Page:Life and unparalleled voyages and adventures of Ambrose Gwinnett (1).pdf/19

 fell nothing behind; and, on an average, there could not be less in their coffers than two hundred thousand pounds sterling in specie, besides an immense quantity of gold and silver in bars.

The continual terror that was upon my mind while I remained with these people, is not to be imagined; but to give you a detail of the manner of my life while I endured the worst of bondage, would be tedious, because it had no variety; and shocking, to boot, as I was forced to join in all their horrid schemes. I shall only tell you that, in one of our cruises, we met with a Jamaica ship, and hoisted our black colours. Having boarded her, because she made some resistance, and killed one of our men, the captain ordered that the whole crew should be massacred. The wicked command was executed upon the master, five seamen, and a boy; then, taking the cargo out, which proved to be rum and sugar, we scuttled the ship, and returned to our fortification. But see how the avenger of wicked deeds makes the fruit of our crimes our punishment! This cargo of rum, which was of a kind not many degrees short of aquafortis, was drunk by the men with such avidity, that, in little more than three days, out of our complement of eighteen men, seven absolutely lost their lives by it, among whom was the captain.

I cannot but confess that I had some attachment to this man, because he appeared particularly attached to me; when, therefore, I saw him lying senseless on the floor, overgorged with that infernal liquor, I did everything I could to recover him, and so far succeeded as to bring him to his senses; but the quantity he had drunk inflamed his bowels to a degree not to be assuaged by any lenitives that were in my power to procure for him. He was seized with intermitting convulsions, that carried him off the next day; but, about four hours before he died, he called me, in the presence of all the men who stood about him in the cabin, and desired me to sit