CHAPTER 34.
THE CAPTURE OF THE GALLEON.
As the month of June advanced, the expectancy and impatience of the
Commodore's people each day increased, and I think no better idea can be
given of their great eagerness on this occasion than by copying a few
paragraphs from the journal of an officer who was then on board, as it
will, I presume, be a more natural picture of the full attachment of
their thoughts to the business of their cruise than can be given by any
other means. The paragraphs I have selected, as they occur in order of
time are as follows:
May 31. Exercising our men at their quarters, in great expectation of
meeting with the galleons very soon, this being the 11th of June, their
style.
June 3. Keeping in our stations and looking out for the galleons.
June 5. Begin now to be in great expectations, this being the middle of
June, their style.
June 11. Begin to grow impatient at not seeing the galleons.
June 13. The wind having blown fresh easterly for the forty-eight hours
past, gives us great expectations of seeing the galleons soon.
June 15. Cruising on and off and looking out strictly.
June 19. This being the last day of June, New Style, the galleons, if
they arrive at all, must appear soon.
...
From these samples it is sufficiently evident how completely the treasure
of the galleons had engrossed their imagination, and how anxiously they
passed the latter part of their cruise, when the certainty of the arrival
of these vessels was dwindled down to probability only, and that
probability became each hour more and more doubtful.
Pages:
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189