54 THE SEA. 



barely large enough to carry all, they agreed to leave him behind, with the surgeon, and 

 one of the officers of marines. Byron was taken on board, but, as he says, " was 

 determined, upon the first opportunity, to leave them." They were in all eighty-one 

 when they left the island. Their intention was to put into some harbour, if possible, 

 every evening, as they were in no condition for long sea-trips, neither would their scanty 

 provisions have lasted many days. Their water was contained in a few small powder 

 barrels ; their flour was to be lengthened out by a mixture of sea-weed ; and their other 

 supplies must depend upon their success in hunting or fishing. Next day they considered 

 it necessary to send- back the barge for some spare canvas, and Byron took the opportunity 

 of leaving them. When they were clear of the long-boat, he found that the men on 

 board contemplated deserting the deserters also. They " were extremely welcome to 

 Captain Cheap." Some attempts were made to get a share of the provisions from the 

 mutineers, but they absolutely refused. When they had left the captain and the two 

 other officers, they had given them six pieces of beef, the same of pork, and ninety pounds 

 of flour. For a day or two after Byron's return with a few of the men, a small allowance 

 was doled out to them ; " yet it was upon the foot of favour," and soon ceased, after 

 which they had to subsist on " a weed called laugh," fried in the tallow of some candles 

 they had saved, and wild celery. The account of their sufferings, and eventual escape 

 to Chili, forms the bulk of the volume from which this narrative is taken. What became 

 of the long-boat and its crew of mutineers ? More than three months after they 

 deserted the captain, thirty of them arrived at Rio Grande, on the coast of Brazil ; 

 twenty had been left at various points, and a larger number had died from starvation. 



But to return once more to Anson. Just at the time they were straining all points 

 to make ready for leaving Juan Fernandez, a sail was espied far in the offing. Whilst 

 the vessel advanced, they fancied that she might be one of their own ships ; but when 

 she hauled off, it was determined to pursue her. The Centurion being in the most 

 forward state, immediately got under sail; but the wind being light, they soon lost sight 

 of the stranger. Persuaded that she was an enemy, they steered in the direction of 

 Valparaiso for a couple of days; then considering that she must have reached her port, 

 were on the point of abandoning the chase, when a gale blew them out of their course, 

 at the same time bringing them once more in sight of the unknown vessel, which at 

 first bore down upon them, showing Spanish colours. She appeared to be a large ship 

 which had mistaken the Centurion for her consort, and was thought to be one of 

 Pizarro's squadron; this induced Anson to clear the guns of all casks of water or 

 provisions which encumbered them, and prepare for action. When near enough, she was 

 discovered to be only a merchantman, the Carmelo, without even as much as a tier of 

 guns. A little later, four shot were fired among her rigging, on which not one of the 

 crew would venture aloft. The ship yielded immediately. When the first lieutenant went 

 on board, he was received with abject submission ; and the passengers on board, twenty-five 

 in number, were terrified at the prospect of the ill-treatment they should receive. But 

 Anson was always humane and generous with a fallen foe, and they were soon re-assured. 

 His kindness was not thrown away. When at length Captain Cheap and his brother- 

 officers of the wrecked Wager arrived in Chili (then an appanage of the Spanish Crown) 



