Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/431

 the laving of the Veel, he had, by a Misfortune uual at that Part of the Coat, his Mate, Surgeon, and two more of his Men, Panyarr’d by the Negroes. The Remainder of his Company, which was not above 5 or 6 in Number, took this Opportunity, and eiz’d the Veel in the Road, making the Mater Prioner.

You will think it prodigious impudent that o mall a Number hould undertake to proceed a pyrating, epecially when neither of them had ufficient Skill in Navigation: Yet this they did, leaving thoe People, their Ship-Mates abovemention’d, to the Mercy of the barbarous Natives, and ail’d away down the Coat, making them a black Flag, which they merrily aid, would be as good as 50 Men more, i. e. would carry as much Terror; and that they did not doubt of oon increaing their Crew, to put them in an enterprizing Capacity; but their vain Projection was oon happily frutrated, and after this Manner.

The Mater whoe Life they had preerved, (perhaps only for upplying their own Unskillfulnes in Navigation,) advied them, that ince contrary to their Expectations, they had met with no Ship between Cape Mount, and the Bite of Calabar, to proceed to the Iland of St. Thomas’s, where they might recruit with Proviions and Water, and ell off the Slaves (about 70 of them) which they perceived would be a ueles Lumber, and incommodious to their Deign. They arrived there in Augut 1721, and one Evening, while Part of them were on Shore, applying for this Purpoe to the Governor, and the other Part carelely from the Deck, Mr. Rowry tepp’d into the Boat belonging to the Veel, and puhed off, very uddenly: They heard the Noie it made, and oon were upon Deck again, but ha- Rh