Monsieur Le Gros was waiting for us, about two cable’s-lengths from the place where we issued into the bay, having considerately chosen an anchorage for us, at a point commanded by the four six-and-thirty pounders of the battery.  The distance enabled me to look about.  Within the range of islands was a sort of sound, quite a league in width, and on this sound the main coast presented several bays in which coasters were at anchor.  Most of the prominent points had small batteries, of no great force as against a fleet, or even against a single heavy ship, but which were sufficiently formidable to keep a sloop of war or a frigate at a respectable distance.  As all the guns were heavy, a vessel passing through the middle of this sound would hardly be safe; more especially did the gunners do their duty.  By anchoring at the spot where the boat waited for us, we at once gave up the ship to the privateersmen, the battery first mentioned commanding that point completely.  As good luck would have it, however, an expedient offered, in the direction of the wind and tide, which were opposed to each other, and I availed myself of the circumstance as promptly as possible.

Do our best, the Dawn could not fetch the spot where the boat had dropped her kedge.  We passed within hail of it, notwithstanding, and loud were the calls to us to shorten sail and anchor, as we came within hearing.  Affecting to be anxious to get up to the precise point where the boat lay, I mystified Monsieur Le Gros in my answers, telling him I would stand on a short distance, or until I could fetch him, when I would tack.  As this was intelligible it satisfied my captors, though a hundred “n’importes” were yelled after us; and “n’importe” it was, in fact, one spot being just as good to anchor in as another, for half a league all round us.

The Dawn did her duty that day; and there was occasion for it, the frigate still continuing the chase.  The circuit she had to make, and the berth she thought it prudent to give the first battery, enabled us to gain on her materially.  When we passed the boat, the Englishman’s upper sails were visible on the outside of the island, flying along the rocks at a rate that spoke well of his heels.  He rounded the point when we were mid-sound, but here the battery served us a good turn, for, instead of hauling up close by the wind, the English were obliged to run off with the wind free, to keep out of harm’s way.  Their presence, notwithstanding, was probably of great service to the Dawn, for here had been a communication between Monsieur Le Gros and the battery, by means of a small boat sent from the latter, and we should have been very likely to have a messenger, in the shape of a shot, sent after us, when it was seen we continued to stand across for the main instead of tacking for the designated anchorage, had not the men in the battery had the higher game of the frigate in view.  As soon as John Bull got within range, the gunners began to play on him, but it was at a distance that rendered their fire next to useless.