Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/194

 here for Slaves; then the Governor ask’d them, what was the chief of their Cargo? They anwered, Iron and Plate, which were good Things there; the Governor told them he would Slave them to the full Value of their Cargoe, and aked them, if they had any European Liquor on Board? they anwered, a little for their own Ue; however, a Hamper hould be at his Service. The Governor then very civilly invited them all to tay and dine with him; Davis told him, that being Commander of the Ship, he mut go on Board to ee her well moored, and give ome other Orders, but thoe two Gentlemen might tay, and that he himelf would alo return before Dinner, and bring the Hamper of Liquor with him.

While he was in the Fort, his Eyes were very buy in oberving how Things lay; he took Notice there was a Centry at the Entrance, and a Guard-Houe jut by it, where the Soldiers upon Duty commonly waited, their Arms tanding in a Corner, in a Heap; he aw alo a great many mall Arms in the Governor’s Hall; now when he came on Board, he aured his Men of Succes, deiring them not to get drunk, and that as oon as they aw the Flag upon the Catle truck, they might conclude he was Mater, and end twenty Hands immediately ahore; in the mean Time, there being a Sloop at Anchor near them, he ent ome Hands in a Boat, to ecure the Mater and all the Men, and bring them on Board of him, leat they oberving any Butle or arming in his Ship, might end ahore and give Intelligence.

Thee Precautions being taken, he ordered his Men, who were to go in the Boat with him, to put two Pair of Pitols each under their Cloaths, he doing the like himelf, and gave them Directions to go into the Guard-Room, and to enter into Converation with the Soldiers, and oberve when he