The brig _Truxton_ unfortunately ran aground on the bar of Tuspan River and had to be surrendered to the Mexicans.

The _Princeton_ was ordered to destroy her.

Anchoring near the wreck, a boat was manned and placed in charge of Lieutenant Boggs, to whom the work of destruction was intrusted.
The boat had nearly reached the stranded vessel when it was caught in one of the tropical tempests, which sometimes appear with cyclonic suddenness in that part of the world.

It was impossible to board the wreck, and equally impossible to get back to the _Princeton_.

A powerful current set in toward shore, in which direction the gale was blowing.
The combined efforts of the sturdy rowers could not check the progress of the boat, which perhaps would have been the right course to take but for an alarming discovery.
On the beach a company of Mexican soldiers were drawn up with a field piece, making ready to annihilate the little American company, as they could do without the slightest difficulty before the gallant sailors could land and make a charge.