We had got about eighty yards from the shore, and were pulling
away with all our might to widen the distance, when we heard the
trampling of horses, and the next moment appeared two of the mounted
troop upon the verge of the ridge. They wore scarlet jackets, white
trowsers, and broad-brimmed straw hats, boldly looped up in front.—
Carbines were slung at their backs, and long curved swords swung at

[figure description] Page 072.[end figure description]

their belts. Their saddles were without holsters, their belt answering
the purpose by holding a formidable brace of pistols.

Upon reaching the bank and discovering us pulling away in the boat
for dear life, they set up a shout, made signals to the rest of their company
who were not yet come up in sight, and then dashed down the
bank at a mad rate. As they approached the water the one in advance—
a fiery-looking, dark-complexioned fellow, with long black locks and
moustache—called to us in Spanish to stop.

We paid no attention to him, but rowed the faster; he, therefore,
spurred into the water at huge leaps, for it was shoal for many yards
from the shore, and at the same time discharged a pistol. His comrades
followed him, unslinging their carbines as they rode, and the
ridge was at the same moment filled with the remainder of the troop.
Two or three of them followed the leading ones, but the rest remained
quietly seated in their saddles looking at the scene.

The shot from the pistol did not reach us, for we saw it plainly strike
and spurt up the water twenty yards astern of us. As we were rowing
our faces were of course turned towards the shore, so that we could
see all that passed.

`Pull away, boys!' cried Fairfax; `pull like good fellows!'

`That fellow with the carbine will hit us if we don't get out of his
way rapidly,' said I; `there he levels it!—now stoop all!'

We bent ourselves forward as low as we could; the carabine was
discharged, and we distinctly heard the balls, at least half a dozen of
them, whistling over and about us.

We felt that it was becoming rather a ticklish affair, so far as we
were concerned. We encouraged each other to row, but hardly had
we raised ourselves and taken three strokes, when another carbine
was levelled, and down we ducked. The shot must have fallen far
short of us, or wide of us, for we heard no whistling.

`Now make her jump!' cried Bedrick; `in a few moments we will
get out of their reach.'

But this did not seem likely: two of the horsemen, after having galloped
their horses in as far as they were able to advance in this manner,
pressed them forward to swimming, and they came on at such a
rate that I verily believed they would come up with us.

To check them I took up a pistol and fired at them; this set a good
example to the rest, and in three seconds we had given them the contents
of eight pistols. As we fired with one hand we rowed with the
other, and so we kept increasing our distance. At this reception the
two horsemen reined up, and began to swim back towards the shore,
while the rest discharged a volley over their heads at us. Nearly every
shot fell short except one, which dropped harmlessly into the boat as
if it had been thrown from the hand, the force being spent by the distance
it had come. I picked it up; it was quite warm, and in size as
large as four common musket balls; it was made of iron, not of lead,
and roughly enough cast at that.

We soon gained a safe distance from our foes, and then lay upon
our oars to rest, and gaze back upon the horsemen. They continued
to fire every now and then a carbine in our direction, and then

[figure description] Page 073.[end figure description]

rejoining their troop the whole party rode out of sight over the ridge, and
we saw no more of them. They afterwards were proved to be a party
of Patriot cavalry going to join Llavelleja before the walls of Montevideo,
and having despatches to him from the Buenos Ayrean Congress.
But our ignorance of their character, and their ignorance of
our friendly wishes, made us, meeting as we did, foes of course. They
supposed us to be Brazilian spies, and we naturally took them for Brazilian
cavalry, seeing them so near Colonia.

`That was a close brush, boys,' said I, as the last horseman disappeared.

`I was pretty sure one of us was booked that time for the land of
Nod,' said Bedrick.

`I believe,' remarked Radsworth, instinctively flinching as he spoke,
`that if I had n't stooped as I did, one of the bullets would have gone
through my head—it seemed to singe my ear-locks as it was.'

`The fellows aimed well,' observed Fairfax. `What thundering
things those carbines are that they carry; I would as lief be hit by a
four pound shot as one of them—just look at this!' and he exhibited
the ball which had come on board.

`It is my opinion,' said Bedrick, `that these fellows were Patriots.'

`But Patriot or Portuguese,' answered Fairfax, `we were all the
same to them. We did right in keeping out of their way; before
we could have assured them of our friendly feelings, we might all
have had our throats cut. There is no trusting a party like that
here in this desert plain.'

We perfectly agreed with him, and were quite satisfied at our escape,
whatever they might be. There was some wind, and we spread our
sail to woo it. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and although
Colonia was not in view from the boat, I pointed out its direction,
and proposed that we should stand on until we came in sight of
it, and then strike across. To this proposal all acceded, and we seated
ourselves in the stern, reloading our pistols and talking over our recent
escape.

Bedrick was strongly of the opinion that we could not too soon get
away from this shore, for he firmly believed that some of the three
horsemen wounded would go back to Colonia and have a gun-boat sent
out to intercept us. We discussed the probability, and finally came
to the conclusion that they would not take so much trouble about us.
The shores now appeared more pleasing to the eye. In the distance
were cultivated spots and farms, and we observed many white dwellings
of the inhabitants. The houses were square, with flat roofs, and usually
but one story high. We could see also, as we glided along, persons
in the fields and men on horseback; but as we kept out full a mile
from the land, we did not apprehend any danger. We discovered,
moreover, several small boats at one place where a dozen houses were
congregated; but we paid them no other regard than keeping farther
out from the land.

At length, about one hour before sunset, a distant projection of land
over which had hung a haze, gradually resolved itself into the battlements
of Colonia, about two leagues off. We now stood on with

[figure description] Page 074.[end figure description]

caution; two of the party were for putting the helm up, and striking
straight across for Buenos Ayres, but Fairfax and I opposed it, wishing
to have a good view of the place before turning aside from it. The
others yielded, and we kept on until within about four miles, when we
were able to discern, rising over the battlements, the masts of several
vessels. We suspected that they were Brazilian vessels of war, and
with the spy-glass we made out distinctly the brilliant flag of the Emperor,
one of the most gorgeous flags in the world.

We now concluded that it was best to be wary. The wind, which
had been getting light, now died away as usual towards sunset, and we
took down our mast and resumed our oars. With the glass we saw
near the town four or five small boats from which men were fishing,
and it occurred to us that we might approach much nearer, so as to
get a view of the vessels in the port, reflecting that our report would
be useful to Admiral Brown on the other side.

This step, however, was warmly opposed; but finally the objections
were overruled, and we rowed on till we came within two miles of the
fort and town. We then pulled out so as to open the harbor, and were
enabled to look in. With the aid of the glass we counted three brigs
of war, five schooners, and nine or ten lugger-rigged gun-boats. The
fort was a low fortification on a point of the shore, and the harbor a
snug cove, around which were a few farm houses; but near the fort
was quite a large collection of houses, with a tower and one or two
turrets, a long high wall with embrasures, and a battery with cannon.
We could see the soldiers upon them, and also persons taking the air
upon the tops of the houses. The town did not probably contain more
than five or six hundred inhabitants. The country was not elevated,
but was pleasant to the eye. Very few trees were visible, and these,
like all of those on the pampas, of stunted growth.

We took our observations at the distance of about two miles, the
atmosphere clear, and the sun brightly illumining the landscape.

`I think if we had twenty whale boats, with ten Yankees in each,'
said Radsworth, `we might take the town, vessels and all.'

`I hope Brown will try it,' observed Fairfax with animation. `What
a fine opportunity for him to run over in the night and surprise the
place! They don't seem to have a single vessel off the port on the
look-out to guard against it.'

`I am not so sure of that, boys,' said I, as I caught sight of a large
brig coming up the river.

They all uttered an exclamation of surprise on discovering her. She
was within five miles, and had only been seen by us so lately for the
reason that our attention had been so intently fixed upon the town.—
She had the green and gold Brazilian flag flying and flashing in the
light of the setting sun.

Our first movement was to take to our oars and pull out into the river,
so as to get an offing and elude her as night came on. Whether
she saw us or not we did not know, nor did we care to wait to ascertain.
Bedrick had suggested the idea that she might be just from
Montevideo with knowledge of our escape, and perhaps with orders to
look us up. This conjecture gave us strength and energy. Colonia

[figure description] Page 075.[end figure description]

was behind us, and the brig on the larboard beam standing straight for
us, but we pull ed on, wishing for night. We could say with Wellington
at Waterloo, `Oh that Blucher or night were come!' only that we
would substitute `Brown' the Admiral, for Blucher, the General.

We had witnessed some quick movements of boats in the harbor
from shore to vessel, which had to our mind a suspicious appearance,
else we should have kept on straight past the mouth of the harbor,
instead of standing straight across, which course would bring the brig
nearer to us each instant until we had the offing.

The sun set. Colonia was four miles astern, and the brig two miles
to leeward.

`She has not changed her course,' said I watching her. `She
steers as at the first, direct for Colonia. I don't think she even suspects
us!'

Scarcely were the words out of my mouth, when a flash lightened
from her bows, dash, dash, dash! came a shot along the surface of the
water within a hundred rods on our starboard hand, and plunged beneath
it about two hundred yards ahead of us. The brig at the same
instant kept away from us.

`We are in for it now,' said I, after the first surprise at this salutation
was over.

`What shall be done?' said Radsworth.

`We have not a particle of wind. She brings it only with herself,'
said Bedrick.

`The wind is full a mile ahead of her,' cried I. `See it ripple. It
will reach us in a few minutes, and then let us up sail, and scud and
row at the same time!'

`In a few minutes we may be sunk,' said Bedrick. `I move that we
pull back into Colonia. Seeing us turn they will cease firing, supposing
they have mistaken us; for I have not the least doubt but they have
orders respecting us!'

This proposition was not carried. We resolved to do our best with
our oars till the wind came, and then add the sail; and strongly did
we bend to the pliant sweeps making the water sing under our bows.