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It was half-past one o'clock p.m. on the eventful day of April 22 when Admiral Riveros hoisted a signal on the Blanco Encalada for the fleet to weigh anchor and stand over toward the batteries in readiness to engage; and a few moments later the clatter of chain-cables was heard, as the men-o'-war got their anchors.
When the young Englishman had finished his report, which he did in the course of about an hour, Riveros suddenly said: "Then I may take it, Senor el Teniente, that you are pretty well acquainted with the country about Sorata? Did you, by any chance, see or hear anything of a village called Coroico during your captivity, or while you were escaping?"
In a moment he had his glass to his eye, and began to spell out the signal, which, when completed, ran as follows: "Blanco Encalada. Admiral Riveros to call here without delay. I have important orders for him." "Hallo!" thought Jim, "what's in the wind now? More work for somebody, I'll be bound. I wonder whether the Union has been up to any fresh tricks?
The ships finished coaling by five o'clock in the afternoon of the new day, and immediately stood out to sea, much to Douglas's relief, for he felt that another night like the last would have been too much for him. Once outside the harbour, the two ironclads turned their heads to the south again; and Riveros made the signal that Antofagasta was to be their next port of call.
Jim Douglas immediately reported the occurrence to Commodore Riveros, who, after debating for a minute or two as to whether or not he should follow the corvette, finally decided in favour of pursuing the Huascar, as she was the more formidable craft of the two; and the Chilian ironclad accordingly was kept on her previous course.
He had also seen fit to express approval of the manner in which Jim Douglas had carried out the task assigned to him in Arica Bay, and he therefore sent for him to his cabin and informed the young man that he was to take command, in the Blanco Encalada's launch, of the flotilla which was to do patrol-duty during the night a circumstance which afforded Jim the utmost satisfaction, and emboldened him to ask as a favour that Terry O'Meara should again be allowed to accompany him; to which request Riveros immediately acceded.
I am indeed glad to see you back again, my young friend. Now proceed with your report, senor, if you please." Thus commanded, Jim plunged into a fairly full and detailed recital of all that had befallen him since he had left the flagship, only pausing in his narrative when Riveros wished to be enlightened upon some point or other.
Jim made the rounds, saw that the men were at their stations, that the guns were ready and run out, and that plenty of ammunition had been supplied to the turrets, and then he reported to the first lieutenant that the ship was "clear for action." The first lieutenant at once made his report to the captain, who, in turn, reported to Commodore Riveros, who had already entered the conning-tower.
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