PORTER S JOITENAL. 



171 



After the boats had left us, a breeze sprung up, which 

 enabled us to continue the chase ; and, as we soon passed 

 the boats, I made a signal for the Montezuma to heave to 

 and pick them up. As we approached the chase, she 

 hauled close on a wind to the eastward, and shortly after- 

 wards hove about to stand for us. From her warlike ap- 

 pearance, and the signals made by her, I supposed her to 

 be an English sloop of war, as she wore both the English 

 ensign and pendant. I now made such preparations for 

 action as my weak crew would admit of, directing the ma- 

 rines and top-men to lay by their muskets, and, as well as 

 the bracemen and all others on board, to take their stations 

 at the guns. All my officers were away from the ship ; but 

 still I could not perceive that the small remains of my men 

 had, in time of need, lost any of their wonted energy and 

 zeal. 



We were soon along side of him, when I hoisted English 

 colours, and directed her commander to come on board, 

 which order was soon complied with, when at this instant 

 another strange sail was descried from the mast-head. A few 

 men were taken out of our prize, which proved to be the Bri- 

 tish letter of marque ship Atlantic, Obadiah Wier master, 

 employed in whaling, and mounting six guns, (eighteen 

 pounders.) As soon as the Montezuma came up, 1 threw 

 some men on board the Atlantic, with lieutenant M'Knight, 

 and sent her in pui^uit of the other stranger to the north- 

 west, while I steered more northerly ; for, as the Atlantic 

 was reputed the fastest sailer in those seas, I had no doubt, 

 "by this means, of rendering her capture certain. We were 

 soon convinced that the Atlantic deserved her character 

 for sailing, as during the chase we had very little advantage 

 of her, notwithstanding we had all the sail we could carry, 

 and she the whole time without her studding-sails, hav- 

 ing none bent. Night was now fast approaching ; we were, 

 doubtful whether we were near enough to keep sight of 

 our new chase, which our prisoners informed us was ano- 

 ther British letter of marque. As it gjew dark, we once 

 lost sight of her; but we soon discovered her again by 

 means of oar night-glasses, and on her heaving about to 

 elude us, on the supposition that we could no longer see 

 her, we soon got along side of her, and on firing a shot at 

 her, she hove to. I directed her commander to repair on 



