634 ADVENTURES IN THE SPANISH MAIN.

Ports put out her ours and rowed for the land; but to her great surprise
discovered two ships at anchor—French South Sea vessels, each of sixteen
guns—a force with which it was impossible for them to cope. She carried
the bad tidings to the St. George, and both vessels on the 6th bore away to
the north.

On the 22nd they found themselves off Lima, and furling their sails, that
they might not be seen from the shore, they lay to for some hours, in the
hope of surprising some of the Spanish barques as they quitted or entered the
port. Disappointed in this, they again made sail, and, steering northward,
discovered two strange vessels, which they immediately chased. Coming
up with the sternmost, she proved to be the former adversary of the
St. George, whose men now hoped to secure the coveted prize; but Dampier
being unwilling to throw away any more lives in the contest, she was
allowed to escape, and the English ships again ran to the northward. On
the 24th they fell in with and captured a Spanish trader of about one
hundred and fifty tons. They took from her all that seemed most valuable,
and then allowed her to depart. The same course was adopted witha
second prize, much to the discontent of the crews, though Dampier was
certainly justified in not weakening his small force by distributing it on
board of three or four vessels.

After some other captures of no great importance, Dampier determined to
attack the rich town of Santa Maria; and for this purpose he anchored his
two ships, on the 25th of April, at Point Garachina; and leaving them in
charge of sixty men, he proceeded, with Stradling and one hundred and two
seamen, armed to the teeth, in three stout Spanish launches, to the attack.
The night was dark and stormy, with rain, thunder, and lightning, and the
men in their open boats were as uncomfortable as can well be imagined ; but
the hope of a rich booty cheered and encouraged their spirits. Unfor-
tunately, when daylight appeared, they were discovered by an Indian
canoe, which came within hail, and inquired whence they came. Their
Indian pilot, by Dampier’s orders, answered, ‘ From Panama,” and invited
them on board ; but the canoe sheered off, and made haste to alarm the
neighbouring towns. To remedy this misadventure as far as possible,
Dampier despatched Stradling with two of the launches which drew but little
water, to take the town of Schucadero, intending to follow in his heavier
boat as soon as the tide permitted.

Stradling was successful in his enterprise. The inhabitants of Schucadero
fled at his approach, and, plundering their huts, he accumulated a welcome
supply of fresh provisions. From some letters which he found, and which
he forwarded to Dampier, it appeared that the Spaniards were on their
guard, and that a reinforcement of four hundred men had been sent to Santa
Maria. However, the two captains having once more joined their little
squadrons, resolved to proceed on their expedition, and on the 20th of April
arrived within a quarter of a mile of the town. Here they were attacked by