Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/189

 Here they cleaned with much Difficulty, for they had no Carpenter in their Company, a Peron of great Ue upon uch Exigencies; from hence they put to Sea, making to the North-Side of the Iland of Hipaniola. The firt Sail which fell in their Way, was a French Ship of twelve Guns; it mut be oberved, that Davis had but thirty five Hands, yet Proviions began to grow hort with him; wherefore he attacked this Ship, he oon truck, and he ent twelve of his Hands on Board of her, in order to plunder: This was no ooner done, but a Sail was pied a great Way to Windward of them; they enquired of the French Man what he might be, he anwered, that he had poke with a Ship, the Day before, of 24 Guns and 60 Men, and he took this to be the ame.

Davis then propoed to his Men to attack her, telling them, he would be a rare Ship for their Ue, but they looked upon it to be an extravagant Attempt, and dicovered no Fondnes for it, but he aured them he had a Stratagem in his Head would make all afe; wherefore he gave Chace, and ordered his Prize to do the ame. The Prize being a low Sailor, Davis firt came up with the Enemy, and tanding along Side of them, hewed his pyratical Colours: They, much urpriz’d, called to Davis, telling him, they wondered at his Impudence in venturing to come o near them, and ordered him to trike; but he anwered, that he intended to keep them in Play, till his Conort came up, who was able to deal with them, and that if they did not trike to him, they hould have but bad Quarters; whereupon he gave them a Broad-Side, which they returned.

In the mean Time the Prize drew near, who obliged all the Prioners to come upon Deck in white Shirts, to make a Shew of Force, as they had been directed by Davis; they alo hoited a dirty Rh