Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/385

 with Buckets; but finding themelves not able to keep her free, and eeing the utmot Danger before their Eyes, they turn’d to the Takle, and hoited out their Proviions, and other heavy Goods, and threw them over-board, with ix of their Guns, o that by lightening the Veel, he might rie to the Top of the Sea with the Waves: They were alo going to cut away their Mat; but conidering how dangerous it would be, to be left in uch a Condition, they reolved to delay it to the lat, which was Prudence in them to do; for a Ship without Mats or Sails, lies like a Log upon the Water, and if attack’d, mut fight with Diadvantage, the working of her being the mot artful Part of the Engagement, becaue he may ometimes bring all her great Guns on one Side, to bear upon her Enemy, when the diabled Ship can do little or nothing.

But to proceed; by their throwing over-board the heavy Goods, the Veel made coniderable les Water, and they could keep it under with the Pump only, which gave them Hopes and new Life; o that intead of cutting all away, they took neceary Meaures to ecure the Mat, by making Preventor-Shrowds, &c. and then wore and lay too upon the other Tack, till the Storm was over. The Scooner made omewhat better Weather of it, of the two, but was pretty roughly handled notwithtanding, having plit her Main-ail, prung her Boltprit, and cut her Anchors from her Bows. The Brigantine by running away to Leeward, when he wore upon the Larboard Tack, had lot Sight of the Scooner; but not knowing whether he might be afe or not, as oon as the Wind abated, he et her Main-Sail and Top-Sail, and made hort Trips to Windward; and the next Day had the good Fortune to come in Sight of their Conort, who, upon a Signal, which the other knew, bore down to her, and the Crew were over- Rh