64

AN UNWELCOME VISITER.

us, the rest were ordered to remain by the boat. When we arrived at the place determined on, we commenced throwing up a little mound of earth on which to place the mark, and were very busily engaged with our work, when turning round on a sudden, I perceived a gaucho on horseback, who had for some time observed our movements, and had stolen down upon us between the intervening range of hills my first impulse was to call to some of the boat's crew to be on the alert, but he immediately cut off all our communication with them by placing himself between us, and cocking his musket. I could not help just then thinking with Byron, "there is something in the cocking of a pistol which grates harshly on the ear;" but finding I had no resource left than making a virtue of necessity, I approached towards him with the greatest apparent confidence. Seeing me advance, he also came forward and began speaking to me in Spanish; but unfortunately, not being versed in that language, what he said was lost. The only conclusion I could possibly arrive at was, that he would naturally ask me who I was, and where I came from. So pointing to the Chanticleer,

AN AWKWARD POSITION.

65

the words " Fragata Anglesa," appeared to produce some effect on him. But it was not until a kind of questionable conference had passed between us, by signs on my part and many hurried questions on his, that we seemed to come to an amicable understanding. During this introduction, my situation was no enviable

for the gaucho was sitting quietly on horseback, with his piece presented at me a great part of the time, while I stood quite helpless, and ready to be shot whenever it might suit his convenience. I was not sorry therefore, when, on pointing to the island and showing him my telescope, he dismounted, took the glass, and, resting it on his saddle, looked through it at the island; but probably not knowing much of what he saw, he shook his head and said something, by which I concluded he meant me to mount his horse. This, as well as I was able, I politely refused. I suppose he had seen sufficient to convince him that I was an officer; after scrutinizing me well again and again, for he appeared suddenly to make up his mind to be off, he mounted his horse, and making me a hasty bow, vanished in an instant, to my satisfaction. The fellow

66

PREPARE FOR AN ATTACK.

was armed from top to toe, having a lasso, cutlass, carbine, and brace of pistols; and I have no doubt that my own safety in a great measure proceeded from my being unprovided with fire-arms. He had not left me long when I saw two Brazilian soldiers in hot pursuit of him; but there did not appear to be the least chance of catching him, as they are afraid to venture far outside of their lines. We were not however disturbed by them any more, although the carpenter and myself had, during our stay, to watch the lamp till about two o'clock in the morning, when the signal was made for our return."

On reaching the island one night, we found that during our absence the Buenos-Ayrean squadron had passed in the offing, and the governor told us he had received orders to be prepared in case of an attack. All the soldiers were employed getting everything ready. It appeared to us very doubtful whether the guns would actually bear a charge of powder, as they and their carriages were in such a ruinous state. The moat round the fort was no larger than a common ditch, and it was our constant habit, although a plank had been laid for our

ALARM OF THE GARRISON.

67

accommodation, to jump across it; so we considered, should any attack really be made on us, our worthy governor, fort and all, would shortly be in the hands of the Buenos-Ayreans. At sunset the sentries had been doubled, and the old governor was anxiously parading the fort to see if they were on the look-out. A few men were sent to different points of the island to see if any boats or suspicious vessels were in sight. All however passed off without any report being made till about eight o'clock, when one of the look-out men came running in to the governor, almost breathless, to state that a vessel was anchored between the island and the main. This was sufficient, and in a moment the garrison beat to quarters. Captain Foster wished to make the signal to the Chanticleer for the boats to take the instruments and ourselves off the island, as we knew not what destruction might await them; but this the governor would not permit, thinking no doubt, in event of necessity, that we might be of some assistance in getting him into safety. We consoled ourselves therefore with the hope that whatever might occur to the rest, the peaceable nature of our occupation

68

DESTRUCTION OF A VESSEL.

would secure us from being molested. But all was hurry and confusion, and the darkness of the night contributed to make things worse. It was considered high time to commence hostile operations against the vessel that had dared to approach the island, and accordingly the fire of the fort was opened upon her. No return was made from her guns, from which circumstance some suspicions arose that after all she might be no enemy. However, by the

dusky light she was seen drifting away from her position, and we ceased firing. Things remained in this condition till the morning, when it turned out that her cable had been cut by the shot, and that in consequence she had drifted on the rocks. But it was mortifying to the old governor to find that he had been firing at a friend all the time. The fact was, that the poor vessel had been detained by their own squadron, and she eventually became a total wreck.

When the observations had been completed, and while the Chanticleer was detained for the rates of the chronometers, a party of officers from the Adventure, the Sapphire, and our own vessel, obtained a week's leave of absence