Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/281

 under the Direction of Lieutenant Sun, an experienced Officer, as to let the Ranger come up with her, when they thought they had got o far as not to have their Guns heard by her Conort at the Cape. The Pyrates had uch an Opinion of their own Courage, that they could never dream any Body would ue a Stratagem to peak with them, and o was the more eaily drawn into the Snare.

The Pyrates now drew nigh enough to fire their Chae Guns; they hoited the black Flag that was worn in Whydah Road, and got their Spritail Yard along-hips, with Intent to board; no one having ever asked, all this while, what Country Ship they took the Chae to be; they would have her to be a Portuguee, (Sugar being then a Commodity among them,) and were wearing every Minute at the Wind or Sails to expedite o weet a Chae; but, alas, all turned our in an Intant: It was with the utmot Conternation they aw her uddenly bring to, and hawl up her lower Ports, now within Pitol-hot, and truck their black Flag upon it directly. After the firt Surprize was over, they kept firing at a Ditance, hoited it again, and vapoured with their Cutlahes on the Poop; tho’ wiely endeavouring at the ame Time to get away. Being now at their Wits end, boarding was propoed by the Heads of them, and o to make one deperate Puh; but the Motion not being well econded, and their Main-Top-Mat coming down by a Shot, after two Hours firing, it was declin’d; they grew Sick, truck their Colours, and called out for Quarters; having had 10 Men killed out right, and 20 wounded, without the los or hurt of one of the King’s Men. She had 32 Guns, mann’d with 16 French Men, 20 Negroes, and 77 Englih. The Colours were thrown over board, that they might not rie in Judgment, nor be diplay’d in Tryumph over them. While