Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/75

 They concluded now, that ’twas high Time to get into Harbour and refit, as well as to get Refrehments themelves, and wait an Opportunity to dipoe of their Cargo; therefore ’twas reolved to make the bet of their Way to Santa Crux, a mall Iland in the Lattitude of 18, 30, N. ten Mile long, and two broad, lying South-Eat of Porto Rico, belonging to the French Settlements. Here they thought they might lye privately enough for ome Time, and fit themelves for further Michief. They met with a Sloop by the Way, which they took along with them, and in the Beginning of the Year 1716-17, they arrived at their Port, having a Ship of 20 Guns, a Sloop of eight, and three Prizes, viz. another Ship of 20 Guns, a Sloop of four Guns, and another Sloop lat taken; with this little Fleet, they got into a mall Harbour, or Road, the N. W. Part of the Iland, and warp’d up two Creeks, which were made by a little Iland lying within the Bay; (I am the more particular now, becaue I hall take Leave of the Gentlemen, at this Place.) They had here bare 16 Foot Water, at the deepet, and but 13 or 14, at the hallowet, and nothing but Rocks and Sands without, which ecured them from Wind and Sea, and likewie from any coniderable Force coming againt them.

When they had all got in, the firt Thing they had to do, was to Guard themelves in the bet Manner they could; they made a Battery of four Guns upon the Iland, and another Battery of two Guns on the North Point of the Road, and warp’d in one of the Sloops with eight Guns, at the Mouth of the Channel, to hinder any Veels from coming in; when this was done they went to Work on their Ship, unrigging, and unloading, in order to Clean, where I hall leave them a while, till I bring other Company to ’em. Rh