The news of their presence speedily arrived at Panama.

Captain Ortuga was dispatched with four barques in search of them and, falling in with the liberated prizes, learned the course that the English had taken.

The river had three branches, and the Spaniard would have been much puzzled to know which to ascend; but the carelessness of the adventurers gave him a clue; for, as he lay with his boats, wondering which river he should ascend, he saw floating on the water large quantities of feathers.

These were sufficient indications of a camp on the banks, and he at once followed that branch of the stream.
In four days he came upon the boat, which was hauled upon the sand, with only six men with her.

They were lying asleep on the bank, and the coming of the Spaniards took them completely by surprise, and one of them was killed before he could make his escape into the woods.