Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/215

Rh league or two farther out at sea was a strong squadron apparently in pursuit. At nightfall, the Spaniards on the island and mainland made fires to guide them into the harbor, for they were supposed to be two vessels laden with cacao that were now due from the coast of Caracas. The pursuing squadron had changed its course when the ships neared the fort, casting anchor a short distance from the city, and the townsfolk went to vespers and to rest as usual, apprehending no danger.

About an hour after midnight a few musket shots were heard, but the inhabitants, supposing a salute was being given to some prominent citizen, remained quietly in bed. The town was well garrisoned; the castle of San Juan de Ulúa was the strongest fortress in the New World, and to add to the feeling of security, the great fleet was daily expected from Spain. Never, for years, had the citizens been more free from alarm than when they awoke at sunrise and prepared to go about their daily avocations. The church bells tolled as usual for matins, and the people set forth to obey the summons. But no matins were said that morning in Vera Cruz; for those who first made their appearance in the streets found them guarded by parties of armed men, and soon the dread news spread from house to house that pirates were in possession of the city.

The buccaneers had obtained information from prisoners captured off the coast of the two ships laden with cacao that were hourly expected at Vera Cruz, and this information had suggested the stratagem already related. On board the vessels which the Spaniards had supposed to be thus laden was the main body of the pirates, captains Van Horn and Lorencillo in charge. During the night nearly eight hundred men, armed to the teeth, had landed at a distance of less than a league from Vera Cruz, and guided by slaves had crept stealthily on the city, surprised the