Page:Life, strange voyages, and uncommon adventures of Ambrose Gwinett.pdf/18

18 large enough to admit a single vessel, they defied the Spanish power.

Their captain was one Bryan Walsh, an Irishman, whom I cannot help calling a most execrable and bloody villain, though God Almighty put it into his heart to be a very good friend to me. When I was brought into the ship, and, immediately after into the captain's cabin, the first person that accosted me was one of the fellows that had broke out of prison, and had formerly been under my care. He knew me directly; and without any more ado, drawing out his hanger, aimed a stroke at me, which falling upon my neck, entered deep into the flesh, and must infallibly have put an end to my life, had not the captain prevented it, by raising his cane between him and me, which broke the force of the blow. From this moment he seemed to take me under his protection. At his own request, I gave him a history of my life, which astonished him greatly: but notwithstanding I pleaded hard to be set on shore again, he absolutely refused: and, in spite of all my entreaties to the contrary, brought me to the island and fortification I have already mentioned, where, finding I could read and write, two qualifications he wanted himself, he thought I might be of use to him.

I have already said, that with these people I remained upwards of three years; on land I acted as store-keeper; and at sea, as a sort of purser to the ship. It is to be observed, that there was always a sufficient number of hands left on the island to man the fort, which was so situated as effectually to prevent the approach of an enemy. Indeed the office of store-keeper was a place of great trust. You would hardly credit me, was I to attempt to tell you the immense riches these bers