It was an inspiriting sight as the vessels, rounding the point, made under full sail to the south. There were six line-of-battle ships, six Company’s vessels, five bomb-ketches, four Maratha grabs--one of them Angria’s own grab, the _Tremukji_, on which Desmond had escaped--and forty gallivats. The _Tyger_ led the van. Admiral Watson’s flag was hoisted on the _Kent_, Admiral Pocock’s on the _Cumberland_. On board the fleet were 200 European soldiers, 300 sepoys, and 300 Topasses--mainly half-caste Portuguese in the service of the Company, owing their name to the topi[#] they wore. To co-operate with this force a land army of 12,000 Marathas, horse and foot, under the command of Ramaji Punt, one of the Peshwa’s generals, had been for some time investing the town of Gheria. [#] Hat. At this time of year the winds were so slight and variable that it was nearly a week before the fleet arrived off Gheria. When the bastions of the fort hove into sight Desmond could not help contrasting his feelings with those of two months before. "Like the look of your cage, Mr. Burke?" said Captain Latham at his elbow. "I was just thinking of it, sir," said Desmond. "It makes a very great difference when you’re outside the bars." "And we’ll break those bars before we’re much older, or I’m a Dutchman." At this moment the signal to heave-to was seen flying at the masthead of the _Kent_. Before the vessels had anchored one of the grabs left the main fleet and ran into the harbour. It bore a message from Admiral Watson to Tulaji Angria, summoning him to surrender. The answer returned was that if the Admiral desired to be master of the fort he must take it by force, as Angria was resolved to defend it to the last extremity. The ships remained at anchor outside the harbour during the night. Next morning a boat put off from the town end of the fort conveying several of Angria’s relatives and some officers of Ramaji Punt’s army. It by and by became known that Tulaji Angria, leaving his brother in charge of the fort, had given himself up to Ramaji Punt, and was now a prisoner in his camp. The visitors had come ostensibly to view the squadron, but really to discover what were Admiral Watson’s intentions in regard to the disposal of the fort supposing it fell into his hands. The Admiral saw through the device, which was no doubt to hand the fort over to the Peshwa’s general, and so balk the British of their legitimate prize. Admiral Watson made short work of the visitors. He told them that if Angria would surrender his fort peaceably he and his family would be protected; but that the fort he must have. They pleaded for a few days’ grace, but the Admiral declined to wait a single day. If the fort was not immediately given up he would sail in and attack it. It was evident that hostilities could not be avoided. About one in the afternoon Captain Henry Smith of the _Kingfisher_ sloop was ordered to lead the way, and Desmond was sent to join him.