And he did soon leave it; he and his, Boyd alone of the Englishmen being now with him.
It was on the last night of November, 1831, that they all set forth; Torrijos with Fifty-five companions; and in two small vessels committed themselves to their nigh-desperate fortune.

No sentry or official person had noticed them; it was from the Spanish Consul, next morning, that the British Governor first heard they were gone.

The British Governor knew nothing of them; but apparently the Spanish officials were much better informed.

Spanish guardships, instantly awake, gave chase to the two small vessels, which were making all sail towards Malaga; and, on shore, all manner of troops and detached parties were in motion, to render a retreat to Gibraltar by land impossible.
Crowd all sail for Malaga, then; there perhaps a regiment will join us; there,--or if not, we are but lost! Fancy need not paint a more tragic situation than that of Torrijos, the unfortunate gallant man, in the gray of this morning, first of December, 1831,--his last free morning.
Noble game is afoot, afoot at last; and all the hunters have him in their toils .-- The guardships gain upon Torrijos; he cannot even reach Malaga; has to run ashore at a place called Fuengirola, not far from that city;--the guardships seizing his vessels, so soon as he is disembarked.

The country is all up; troops scouring the coast everywhere: no possibility of getting into Malaga with a party of Fifty-five.