Admiral Encalada, however, refused to allow himself to be made their tool, saying that he would wish for no greater honour than that of serving under so distinguished an officer as Lord Cochrane; for a time, therefore, their intrigue was defeated. No sooner had he hoisted his flag on board the _O’Higgins_ than Lord Cochrane set to work with his usual energy to complete the outfit of his little fleet. This consisted, in addition to the _O’Higgins_, of the _San Martin_ and _Lautaro_—both of which had been East Indiamen: the former carried 56 guns, the latter 44—the _Hecate_, now called the _Galvarino_, of 18 guns; the _Chacabuco_, of 20; the _Aracano_, of 16; the _Puyrredon_, of 14. The Spanish fleet consisted of three frigates: the _Esmeralda_, of 44 guns; the _Bengenza_, of 42; and the _Sebastian_, of 28; and four brigs: one of 22 guns, and three of 18. There was also a schooner carrying one heavy gun and 20 small ones; the rest were armed merchantmen: the _Resolution_, of 36 guns; the _Cleopatra_, of 28; the _Fernando_, of 26; the _La Focha_, of 20; and the _Guarmey_ and _San Antonio_, of 18 each. On the 16th of January, leaving Admiral Blanco to complete the equipment of the _Galvarino_, the _Aracano_, and the _Puyrredon_, Lord Cochrane sailed with the _O’Higgins_, _San Martin_, _Lautaro_, and _Chacabuco_. From the day the admiral’s flag was hoisted to that upon which he sailed, Stephen’s life had undergone a sudden and complete change. From morning until night he was engaged in rowing from the flagship to the other vessels, and in carrying orders, ascertaining how certain portions of the work were getting on, and reporting to the admiral, or going on shore to the dockyard with urgent requisitions for stores required. Lord Cochrane himself was equally busy. He went from ship to ship, and stood by the captains while the crews were put through their exercises in making and shortening sails, practising the drill and cutlass exercise on the deck, or working the guns. Hard as was the work imposed upon them by the constant drills, the enthusiasm and energy of the admiral so communicated itself to most of the officers and seamen that astonishing progress was made in the four weeks that elapsed before sailing. Though it could hardly be said that the smartness of the crews equalled that which would be shown by British men-of-war’s men, the work was very fairly done, and the admiral felt convinced that his ships would be worked and manœuvred far more rapidly than those of the Spaniards.