46 THE SEA. 



got in range the Spaniards opened a furious fire upon them., and the former were that day 

 compelled to retreat to a hungry camp, as they had come utterly unprovided,, while about 

 midnight the rain somewhat damped their ardour. They passed a miserable and shelterless 

 night; nor did the weather improve next day, when they found in the fields an old lean 

 and diseased horse, which they killed and ate, but this was not anything like sufficient to 

 satisfy the cravings of their hunger, as it afforded only a morsel each for a part of them, 

 some being compelled to go entirely without. But nothing could daunt Morgan, and he 

 had the audacity to send a canoe with a flag of truce to the Spanish governor, telling him 

 that he would put the Spaniards to the sword, without quarter, if they did not instantly 

 submit. 



In the afternoon the canoe returned with this answer : " That the governor desired 

 two hours' time to deliberate with his officers about it, which having passed he would give 

 his positive answer." This time elapsed, the governor sent two canoes with white colours, 

 having on board two persons to treat with Captain Morgan ; but, before they landed, they 

 demanded of the pirates two men as hostages. These were readily granted by Captain 

 Morgan, who delivered up two of his captains for a pledge of the security required. 

 The Spaniards then announced that they had resolved to deliver up the island, not being 

 provided with sufficient forces to defend it against a fleet. Morgan was asked to use a 

 stratagem of war, for the better saving of their credit, which was as follows : That he 

 would come with his troops by night to the bridge that joined the smaller island to the principal 

 one, and there attack the fort of St. Jerome ; that at the same time all his fleet would draw 

 near the castle of Santa Teresa and attack it by land, landing in the meantime more troops 

 near the battery of St. Matthew; that these troops being landed, should by this means 

 intercept the governor as he endeavoured to pass to St. Jerome's fort, and then take him 

 prisoner, making pretence as if they had forced him to deliver the castle, and that he would 

 lead the English into it under colour of being his own troops. That on both sides there 

 should be continual firing carried on, but without bullets, or at least that they should be 

 fired only into the air, so that no side might be hurt. That thus having obtained two 

 sueh considerable forts, the chiefest of the isle, he need not take care for the rest, which 

 must fall of course into his hands. 



These propositions were granted by Captain Morgan, and, soon after, he commanded 

 the whole fleet to enter the port, and his men to be ready to assault that night the 

 Castle of St. Jerome. Thus the false battle began, with incessant firing from both the 

 castles against the ships, but without bullets, as was agreed. Then the pirates landed, and 

 assaulted the lesser island by night, which they took, with both the fortresses, forcing 

 the Spaniards, in appearance, to fly to the church. 



St. Catherine's thus became an easy prey to Morgan and his followers, and the first 

 few days were simply spent in riotous feasting. The prisoners which they had taken 

 numbered 459 souls ; and besides all kinds of plunder they secured no less than thirty 

 thousand pounds of powder, together with large quantities of other ammunition. The 

 fortresses were, with one exception, demolished. 



Morgan's next enterprise was against the important city of Panama. He took with 

 him 1,200 men, five boats laden with artillery, and thirty-two canoes. But the Chagres 



