Hearing the barge come alongside, the Spaniards rushed upon deck, and defended themselves with great resolution; but nothing could withstand the impetuosity of the British seamen, several of whom broke their cutlasses in dealing out powerful blows:– it is scarcely necessary to add that the ship was soon carried, and in a style that left no doubt as to what would have been the result had they found the real object of their visit to Laguira.
By this time the alarm was given on shore, drums were beating in every direction, and lights seen in all the batteries. Scarcely was the cable cut, and the prize taken in tow, when the fire of nearly 100 guns was opened upon her; but as the smoke did not rise, the enemy were prevented from taking good aim, and by break of day she was so far out that their shot could no longer reach her.
The Trent was now eagerly looked for by the exhausted boats’ crews, but she was no where to be seen. As the sun rose, and cleared away the haze, a formidable flotilla of gunboats was discovered coming out. To contend against such a superior force in broad day-light would have been madness; to carry off the prize without fighting was totally impossible, there being no wind, and the Trent’s fine fellows having scarcely strength enough left to keep the tow-rope taut. Captain Otway therefore recommended Lieutenant Ussher, who had taken charge of the ship, to place double centinels over the prisoners, to point two of the guns (Spanish 12-pounders), treble-shotted, down the main-hatchway, and upon the arrival of the flotilla within grape-range to fire them through her bottom. This advice was strictly followed: Lieutenant Ussher and his men retreated into the barge; the Spaniards left their place of confinement, mounted the rigging, and shewed by their signals and gestures the sinking state of the ship, thereby drawing off the attention of the headmost gun-boats, which had already commenced firing grape at the British, who were thus enabled to effect their escape without further annoyance, although they did not fall in with the Trent for many hours afterwards.
We next find Lieutenant Ussher and Mr. M‘Cleverty bring-
