634 ADVENTURES IN THE SPANISH MAIN,

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

On tho 22nd thoy found themselves off Lima, and furling thoir sails, that
thoy might not bo seen from tho shoro, they lay to for some hours, in tho
hope of surprising somo of the Spanish barquos as they quitted or entered tho
port. Disappointed in this, they again mado sail, and, steering northward,
discovered two strango vessels, which they immediately chased. Coming
up with the sternmost, sho proved to bo the formor adversary of the
St. George, whose men now hoped to secure the coveted prize; but. Dampior
being unwilling to throw away any moro lives in the contest, she was
wllowed to oscapo, and the English ships again ran to the northward. On
the 24th thoy fell in with and captured a Spanish trader of about one
hundred and fifty tons. They took from her all that seomod most valuable,
and then allowed her to depart. The same course was adopted with a
second prize, much to the discontent of the crows, though Dampier was
certainly justified in not weakening his small foreo hy distributing it on
board of three or four vessels,

After somo othor captures of no great importance, Dampier determined to
altack the rich town of Santa Maria; and for this purposo he anchored his
two ships, on the 25th of April, at Point Garachina; and leaving them in
chargo of sixty men, ho proceeded, with Stradling and ono hundred and two
seamon, armed to the teeth, in three stout Spanish launches, to the attack.
Tho 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
tho hope of a rich booty cheered and encouraged their spirits. Untor-
tunately, when daylight appeared, they were discovered by an Indian
eanoo, Which camo within hail, and inquired whence they came. Their
Indian pilot, by Dampior's ordors, answered, “ From Panama,” and invited
them on board ; but the canoe sheered off, and mado haste to alarm the
neighbouring towns. ‘To remedy this misadyenturo as far as possible,
Dampier despatchod Stradling with two of the launches which drew but little
wator, to tako the town of Schucadero, intending to follow in his heavier
boat as soon as tho tide permitted.

Stradling was successful in his enterprise. 'Tho inhabitants of Schueadero
flod at his approach, and, plundering their huts, ho accumulated a welcome
supply of fresh provisions. From some letters which he found, and which
ho 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 hy