While the cry of fire roused the Americans, it scared the conspirators, and before they could get back their wits the sailors were on them. It did not take long to lock them up again. In that way Porter and Farragut saved their ship.
The time was coming in which he would lose his ship, but the way he lost it brought him new fame. I must tell you how this came about. When the Constitution and the Hornet, as I have told you in another story, were in the waters of Brazil, the Essex was sent to join them. You know what was done there, how the Constitution whipped and sunk the Java, and the Hornet did the same for the Peacock.
There was no such luck for the Essex, and after his fellow-ships had gone north Captain Porter went cruising on his own account. In the Pacific Ocean were dozens of British whalers and other ships. Here was a fine field for prizes. So he set sail, went round the stormy Cape Horn in a hurricane, and was soon in the great ocean of the west.
I shall not tell you the whole story of this cruise. The Essex here was like a hawk among a flock of partridges. She took prize after prize, until she had about a dozen valuable ships.
When the news of what Porter was doing reached England, there was a sort of panic. Something must be done with this fellow or he would clear the Pacific of British trade. So a number of frigates were sent in the hunt for him. They were to get him in any way they could.
After a long cruise on the broad Pacific, the Essex reached the port of Valparaiso, on the coast of Chile, in South America. She had with her one of her prizes, the Essex Junior. Here Porter heard that a British frigate, the Phoebe, was looking for him. That pleased him. He wanted to come across a British war-vessel, so he concluded to wait for her. He was anxious for something more lively than chasing whaling ships.
He was not there long before the Phoebe came, and with her a small warship, the Cherub.
When the Phoebe came in sight of the Essex it sailed close up. Its captain had been told that half the American crew were ashore, and very likely full of Spanish wine. But when he got near he saw the Yankee sailors at their guns and ready to fight. When he saw this he changed his mind. He jumped on a gun and said:—
"Captain Hillyar's compliments to Captain Porter, and hopes he is well."
"Very well, I thank you," said Porter. "But I hope you will not come too near for fear some accident might take place which would be disagreeable to you."