Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/219

Rh Sunday after the capture of Vera Cruz. The Spaniards who had been held as hostages were then released; the negroes and mulattoes, to the number of at least thirteen hundred, and the most attractive of the female captives, were placed on board the fleet; and the buccaneers prepared to set sail from the island.

During the afternoon a double guard was placed over the remaining prisoners; the rude huts which they had erected of branches to screen them from sun and dew were destroyed; and the pirates, brandishing their weapons, never ceased to menace them with death, in the hope of yet extorting a further ransom. The threats were not executed, however, and at night all the corsairs withdrew, for the ships were now ready for sea. The following morning a boat's crew returned to take on board another load of captives; but found that all had concealed themselves. The governor and two friars were discovered, and having no time for further search the pirates carried them off to their vessels, though the latter were afterward released. They secured also a launch laden with provisions, which had been sent from the city for the relief of the famishing prisoners.

No sooner had the ransom been paid than the fleet from Spain appeared in sight. The governor of San Juan de Ulúa immediately despatched a boat to the admiral, proposing to make a combined attack on the corsairs, who now put to sea, not waiting even to take in water, or a supply of fresh meat which they had provided at the mouth of the Medellin River. Now once more the Spaniards let slip their opportunity, for, like the Austrians in the day's of Bonaparte, they knew not the value of minutes. If a prompt and vigorous attack had been made on the