Five days after the capture the weather was fine, but a small sea was running. The _Southampton_, under easy sail, was leading, and crowding on all she could carry; the _Vixen_ managed to keep within signalling distance of her. In three or four days every one expected to be anchored safe in Jamaica. It was about half past eleven on a bright starry night when the lookout forward suddenly gave the cry, "Land ho!" A line of breakers could be seen about two miles to the westward, and above them the shores of a little island, at its highest point but twelve or fourteen feet above the water. Evidently the sailing-master of the frigate was out of his course. He probably had not allowed for the drift of one of those strange Gulf currents which have caused the destruction of many a fine ship. The _Southampton_ was put about in a hurry, and as she was such a good sailer and was so quick in manoeuvring, no danger was apprehended, and she jogged along to the eastward to escape the proximity of the shoals. The _Vixen_ was following her and taking in some of her sail as the wind commenced to blow much fresher. At twelve o'clock the sky had darkened, and it was difficult for one vessel to distinguish the other, although in the early part of the evening, by the aid of the moon and stars, everything had been visible. The mid-watch was just coming on, when, with a sudden shock, the _Southampton_ struck on a sunken ledge of rocks; but she slid over the first, tearing the sheathing from her hull and wedging herself firmly in at the stern. Immediately a gun was fired to warn the _Vixen_, that was following in the wake; and also to be a signal of distress, as the greatest consternation prevailed now on board the frigate--that was leaking badly. But the usual ill fortune of the _Vixen_ pursued her. At first she hove to and shortened sail, preparing to come to the frigate's assistance. Just as she was about to heave to the second time and lower a boat, she struck with such a vicious force that her bows drove high out of water, she was stove in completely, and all the prisoners, who had been wondering what was going on, now terrified and in great fear of immediate death, rushed up on deck to see a strange sight. It was pitch dark; the waves were breaking on every hand, and off the port bow the big frigate could be seen hard and fast, signalling in great distress.