14
them on board the crugger, the ship's launch, and small boats, reserving only one of the smallest for their own use. This accomplished, they pointed the guns towards the boats, ordering the Spaniards on shore, a small number of rowers remaining unbound, and threatening to blow them out of the water on the slightest indieation of a disposition to disobey orders. They now took a snatch of refreshment, which to their empty stomachs and exhausted frames was true balm, and hurried to prepare for the attaek, whieh, as a matter of eourse, was to be expeeted from Arica. Thoy double slotted the ship's guns with grape, and unloosing those on the starboard side, brought then over to the larboard, on whieh side, being that opposite Arica, the attaek was naturally to be anticipated. They soon smashed out rude port-holes in the bulwarks, and pointed the eannon.
In tho meantime, the erew of the Minerva, with the Spanish soldiers, reached Ariea, where the partieulars of the exploit were immediately made known. Not a moment was lost in manning tho boats that eould be eollected. Their number was not great, it is true, but they were erowded with men, who, had they been all eannibals, would have made but a sorry breakfast of the sixteen half-starved hands on board the Minerva. Having learnt the preeise number of the Minerva's eaptors, their exasperation at the audacity of the adventure was unbounded; but for so daring an insult, they promised themselves the satisfaction of making an immediate return of most ample vengeance. They were, in fact, so filled with resentment, and so anxious for revenge, that they negleeted to bo eautious. In the hurry and heat of the moment, they seemed only to strive whieh should first reach
