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The account of our adventures appeared in the Spanish paper El
Gaceta Mercantil, and for some days we were quite lions. As we
had nothing to do but to enjoy ourselves, and as every facility was
afforded us for going into the best society, we passed our time for two
or three weeks very pleasantly.

But as I felt no disposition to intrude upon the hospitality of my
friends, and had very little money, I began to look about me to find
something to do; but all business was suspended. Fairfax had by
great good fortune, obtained a place in a commercial house. Bedrick
had gone into the navy which in a few days afterwards weighed
and stood down the river to fight the Brazilian squadron. Radsworth
and I were without any prospect of doing any thing. We at length
sold our skiff, which brought us eighty dollars, and this was divided.
The skiff had safely been towed round to the mole; and when the rumor
that four `Americanos' had come up from Monte Video in it
spread, hundreds flocked to see it, and for some days we shared
with it equally, the honors of the popular admiration.

But it is time that I bring the narrative of my famous South American
expedition to a close, which I shall do in the present chapter;
as I have nothing more to write that has not been written before of
the manners and customs of the people of Buenos Ayres.

After remaining there a portion of the winter, and finding that I
could do nothing to advantage on account of the war, I resolved to return
to the United States in the brig Caroline Augusta which was to
go out of the river in ballast. The Brazilians did not object to vessels
going out of the river from Buenos Ayres. They would have
been glad to have them all left before Brown had bought and converted
any of them into vessels of war, as he had done; nearly every
vessel in the squadron under his command, having been a merchant
vessel. The Commodore had offered Captain Read a large
sum for his, but the Captain preferred returning home in her.

The day at length came for sailing.—At nine o'clock in the

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morning I startedupon horseback for Ensenada, escorting with the Captain
and two sailors, a cart containing stores and baggage. The cart
was as rude as if it had been made before the flood. It had huge
wooden wheels, and the body was made of poles and covered like a
huge coop with a lattice of withes. It was drawn by an ox and a
mule, driven by a half-breed Spaniard. It was the most grotesque affair
in the way of a carriage, that ever came before my eyes. After
various adventures, we reached Ensenada, and once more I stood
on the deck of the brig which we had first seen on coming up from
Monte Video. Radsworth had concluded to remain and go into the
navy, and we had only two passengers besides myself. One of them
was a large Frenchman by the name of Ducosse, who had with
him about four thousand dollars in gold and silver, and used to
amuse himself on the passage in pouring it out on the cabin floor and
counting it over. He said he had been a captain under Napoleon,
and showed numerous scars in attestation of his having been in battle.

The other passenger was from Wilmington, North Carolina, by
the name of Bennett, a mere youth who had a brother as consul
in some part of South America. Captain Reed himself proved to be
one of the finest men in the world; a thorough seaman, and as bold
and fearless as a true man ought to be. His mate by the name of
Durgin, was a large red-haired man, and a person of excellent temper.
He was also an exemplary Christian. He had some mechanical
genius, and on the passage invented a perpetual motion machine,
on the principle of the repelling and attracting magnet.

The day after we got on board, the brig weighed anchor and was
towed out of the creek into the river La Plata. As we were moving
out, I heard the sound of heavy and distantcannonading, and going
aloft, could see clouds of smoke rolling along the horizon in the
direction of Colonia. The sound was like far off thunder. We
understood afterwards that Brown was bombarding Colonia, and the
Brazilians were playing their batteries in return. The result, however,
was, that the Buenos Ayrean Commodore finally withdrew and
stood down the river.

After gaining deep water outside of the mouth of the creek of Ensenada,
we called our boat aboard, made sail, and lay our course
down the river. The afternoon of the next day we came in sight
of the Brazilian fleet, and then I fearned for the first time that
Captain Reed intended to run the gauntlet by.—He had got into
Buenos Ayres by doing it when he came up, for he had reached
Buenos Ayres after the blockade was established. In going up he
had kept well to the south, and been chased and fired into for twenty
hours, but escaped by his superior sailing and reached his port in
safety.

He was, therefore, as well as myself marked by them. He knew
that, if he was recognized he would be stopped and taken into Monte
Video, and perhaps imprisoned, besides losing his vessel.

All the while going down, I had been feeling some misgivings, if I
should happen to be recognized by the boarding officer, as I might

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be, for nearly every Brazilian officer had doubtless seen me in `the
soda shop.'

When, therefore, Captain Reed told me that he should drive by, I
felt very much relieved. All vessels leaving a blockaded port are
compelled not only to leave in ballast, but they are brought too and
boarded, and strictly searched. Captain Reed was in ballast, but he
resolved not to be boarded; for he knew that his vessel would be
recognized and seized. So as we approached the squadron, he said
to me,

`I shall try your plan coming up. I shall make a bee-line right
between yonder brig of war and corvette. We shall, with this breeze
get by 'em before they can harm us! They will not suspect us
either, till too late, for I shall run down and begin to clew up and
take in my royals, as if I was going to come to!'

The fleet lay, as before, stretched across the ocean-like river, in
a line that diminished towards the horizon northand south. Directly
before us and within three miles lay the brig and corvette, both at
anchor. We steered directly for them, and as we approached the
brig loosened her top-sails and hove short. When we got so near
that we could see the men on deck and distinguish the officers,
Captain Reed began to clew up, but still standing on. In this manner
we passed the range of their guns and were pursuing our way
astern of them before they suspected our intention. But they waked
up, when they saw us point away our royals again, shut home our top
gallant sails, and instead of backing the main-topsail, square away
before the wind. Gun after gun was fired from both vessels, but
we were too far out of range as they lay, for the shot to hit us; and
before they could wear so as to bring their broadsides to bear upon
our stern, we were a mile and a half below them.

We were not, however, out of danger. Below us about four miles,
we saw a brig and schooner, cruising. These, hearing the firing,
and seeing us pass as we did, bore up to intercept us. To avoid
them we had to make a long stretch towards the shore, and having
the wind of them, we got by in safety, though they bowled away at
us at long shot, though without touching us. Indeed, we could not
see where their balls hit the water.

Monte Video with its fortress on its summit was now in full sight,
and soon we opened the mouth of the harbor and had a full view of
the town. I began to fear we should not get by so easily. The sound
of the firing had started three vessels from the port and we saw
them standing out. Again we had to manœuvre, and try the speed
of our brig. It was however impossible to pass without going very
near one of them, and Captain Reed resolved to risk her fire. We
stood boldly for her, and acted precisely as if we were going to speak
her. Captain Reed with his trumpet in his hand, sprung into the
main rigging and took his stand with his trumpet ready as if to hail.

The fellows in the Brazilian brig were at their guns. Our royals
were dropped, and topgallant sails clewed up as before. We seemed
to them as we were dashing by, just about to round to under their
stern, when we up helm, squared the yards, and went like an eagle

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on our way. In three minutes bang bang came the guns. Captain
Reed ordered us all to lay on our knees. The shot rattled and whizzed
about our ears, passed through our sails and pudded into our
wood-work. As we were in a raking exposure, nothing but the bad
gunnery of the Brazilians saved us from being greatly damaged. As
it was, in twenty minutes we were out of reach of their shot, and dashing
down the river at the rate of eight knots.

At sun-down the distant towers and mount of the city faded into
the haze of twilight, and in the morning we had passed Cape St.
Mary's, and were bounding over the blue ocean homeward.

After seventy-six days we reached Boston. The last land we had
seen had been Cape St. Rogue, and so true had been our reckoning,
that we made Cape Cod within two hours of the time in which the
Captain said we should. The sail up the harbor of islands, was most
refreshing to the eye after be long at sea. The sight of land, of green
trees, and verdant slopes, seemed to me more beautiful than any sight
I have ever beheld. Coming from the sea after a long voyage, during
which the eye has forgotten to reflect anything but the ship and the
sea, the green earth looks like a paradise. The voyager wonders he
never thought it so filled with beauty before.

I found my friends well, and very much surprised to learn the
result of my foreign mercantile expedition. When the merchants
who had been referred to were called upon, they denied all knowledge
of Bedrick's intentions, supposing that he really meant to do what
he professed to. As I had no redress, I took my experiences for my
pains and turned my attention to making my fortune in my native
country.

I had been but three months at home, when one evening a person
called at my father's who was shown into the parlor. What was my
surprise and joy at beholding Radsworth! He had tried to get
something to do after I left, but without success. He went on board
of one of the brigs of war, the sight of which was enough for him. He
was glad to get on shore again, with less lofty notions patriotic than
he had before entertained touching the affairs of the country. He soon
took passage home in a ship that left in ballast. We sat and talked
over our adventures till the `small hours' came round, and then parted.
He is now, I believe, a merchant in Calais, Maine. In a few weeks
afterwards, Hewitt returned from Monte Video, having embarked on
board an American vessel for Boston. From him we learned the rage
and fury of Bedrick at our departure, and how he informed the Captain-general
where we had gone, who sent a gun-boat with twelve
soldiers in it after us. Fortunately for us, and perhaps for them, they
didn't overtake us. Hewitt has given up foreign travel and is now
we believe, a very successful Dr. in Bangor.

Bedrick, I have heard, had his leg shot off in an engagement under
Brown. His subsequent career is unknown to me. His brother Edgar
was engaged in smuggling goods between Monte Video and Buenos
Ayres with his father; for the soda business did not last a great while.
Ned was way-laid and assassinated. The old gentleman still resides in
that country. Fairfax also remained there and has been a merchant of

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some property. He lives on a vacienda about twenty miles from Buenos
Ayres, and is the owner of thousands of cattle. I see by the Gaceta
Mercantil, that he was lately the interpreter between General Rosas
and the American Commodore.

Thus I, Paul Perril, finish the narrative of my adventures, and with
many thanks, gentle reader, for your kind company, now take my
courteous leave of you.