As it passed by the spring-head, and was
the only avenue by which the Spaniards could approach us, we, at some
distance beyond the spring-head, felled several large trees and laid them
one upon the other across the path, and at this barricade we constantly
kept a guard, and we, besides, ordered our men employed in watering to
have their arms ready and, in case of any alarm, to march instantly to
this spot; and though our principal intention was to prevent our being
disturbed by any sudden attack of the enemy's horse, yet it answered
another purpose which was not in itself less important, this was to
hinder our own people from straggling singly into the country, where we
had reason to believe they would be surprised by the Spaniards, who would
doubtless be extremely solicitous to pick up some of them in hopes of
getting intelligence of our future designs. To avoid this inconvenience,
the strictest orders were given to the sentinels to let no person
whatever pass beyond their post.
THE COMMODORE'S COOK.
But, notwithstanding this precaution, we missed one Lewis Leger, who was
the Commodore's cook, and as he was a Frenchman, and suspected to be a
Papist, it was by some imagined that he had deserted with a view of
betraying all that he knew to the enemy; but this appeared by the event
to be an ill-grounded surmise, for it was afterwards known that he had
been taken by some Indians, who carried him prisoner to Acapulco, whence
he was transferred to Mexico and then to Vera Cruz, where he was shipped
on board a vessel bound to Old Spain; and the vessel being obliged by
some accident to put into Lisbon, Leger escaped on shore, and was by the
British consul sent thence to England, where he brought the first
authentic account of the safety of the Commodore, and of what he had done
in the South Seas.
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