Page:Narrative of an Official Visit to Guatemala.djvu/454

434 occupied in ramming in well the charges they contained. Before coming up to us, she shortened sail: on her quarter deck she carried a large swivel brass gun; and, had she boarded us, she had hands enough to have destroyed our crew thrice over: but whether she did not like our warlike appearance, or whether, distracted from her intention by two large vessels now heaving in sight, she satisfied herself with passing us in dead silence, made sail and steered for the creek, where we had witnessed her companions in the morning.

The Margaret had all the appearance of a brig of war: she had six port-holes on each side, four of which were without guns, but were left open as pretending that the guns were withdrawn: another manœuvre also conduced, in all probability, to our safety on this occasion; for on nearing the lugger, we altered our course a point or two, as if with the desire of coming up with her, for, as we knew we could not escape, it was thought best to put on