trusting that the despatches, by being washed on shore, would still reach their destination, even if he should perish. Providentially, however, it was ordered otherwise, as he succeeded in reaching Cape St. Mary, on which point of land his remaining companion was likewise thrown, the latter quite exhausted.
Having thus miraculously escaped from the waves, Lieutenant Staines immediately ran over to the other side of the island, and engaged an old fisherman, a woman, and a little boy, to assist him in removing his man to the boat, she being then on the river side, and in smooth water. After performing this humane action, he took an oar, and rowed all the way up to Faro, where he was hospitably received by the Governor, who entertained him until the ensuing day, when he returned on board the Peterel, to the great surprise and joy of Captain Digby, who had witnessed his disaster, but could not send him any assistance, from the conviction that any other boat would have met with a similar fate.
On the 12th Oct. following, the Peterel was captured near the Balearic islands, by four Spanish frigates, one of which is said to have given her a broadside after she surrendered. The enemy also beliavcd most shamefully to their prisoners after removing them from the sloop, plundering them of their clothes, bedding, and every other article, and murdering a seaman who attempted to defend his little property.
This squadron was chased the next day by several British ships, under the orders of Commodore Duckworth; and the Peterel, in endeavouring to escape round Majorca, was fortunately retaken by the Argo 44[1]. The frigate, however, completely out-sailed their pursuers, and returned to Carthagena, from which port they had recently been sent with supplies for the garrison of Minorca[2].
After a detention of 14 days at Carthagena, Lieutenant Staines and his fellow-prisoners were embarked in a mer-
- ↑ See Vol. II. Part I. p. 97.
- ↑ Each frigate had on board 50,000 dollars. This money was all thrown overboard during the chase, to prevent the British from obtaining possession of it.
