Part 3: Vivar, Chapter 3 Summary

The O' Higgins and the Kitty sail into Valdivia Harbor, but it hadn't been necessary to bombard the forts remaining in Spanish control. Cochrane had ordered one shot fired, and though the shot did no damage, all of the remaining Spanish surrendered.

Some of the Spanish troops board longboats and begin traveling upriver toward Valdivia. Cochrane and Sharpe know they must stop them from joining the remaining troops defending Valdivia. Sharpe and Harper go with a crew of one boat, and Cochrane joins the crew of another. The rebel crews row furiously to overtake the fleeing Spanish troops. After rounding a bend in the river, Sharpe is surprised to see that all of the Spaniards in longboats have stopped. He is even more surprised to see that they wish to surrender.

Once Sharpe steps ashore he sees that a...