We dropped astern and left our chase till the returning day.
Next morn we fished our mainmast, the ship still being nigh,
All hands made for engaging, our luck once more to try;
But wind and sea being boist’rous our cannon would not bear,
We thought it quite imprudent, and so we left her there.
We cruised to the eastward, near the coast of Portingale;
In longitude of twenty-seven, we saw a lofty sail;
We gave her chase and soon we saw she was a British scow,
Standing for fair America, with troops for General Howe.
Our captain did inspect her, with glasses, and he said—