However, on September 15th, while cruising among the Galapagos Islands, a whaler was seen cutting in a whale. The _Essex_ was disguised by sending down the small yards, and succeeded in getting within four miles of her before she took alarm, and then by making sail Porter overhauled her. It was now learned that she was the _Sir Andrew Hammond_, of twelve guns and thirty-one men, and that she was the ship that had run away on July 28th. Luckily for the _Essex_ she had ample stores of excellent beef, pork, bread, wood, and water. Returning now to Banks Bay, the appointed rendezvous, the _Essex_ was joined by the _Essex Junior_. Lieutenant Downes brought the news from Valparaiso that several English frigates had been sent to hunt the _Essex_. At this Porter determined to go to the Marquesas Islands, where he could give the _Essex_ a thorough overhauling in safety. He had cleared those waters of the British whalers and letters of marque, and determined to fit his ship for a battle with equal force before sailing for home. He reached Nukahiva with his squadron on October 23d, built a fort to protect the harbor, and immediately began taking down the masts of the _Essex_ in order to make everything aloft--spars and rigging--as sound as possible. In November the _New Zealander_ was sent home with a full cargo of oil, but, unfortunately for the Americans, both she and the _Georgiana_, sent previously, were recaptured when almost in port by British blockaders. They were very rich prizes for the British tars. [Illustration: The _Essex_ and her Prizes at Nukahiva in the Marquesas Islands. _From an engraving by Strickland of a drawing by Captain Porter._] Nukahiva lies in the tropical climate of the South Pacific--a climate where the sea and the air dance together under an unclouded sun; where the wanton waves tumble and roll invitingly on the beeches; where seemingly the wind-driven light splashes the swaying fronds of the cocoanut-palms; where the air of night is soft and sweet and wooing; where nature asks no labor in return for her bounties; where the thoughts of the people run only to war and love. It was to Jack the ideal country--a paradise on earth. There were several tribes on Nukahiva. The sailors made friends with those living close at hand, and subdued those, from farther away who came to make trouble. And thereafter they worked upon the ships by day, and at night, by turns, frolicked with the friendly natives. Says Farragut in his journal: “During our stay at this island the youngsters--I among the number--were sent on board the vessel commanded by our chaplain for the purpose of continuing our studies away from temptation.” [Illustration: Map of the Harbor in which the _Essex_ and her Prizes lay. _After a drawing by Captain Porter._]