( 62 )
and having received on board provisions for six months we sailed from St. Helens, in the grand fleet bound for the West Indies, on the ever-memorable expedition of Carthagena.
We got out of the Channel with a prosperous breeze, which died away leaving us becalmed about fifty leagues to the westward of the Lizard; but this enaction did not last long; for next night our main-top sail was split with the wind which in the morning increased to a hurricane. I got out of bed and went above. The sea was swelled into the billows mountain high on the top of which our ship sometimes hung, as if it was about to be precipitated into the abyss below. Sometimes we sunk between two waves, that rose on each side higher than our main-top mast-head in a moment! Of all our fleet, consisting of an hundred and fifty sail, scarce twelve appeared, and these driving under their bare poled at the mercy of the tempest. At length the storm subsided, and the admiral discovering four-sail of ships to leeward, made signal for our ship and four more to chace: It was almost dark when we came up with the sternmost which we hailed, and enquired who they were? They said they were French men of war: upon which our captain bid them send their boat on board: they refused saying if he had any business with them to come on board their ship. On this both sides engaged, which lasted till broad day, when Captain Oakhum, finding he was
