“‘Ah! you will be deceived by all you see,’ said the young girl; ‘this is rather a favourable month, and this year has altogether been less destructive to human life. There is Fort Banca. I hope those horrid French ships will not attempt to come up the river, and fire upon the fort.’
“‘It looks very strong,’ I observed, ‘and, from its position, difficult to attack.’
“‘Papa says it’s all outward show; for if an enemy gets up the river, they would soon knock it to pieces.’
“Just as it began to grow dusk, we reached the landing place at Fort Banca. Colonel Packenham’s friend, Captain Stanhope, was waiting to receive him.
“‘In the name of Fate,’ said the Captain, shaking his friend the Colonel by the hand, ‘why did you not come up the river in the boats, instead of taking to the woods? The jungle is dangerous.’
“‘Faith, I thought my two little girls would have a worse chance if the enemy opened fire on the boats,’ returned the Colonel, ‘and I was so anxious for them that I started on the first opening of the fire from the French ships. Cowardly rascals to fire into the streets of the town, and our flag hauled down!’
“‘Well, here you are, safe and sound,’ said the Captain, looking at me with surprise; ‘but who is this young man—a French prisoner?’
“‘Not exactly; an Englishman under false colours.’
“The Colonel then introduced me to his friend, who very kindly welcomed me. We were all made very comfortable. I was located with the Colonel’s family, and for a few days we enjoyed quietness and peace. I was in dangerous company, for Miss Packenham had every quality besides beauty to engage the affections of our sex. Captain Stanhope’s daughters were exceedingly agreeable and pretty; and altogether, life would have been exceedingly agreeable in Fort Banca, had not there been several deaths, owing to the crowded state of the fort. We were not long, however, left in fancied security.
“One morning the alarm was sounded; the topsails of a large ship were seen ascending the river, and very soon it was ascertained, by the arrival of a canoe, that the French frigate, the Felicité, and my old ship, were coming up to attack the fort. All who could carry arms were called to aid in the defence. I gladly offered myself, and was enrolled amongst the defenders of the fort. The two frigates, having taken up a position, at once opened fire upon us, to which we replied with spirit. I felt most anxious to give my old tyrant as large a dose of shot as I could, and the second day, for some reason or other, he dropped behind the Felicité. We learned afterwards my old captain had been mortally wounded by a splinter, and died the following day; but the first lieutenant having the command, the frigate was brought into place again, and commenced a determined and fierce fire against us. We had several killed, numbers wounded, and two of our best guns dismounted, besides our walls knocked about our ears. The enemy gave us no peace, night or day. At length, nearly worn out, our ammunition almost exhausted, and half our little garrison hors de combat, it was agreed, after a long consultation, to abandon the fort. The inhabitants of the town, therefore, began removing their effects in canoes and boats, intending to go up the river to a negro settlement, till the French fleet sailed. To deceive the enemy we kept up the best cannonading we could, though, in truth, the walls were nearly in ruins. The departure of the inhabitants from the town and fort could not be seen from the ships, for the island and sudden curve of the river completely concealed our movements.