The young natives taught the American boys many things. They showed them how to walk on stilts, and how to use a spear skillfully and with ease. Best of all, they taught them how to swim. The people of this island could swim as easily as they could walk. Even the babies could float in the water like ducks. The _Essex_ left this island in December, 1813, and sailed for Valparaiso. III.--THE LOSS OF THE ESSEX. One day in the following February, two English war vessels appeared in the harbor of Valparaiso. The _Essex_ was lying quietly at anchor, and many of her crew were on shore. The British vessels bore down upon the _Essex_ in a very hostile manner. Captain Porter was afraid they would attack him. They had no right to do this, for Chili was not at war with either England or America. One of these British vessels was a frigate called the _Phoebe_. The other was a sloop named the _Cherub_. The _Phoebe_ approached the _Essex_ until she was within fifteen feet of her side. Captain Porter, standing on the deck, hailed, saying: "If you touch a single yardarm, I shall board you instantly!" The _Phoebe_ passed by with no reply. After this, the British vessels anchored at the entrance of the harbor. They could thus keep the _Essex_ a prisoner. The vessels remained in this position for several weeks. On the 28th of March, a furious gale sprang up. The cables of the _Essex_ gave way, and she began to drift out toward the English vessels. Captain Porter now made a desperate effort to escape. He set all sails and made for the open sea. Suddenly something snapped. The main top-mast came crashing down, carrying sails, rigging, and some of the crew into the water. In this disabled condition escape was impossible. The _Essex_ was driven toward the shore and was finally brought to anchor within pistol shot of the beach. The _Essex_ had but four guns that would shoot as far as the cannon of the English. The _Phoebe_ and the _Cherub_ took a position out of range of nearly all the _Essex_ guns, and then poured broadside after broadside into the unfortunate vessel. Captain Porter and his gallant crew fought against these odds until one hundred and twenty-four of the men had been killed or wounded. Then the _Essex_ surrendered. During all this dreadful battle there was no braver officer than the little midshipman, David Farragut. Sometimes he was carrying messages for the captain; again, he was bringing powder for the guns. Once when going down the hatchway a wounded man fell upon him. David barely escaped being crushed to death. Captain Porter was so pleased with his conduct that he mentioned his bravery in his official dispatches to the government. After the surrender the wounded were removed to shore. David offered his services to the surgeons. He worked early and late, preparing bandages and waiting upon the injured men. In speaking of this afterward, he said, "I never earned Uncle Sam's money so faithfully."