THE GALLEON SIGHTED.
However, on the 20th of June, Old Style, being just a month from their
arrival on their station, they were relieved from this state of
uncertainty when, at sunrise, they discovered a sail from the masthead in
the south-east quarter. On this a general joy spread through the whole
ship, for they had no doubt but this was one of the galleons, and they
expected soon to see the other. The Commodore instantly stood towards
her, and at half an hour after seven they were near enough to see her
from the Centurion's deck, at which time the galleon fired a gun and took
in her top-gallant sails, which was supposed to be a signal to her
consort to hasten her up; and therefore the Centurion fired a gun to
leeward,* to amuse her. The Commodore was surprised to find that in all
this time the galleon did not change her course, but continued to bear
down upon him, for he hardly believed, what afterwards appeared to be the
case, that she knew his ship to be the Centurion and resolved to fight
him.
(*Note. Probably as a pretended signal to a consort. The two ships were
endeavouring to deceive each other.)
About noon the Commodore was little more than a league distant from the
galleon, and could fetch her wake, so that she could not now escape, and
no second ship appearing, it was concluded that she had been separated
from her consort. Soon after the galleon hauled up her foresail and
brought to under topsails, with her head to the northward, hoisting
Spanish colours and having the standard of Spain flying at the topgallant
masthead.
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