"When I had formed my plan of operations in the vicinity of Nassau, in order to obtain the information the government desired, I bought this boat.

When picked up, the boat had her spars, sails, oars, water-breakers, and other articles carefully stowed away on board of her; and it appeared as though she had broken adrift from her moorings, or had been carried away by a rising tide from some beach where those in charge of her had landed.

I happened to find the captain of the vessel that brought the boat to New York; and he made me pay roundly for her, so that he got well rewarded for his trouble in picking it up." The Chateaugay stood due south till six o'clock at little more than half speed, and when she came about her dead reckoning indicated that she was seventy-five miles to the south-west of Gibbs Hill light.

The weather was very favorable for the proposed enterprise, with a moderate breeze from the west.

Mr.Gilfleur did not wish to leave the ship till after midnight, for all he desired was to get inside the outer reefs before daylight.