doubted not but that Ship was either funk, or taken by the Enemy. He now reproach'd himself, that he had ever confented to fuffer the Chevalier to depart from him, and abandoned his whole Soul to a Despair which had no Bounds.

In the mean time the Marquis de Padille, who had at laft received Orders to set fail, now doubly animated with the Defire of Revenge on the whole English Nation by what he had been told by Montrofe, came out againft Kerme, and attack'd him with a Fury proportionable to the Excitements he had to it: The Number of Veffels in this Engagement were equal, and each following the Example of their Superiors, fir'd at each other. They fought for fome time with little Advantage on either fide; nor did the Night feparate them, they continuing close to each other, and at the Dawn of Day renewed the Fight with the fame Fury as before.

TOWARDS the Middle of the Day, the Foremast of the Marquis de Padille's Veffel was broken down, at which the English cry'd out Victory; but in a Moment after, that of Kerme was in the fame State. The Spaniards gaining Courage at that Sight, drew more close to them, and the Smoke of the Cannon and Mufquets made fuch a thick Cloud over the Heads of both, that it was impoffible to fee what was done. Don Fernando taking Advantage of the Darkness and Confufion, clap'd his Grapling-Irons on Kerme's Veffel; and animated with all the Emotions of Defpair and jealous Rage, performed Actions worthy to have been perpetuated to all Pofterity. English Kerme, fir'd with a jealoufy of Glory, as the other with that of Love, did little lefs Execution: He attempted feveral times to board his Enemy, but was as often repulfed; Don Fernando had the fame Fate. Kerme found himself cover'd over with Wounds, without feeling the leaft Inclination to retire to have them drefs'd. The Marquis de Padille having received a Mufquet-fhot in his Thigh, and three or four deep Cuts with a Scymetar, was fo far from a Defire of quitting the Combat, that his Hurts feem'd rather to have added new Vigour to his Arm.

IN

IN fine, the Ammunition on both fides being exhaufted, they fought Man to Man for above three Hours, and neither in the one nor the other Veffel was there one fingle Person who was not either kill'd or defperately wounded. Kerme, at the Head of four or five still maintain'd the Fight; the Marquis had much the fame Number, but those few fo maim'd, and faint with Lofs of Blood, that tho' the Will remain'd, the Power of doing farther Hurt was loft. Juft at this dreadful Moment a Veffel under full Sail approach'd; it was that of the Chevalier Lumley, who, furpriz'd at this horrible Spectacle, made all the hate he could to fuccour these unhappy Wretches. The reft of the Spanish Veffels thinking their Commander perifh'd, made what haste they could away from the English, who were alfo in fo bad an Eftate, that they thought themselves happy in the others Flight.

THE Chevalier Lumley having boarded the Spanish Ship, which was that which lay next him, found only dead, or dying Men: But with what foul-rending Agonies was it, that he faw the Marquis one of thofe fad Objects, without Senfe, without Motion, or any other ⚫ifible Sign of Life! All the Prudence, the Fortitude, the Refentment of our Heroine, was too little to enable her to stand this Shock, and fhe had infallibly fallen into Complainings, which would have betray'd her Sex, if Ivon, who guefs'd all that pafs'd in her Heart at this dreadful Interview, drawing nearer to that pity moving Sight, had not immediately told her, that the Condition the beheld him in, was wholly owing to his Lofs of Blood, and that he faw no Wounds about him in any dreadful Part. He had no fooner fpoke thefe Words, than he ordered he should be carefully removed into their Veffel, where there were fkilful Surgeons to attend him. After this, he prevailed on her a little to refume her Courage ; and they then went into the Ship of which Kerme was Commander, and finding him in the fame Condition with the Marquis, they took of him the fame Care.

THE first thing the Chevalier did, was to run to the Cabin where they had convey'd the Marquis, and being. affured

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affured by the Surgeons, after they had fearch'd his Wounds, that there were none about him mortal; fome part of that Tranquillity he had lately loft, return'd, and the natural Generofity of his Soul carrying him to make the fame Enquiry after Kerme, he heard those appointed to take care of him, give a Judgment of his Condition not lefs favourable.

THE extraordinary Emotions which thefe Adventures had created in the Soul of Leonora, join'd with the Conftraint the put on herself in concealing them, made Colonel Ivon in fear that fhe would fink under the oppreffive Weight of them; and taking all imaginable ways to comfort her, you fee, Madam, faid he, by what unexpected Means Providence conducts you to that Happiness of which you fo lately defpair'd, and for which I doubt you are not yet fufficiently thankful: But I defire you will make ufe of that admirable Reafon with which you are fo plentifully for'd; thank Heaven,who has now put in your Power all you feem'd to wish, the Means of returning to your Father and your native Country.-As for the Marquis de Padille, if he has been falfe, you fee your Wrongs revenged; if true, you will foon have an Opportunity of discovering it: either way you have Reason to be fatisfied with your Lot.-Moderate therefore your Inquietudes, and conceal those Disorders (which perhaps it is not poffible for you all at once to expel) and remember that to give Liberty to Don Fernando and yourself, demands you fhould always appear like the Chevalier Lumley, like the Hero you have done: -- And depend on my Zeal for your Service, my Watchfulness for your Security, and the Faith I have given you never to forfake you in the utmoft Peril, and to affift you in every thing that is noble and worthy of you.

WORDS fuch as thefe, coming from a Perfon for whom Leonora had the greatest Refpect, produc'd all the Effect the Speaker of them could have wifh'd. I hefitate not, faid fhe, to follow your Advice in all Things. I look on you as my Father; my Glory, my Honour, and my Life, are in your Hands: I will do, as

far

far as I am able, all you would have me: but I conjure you to find fome plaufible Excufe for our Departure for Buenos-Ayres, as foon as poffible. I have difcover'd to you too much of my Soul, not to make you in part fenfible of what I feel in the Conftraint I am at prefent under. I cannot be fo near Don Fernando, ungrateful and perfidious as he is, without relapfing into all the Softness and Weakness of my Sex; and I muft absolutely cease to be Leonora, to maintain the Character of the Chevalier Lumley, while in the fame Veffel with the ftill lov'd, ftill amiable Don Fernando, Ivon, who understood Nature perfectly well, and had not always been infenfible of that Tenderness with which Leonora was animated, affur'd her in the moft folemn manner, that he would in a very fhort time find the Means of restoring her to a Place where the might be at Liberty to behave as became her Sex and Sentiments. After this Conversation they parted for a few Hours; Leanora went to vifit the Wounded, and luon about the Execution of his Project.

NEITHER Kerme nor the Marquis de Padille being in a Condition of knowing any thing, the Chevalier had the Opportunity of vifiting them often, without being obliged to refrain before them any of thofe Emotions of which his Soul was full; he placed Ovesby in the Room with the Marquis, giving that faithful Friend a ftrict Charge not to leave him a Moment; and because he would hereafter have no Reproaches from his Generofity, he took the fame Care of Kerme, and commanded the Attendance of thofe neceffary to preferve his Life, as if he had been a Perfon equally dear with the Marquis de Padille.

In the meantime Ivon got ready a Shallop, and went to vifit the other English Veffels, which he found in a very bad Condition; then reprefenting the unhappy State they were in, to those Officers who were left alive, and the Danger of being attack'd by the Spaniards while they were without a Chief, he advis'd them to confer that Honour, during the Inability of Kerme, on the Chevalier Lumley, whofe Courage and Conduct had

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been fo well teftified among them. This Difcourfe, pronounced by a Man who had given many Proofs of his Wisdom and Experience, join'd to the Love and Efteem which the Chevalier had acquir'd, was unanimously agreed with, and that young Hero was immediately proclaim'd as Commander-General. Ivon having obtain'd this, went presently and acquainted him with the News ; the firft Ufe he made of this new Power, was to take all the Riches he had found in the Hercules, from the other Veffels, and put them into that in which he was himfelf; to recruit that with Ammunition, and fome of the best Men which were remaining from the late dreadful Slaughter; and to fend thofe, whofe Hurts rendered them incapable of doing any prefent Service, to Jamaica; and setting thofe Veffels on fire, which had been too much damag'd for refitting up. After which he fet

fail for the Coaft of Spain; Ivon, who was an old Warrior, and skill'd in Stratagems, having advis'd him to pretend that he was going to make a small Descent into fome of the Villages by the Sea-fide. But these Orders occafioning fome Murmurs amongst the Soldiers, as tho' fufpicious of a Defign; he oblig'd him in reality to do as he had faid, and several poor Families fuffer'd by this Stratagem, which nevertheless the Neceffity compell'd the Chevalier, tho' unwillingly, to put in execution. They fail'd on toward Buenos-Ayres, under the Pretence of pillaging that Place a fecond time. The Marquis de Padille having by this time recover'd the Ufe of his Senfes, and in the Opinion of the Surgeons post all Danger, defir'd to fpeak with the Commander. The Chevalier, not able to affure himself that he should retain that Behaviour which became the Sex he appear'd to be of, and the Dignity he now bore, defir'd Ivon to go to him. The Tenderness of this charming Maid now more than ever difclos'd itself; fhe entreated him to make use of his utmost Penetration, to dive into the Secrets of his Heart; to find out, if it was poffible, that there was any thing for her to hope; to try him every way, and give her a faithful Account of all he faid, and in what Manner he receiv'd his Interrogatories.