
of not getting to the land; for we had hardly struck the bottom when
a troop of the guacha “hackmen,” you so well know, mounted on their
little wiry horses, gallopped into the water and came splashing towards
us at full speed, their red pouchas flying in the wind, looking like a
troop of grotesque savages. They came near, shouting like devils, and
would have splashed the boat full of water if I had not presented a pistol
to keep them off. I then called two of them, one of whom wanted
to mount me behind himself, and the Senorita Garcia on the horse behind
his companion. But I objected to this arrangement. I made him
get behind his companion, and taking his horse mounted Francisca behind
me, and in this style galloped ashore, followed by the whole troop.

At the landing I found a volante, and getting into it, we drove to the
dwelling of the happy girl.

I will pass over the joyful meeting—the grateful expressions of joy
with which I was overwhelmed. While I was in Buenos Ayres I
became an inmate of General Garcia's family. In fine, never was a
man better rewarded for an act of benevolence than I was. When at
length I left Buenos Ayres, it was with the impression that the Senorita
Francisca was the most charming creature on earth!'

`And you the most insensible,' said I, `to leave behind one so every
way worthy of you! I should like to see your wife, to know
who could surpass Senorita Francisca in your estimation. Upon my
word, I thought you were going to give me a regular love story with
a marriage at the end.'

The Captain smiled. The next moment we reached the cove near
his villa and landed. His wife was seen approaching with a little
girl of three. As she came nearer I uttered an exclamation of surprise
and pleasure. It was Dona Garcia!

This sketch now ends in a few words. The captain had come into
possession of great wealth by his union with the beautiful Buenos
Ayrean, and retired to his native village, where he had erected the
handsome villa already described, and improved the ground, living in
a state of perfect happiness. He kept on the lake a beautiful little
brig of ten tons to remind him of his former pursuits, and for the purpose
of making parties on the water.

`And why are you known only as “the Captain?” I asked the next
day as we were smoking in the verandah together.

Before he could reply, a servant announced a visiter, and I obtained
no answer, and to this moment I am in as much mystery as any of
my readers.