16
hovering on the Spanish coast, it occurred to Nicolas, that the Inquisitor-general at Madrid had told him of the expected arrival of the president of Quito, and having imparted this to one of the lieutenants, he reported it to the captain ; and as the intelligence seemed of importance, he availed himself of it, by hawling into the track of the homeward-bound galleons, and great was the joy, when at the break of the morning the man at the mast-head announced a square-rigged vessel in view. The ardour of a chace now set all hands at work; and a few hours brought them near enough to discern that she was a Spanish frigate, and seemingly from a long voyage : little Pedrosa, as alert as the rest, stript himself for his work, and repaired to his post in the cockpit, whilst the thunder of the guns reeled incessantly over his head ; three cheers from the whole crew at length announced the moment of victory, and a few more minutes ascertained the good news, that the prize was a frigate richly laden from the South Seas, with the governor of Quito and his suite on board. Pedrosa was now called upon deck, and sent on board the prize as interpreter to the first lieutenant, who was to take posession, of her.-He found every thing in confusion, a deck covered with the slain, and the whole crew in consternation at an event they were in no degree prepared for, not having received any intimation of a war. He found the officers in general, and the passengers without exception, under the most horrid impression of the English, expecting to be butchered without mercy. Don Manuel de Casafonda,
