However, we soon got all right, and in five
minutes the sloop was once more tearing through it on a wind; but the boat
where I had been sleeping was smashed into staves, all that remained of her
being the stem and stern--post dangling from the tackles at the ends of
the davits.
At this time it was grey dawn, and we were working up in shore, without
dreaming of breaking the blockade, when it fell stark calm. Presently the
Spanish squadron, anchored under Punto Canoa, perceived us, when a
corvette, two schooners, a cutter, and eight gunboats, got under weigh, the
latter of which soon swept close to us, ranging themselves on our bows and
quarters; and although we showed our colours, and made the private
international signal, they continued firing at us for about an hour,
without, however, doing any damage, as they had chosen a wary distance.
At length some of the shot falling near us, the skipper cleared for action,
and with his own hand fired a 32--pounder at the nearest gun--boat, the
crew of which bobbed as if they, had seen the shot coming. This opened
the eyes of the Dons, who thereupon ceased firing; and as a light breeze
had now set down, they immediately made sail in pursuit of a schooner that
had watched the opportunity of their being employed with us to run in
under the walls, and was at this moment chased by a ship and a gun-boat,
who had got within gun-shot and kept up a brisk fire on her. So soon as
the others came up, all hands opened on the gallant little hooker who was
forcing the blockade, and peppered away; and there she was, like a hare,
with a whole pack of harriers after her, sailing and sweeping in under
their fire towards the doomed city.
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