prisoners, wherein he told them:—“They should not make too much haste to
pay any ransom for their town or persons or any other pretext; but, on the
contrary, they should put off the pirates as well as they could with
excuses and delays, expecting to be relieved by him in a short time, when
they would certainly come to their aid.” Upon this intelligence, Captain
Morgan ordered all their plunder to be carried aboard; and withal, he told
the Spaniards that the very next day they should pay their ransoms, for he
would not wait a moment longer, but reduce the whole town to ashes if they
failed of the sum he demanded.

“With this intimation Captain Morgan made no mention of the letters he had
intercepted. They answered—‘That it was impossible for them to give such a
sum of money in so short a space of time, seeing their fellow-townsmen
were not to be found in all the country thereabouts.’ Captain Morgan knew
full well their intentions, but thought it not convenient to stay there
any longer, demanding only of them 500 oxen or cows, with sufficient salt
to powder them, with this condition, that they should carry them on board
his ships. Thus he departed with all his men, taking with him only six of
the principal prisoners as pledges. Next day the Spaniards brought the
cattle and salt to the ships, and required the prisoners; but Captain
Morgan refused to deliver them till they had helped his men to kill and
salt the beeves. This was performed in great haste, he not caring to stay
there any longer, lest he should be surprised; and having received all on
board, he liberated the hostages.”

Captain Morgan was hardly to be disconcerted by any defection on the part
of his late allies, and he therefore immediately rallied his remaining
men, who swore to stick by him to death. Another pirate captain joined
him, and in a few days he had collected a fleet of nine sail, manned by
four hundred and sixty fighting men. Morgan immediately steered for the
coast of Costa Rica, keeping his intended plan of action closely locked
within his own bosom.

               [Illustration: ON THE COAST OF COSTA RICA.]

The land was now in sight, and a council of war was called. Morgan
informed his company that he intended to plunder Puerto Bello by night,
and put the whole city to the sack. He recalled to them the fact that he
had kept the matter entirely secret, and that his victims could therefore
have had no notice. Some thought that they had not a sufficient number of
men to successfully attack the town. Morgan’s answer was characteristic.
“If our numbers are small,” said he, “our hearts are great, and the fewer
persons we are, the more union, and the better shares we shall have in the
spoil.” The attack was settled.

The city or town of Puerto Bello was in those days one of the strongest of
the Spanish main, or West Indian isles, Havannah and Carthagena alone
out-ranking it. Two forts defended the entrance to its harbour; it had a
garrison of 300 soldiers; and was inhabited by some 400 families. The
merchants did not generally reside there, owing to the unhealthiness of
the climate, but stopped at Panama, and brought their commodities over at
regular seasons, when the Spanish galleons or slave-ships were expected.
Captain Morgan, who knew the neighbouring country thoroughly, anchored his
vessels some little distance from the town to be attacked, and leaving a
few men on board to bring them into port next day, proceeded with the bulk
of his company in boats and canoes. About midnight they reached a place
called Estera longa Lemos, where they all went on shore, and marched to
the city. They had with them an Englishman who had formerly been a
prisoner there, and he with three or four others contrived to seize the
sentinel before he had time to give any warning. The latter was brought
with his hands bound to Captain Morgan, and closely interrogated as to the
strength of the place, with threats of death if he did not speak truly.
Then, having gathered all the information they could, they marched up to
the castle or fort near the city, and closely surrounded it. Let
Esquemeling now describe to us the sequence.

“Being posted under the walls of the castle, Captain Morgan commanded the
sentinel whom they had taken prisoner to speak to those within, charging
them to surrender to his discretion, otherwise they should all be cut in
pieces without quarter. But they, regarding none of these threats, began
instantly to fire, which alarmed the city; yet, notwithstanding, though
the governor and soldiers of the said city made as great resistance as
could be, they were forced to surrender. Having taken the castle, they
resolved to be as good as their words, putting the Spaniards to the sword,
thereby to strike a terror into the rest of the city. Whereupon, having
shut up all the officers and soldiers into one room, they set fire to the
powder (whereof they found great quantity) and blew up the castle into the
air, with all the Spaniards that were within. This done, they pursued the
course of their victory, falling upon the city, which, as yet, was not
ready to receive them. Many of the inhabitants cast their precious jewels
and money into wells and cisterns, or hid them in places underground, to
avoid as much as possible being totally robbed. One party of the pirates,
being assigned to this purpose, ran immediately to the cloisters, and took
as many religious men and women(5) as they could find. The governor of the
city, not being able to rally the citizens through their great confusion,
retired to one of the castles remaining, and thence fired incessantly at
the pirates; but these were not in the least negligent either to assault
him or to defend themselves, so that amidst the horror of the assault they
made very few shots in vain; for, aiming with great dexterity at the
mouths of the guns, the Spaniards were certain to lose one or two men
every time they charged each gun anew. This continued very furious from
break of day till noon; yea, about this time of day the case was very
dubious which party should conquer or be conquered. At last, the pirates
perceiving they had lost many men, and yet advanced but little towards
gaining either this or the other castles, made use of fire-balls, which
they threw with their hands, designing to burn the doors of the castles;
but the Spaniards from the walls let fall great quantities of stones, and
earthen pots full of powder and other combustibles, which forced them to
desist. Captain Morgan, seeing this generous defence made by the
Spaniards, began to despair of success. Hereupon many faint and calm
meditations came into his mind; neither could he determine which way to
turn him in that strait. Being thus puzzled he was suddenly animated to
continue the assaults by seeing English colours put forth in one of the
lesser castles, then entered by his men, of whom he presently afterwards
spied a troop coming to meet him, proclaiming victory with loud shouts of
joy. This instantly put him on new resolutions of taking the rest of the
castles, especially seeing the chiefest citizens were fled to them, and
had conveyed thither great part of their riches, with all the plate
belonging to the churches and divine service.

“To this effect he ordered ten or twelve ladders to be made in all haste,
so broad that three or four men at once might ascend them. These being
finished, he commanded all the religious men and women whom he had taken
prisoners to fix them against the walls of the castle. This he had before
threatened the governor to do if he delivered not the castle, but his
answer was, ‘He would never surrender himself alive.’ Captain Morgan was
persuaded the governor would not employ his armed force, seeing the
religious women and ecclesiastical persons exposed in front of the
soldiers to the greatest danger. Thus the ladders, as I have said, were
put into the hands of religious persons of both sexes, and these were
forced at the head of the companies to raise and apply them to the walls;
but Captain Morgan was fully deceived in his judgment, for the governor,
who acted like a brave soldier in the performance of his duty, used his
utmost endeavour to destroy whosoever came near the walls. The religious
men and women ceased not to cry to him, and beg of him by all the saints
of Heaven, to deliver the castle, and spare both his and their lives; but
nothing could prevail with his obstinacy and fierceness. Thus, many of the
religious men and nuns were killed before they could fix the ladders,
which at last being done, though with great loss of the said religious
people, the pirates mounted them in great numbers, and with not less
valour, having fire-balls in their hands, and earthen pots full of powder;
all which things being now at the top of the walls, they kindled and cast
in among the Spaniards.

“This effort of the pirates was very great, inasmuch as the Spaniards
could no longer resist nor defend the castle, which was now entered.
Hereupon they all threw down their arms, and craved quarter for their
lives. Only the governor would crave no mercy, but killed many of the
pirates with his own hands, and not a few of his own soldiers, because
they would not stand to their arms. And though the pirates asked him if he
would have quarter, yet he constantly answered, ‘By no means; I would
rather die as a valiant soldier than be hanged as a coward!’ They
endeavoured as much as they could to take him prisoner, but he defended
himself so obstinately that they were forced to kill him, notwithstanding
all the cries and tears of his own wife and daughter, who begged him on
their knees to demand quarter and save his life.”

The pirates now gave themselves up to all kinds of debauchery, some of the
details of which shall not disgrace these pages. The chronicler says that
at this time fifty determined men could easily have re-taken the city. The
President of Panama sent a body of men to the rescue, who were met by the
pirates and put to flight. He later sent a message full of threats, at
which Morgan only laughed, and sent word that he would demolish the forts
and burn the town unless he should immediately receive 100,000 pieces of
eight (over £20,000), and it was eventually paid. The Governor or
President of Panama was puzzled to learn how 400 men, without ordnance,
could have taken a town so well fortified as Puerto Bello, and sent to
Morgan, asking for some small patterns of his arms. The pirate captain
forwarded by the messenger a pistol and some small bullets, and desired
the president “to accept that slender pattern of the arms wherewith he had
taken Puerto Bello, and keep them a twelvemonth; after which time he
promised to come to Panama and fetch them away.” The governor returned the
presents, sending him back a golden ring, and desiring him not to trouble
himself about Panama, as he might obtain a warmer reception than he
expected. The results of this expedition comprised a quarter of a million
dollars, besides merchandise in silk, linen, and cloth. The
tavern-keepers, traders, and gamblers of Jamaica reaped the larger part of
these enormous gains.

Morgan’s next enterprise, in which he was joined by many other pirate
commanders, was against the already unfortunate city of Maracaibo. A
French pirate-ship, carrying thirty-six guns, was then at Jamaica, and
Morgan tried to induce the commander and his men to join them. This the
French refused; whereupon he invited the captain and several of his men to
dine with him, and treacherously made them prisoners.

This unjust action of Captain Morgan was followed by very swift
retribution. Captain Morgan, immediately after he had taken these French
prisoners, called a council to deliberate what place they should select
for this new expedition. It was determined to go to the Isle of Savona, to
wait for the fleet then expected from Spain, and take any of the Spanish
vessels straggling from the rest. This resolution being made, they began
to feast aboard the prize in expectation of their new voyage. They drank
many healths and discharged many guns—common signs of mirth among the
pirates. Most of the men being drunk—by what accident is not known—the
ship was suddenly blown up, with 350 Englishmen, besides the French
prisoners in the hold; of whom only thirty men escaped, who were in the
main cabin, at some distance from the full force of the powder. Many more,
it is thought, might have escaped had they not taken too much wine. The
French prisoners were accused of having fired the vessel, and Morgan a
little later seized their ship and crew.

          [Illustration: BLOWING UP OF THE FRENCH PIRATE SHIP.]

“Eight days after the loss of the said ship, Captain Morgan commanded the
bodies of the miserable wretches who were blown up to be searched for as
they floated on the sea: not to afford them Christian burial, but for
their clothes and attire; and if any had gold rings on their fingers these
were cut off, leaving them exposed to the voracity of the monsters of the
sea. At last they set sail for Savona, the place of their assignation.
There were in all fifteen vessels, Captain Morgan commanding the biggest,
of only fourteen small guns. His number of men was 960. Few days after
they arrived at the Cabo de Lobos, south of Hispaniola, between Cape
Tiburon and Cape Punta de Espada. Hence they could not pass, by reason of
contrary winds, for three weeks, in spite of every effort to do so. Then
Captain Morgan doubled the cape, and spied an English vessel at a
distance. Having spoken to her, they found she came from England, and
bought of her, for ready money, some provisions they wanted.

“Captain Morgan proceeded on his voyage till he came to the port of Ocoa;
here he landed some men, sending them into the woods to seek water and
provisions, the better to spare such as he had already on board. They
killed many beasts, and among others some horses. But the Spaniards, not
well satisfied at their hunting, laid a stratagem for them, ordering three
or four hundred men to come from Santo Domingo, not far distant, and
desiring them to hunt in all the parts thereabout near the sea, that so if
the pirates should return they might find no subsistence. Within few days
the pirates returned to hunt, but finding nothing to kill, a party of
about fifty straggled farther on into the woods. The Spaniards, who
watched all their motions, gathered a great herd of cows, and set two or
three men to keep them. The pirates, having spied them, killed a
sufficient number; and though the Spaniards could see them at a distance,
yet they could not hinder them at present; but as soon as they attempted
to carry them away they set upon them furiously, crying—‘Mata, mata!’
which is, ‘Kill, kill!’ Thus the pirates were compelled to quit the prey,
and retreat to their ships; but they did it in good order, retiring by
degrees, and when they had opportunity discharging full volleys on the
Spaniards, killing many of their enemies, though with some loss.

“The Spaniards, seeing their damage, endeavoured to save themselves by
flight and carry off their dead and wounded companions. The pirates
perceiving them flee would not content themselves with what hurt they had
already done, but pursued them speedily into the woods, and killed the
greatest part of those that remained. Next day Captain Morgan, extremely
offended at what had passed, went himself, with 200 men, into the woods to
seek for the rest of the Spaniards, but finding nobody, he revenged
himself on the houses of the poor and miserable rustics that inhabited
those scattering fields and woods, of which he burnt a great number; with
this he returned to his ship, somewhat more satisfied in his mind for
having done some considerable damage to the enemy, which was always his
most ardent desire.”

Captain Morgan having waited impatiently for some of his ships which had
not yet joined company, was recommended by a French captain who had served
with Lolonois to make an attempt with his present forces—eight ships and
about 500 men—on Maracaibo. The Spaniards had built another fort since the
action with Lolonois, and when the pirates arrived gave them a very warm
reception, which lasted till evening. In the obscurity of the night Morgan
and his men crept up to the fort, when they found that the Spaniards had
deserted it. They had left, however, a train of powder with match burning,
with the intention of playing Guy Fawkes with the pirates, and had not
Morgan discovered it in time they would undoubtedly have suffered great
loss. The freebooters found a considerable amount of powder and muskets,
with which they furnished the fleet, and they spiked sixteen cannons. Next
day they proceeded in boats and canoes to the town, which, with an
adjacent fort, was found deserted.

“As soon as they had entered the town the pirates searched every corner,
to see if they could find any people who were hid who might offend them
unawares; not finding anybody, every party, as they came out of their
several ships, chose what several houses they pleased. The church was
deputed for the common corps du guard, where they lived, after their
military manner, very insolently. Next day after they sent a troop of 100
men to seek for the inhabitants and their goods. These returned next day,
bringing with them thirty persons—men, women, and children—and fifty mules
laden with good merchandise. All these miserable people were put to the
rack, to make them confess where the rest of the inhabitants were and
their goods. Among other tortures, one was to stretch their limbs with
cords and then to beat them with sticks and other instruments. Others had
burning matches placed between their fingers, which were thus burnt alive.
Others had slender cords or matches placed about their heads till their
eyes burst out. Those who would not confess, or had nothing to declare,
died under the hands of those villains. These tortures and racks continued
for three whole weeks, in which time they sent out daily parties to seek
for more people to torment and rob, they never returning without booty and
new riches.

“Captain Morgan having now gotten into his hands about a hundred of the
chief families, with all their goods, at last resolved for Gibraltar, as
Lolonois had done before. With this design he equipped his fleet,
providing it sufficiently with all necessaries. He put likewise on board
all the prisoners, and weighing anchor, set sail with resolution to hazard
a battle. They had sent before some prisoners to Gibraltar to require the
inhabitants to surrender, otherwise Captain Morgan would put them all to
the sword without any quarter. Arriving before Gibraltar, the inhabitants
received him with continued shooting of great cannon bullets; but the
pirates, instead of fainting hereat, ceased not to encourage one another,
saying—‘We must make one meal upon bitter things before we come to taste
the sweetness of the sugar this place affords.’”

Next day, early in the morning, they landed all their men, and being
guided by the Frenchman beforenamed, they marched towards the town, not by
the ordinary way, but crossing through woods, which way the Spaniards did
not expect they would have come, for at the beginning of their journey
they pretended to march the next and open way to the town, hereby to
deceive the Spaniards; “but these remembering full well what Lolonois had
done but two years before, thought it not safe to expect a second brunt,
and hereupon all fled out of the town as fast as they could, carrying all
their goods and riches, as also all their powder, and having nailed all
the great guns; so as the pirates found not one person in the whole city
but one poor innocent man who was born a fool. This man they asked whither
the inhabitants had fled, and where they had hid their goods. To all which
questions and the like he constantly answered—‘I know nothing, I know
nothing!’ but they presently put him to the rack, and tortured him with
cords, which torments forced him to cry out—‘Do not torture me any more,
but come with me and I will show you my goods and my riches!’ They were
persuaded, it seems, he was some rich person disguised under those clothes
so poor and that innocent tongue; so they went along with him, and he
conducted them to a poor miserable cottage, wherein he had a few earthen
dishes and other things of no value, and three pieces of eight, concealed
with some other trumpery under ground. Then they asked him his name, and
he readily answered, ‘My name is Don Sebastian Sanchez, and I am brother
unto the Governor of Maracaibo.’ This foolish answer, it must be
conceived, these inhuman wretches took for truth; for no sooner had they
heard it but they put him again upon the rack, lifting him up on high with
cords, and tying large weights to his feet and neck. Besides which they
burnt him alive, applying palm-leaves burning to his face.” They sent out
parties, and captured some prisoners, several of whom were tortured or
killed. Among others there was a Portuguese, who was falsely reported by a
negro to be very rich. This man was commanded to produce his riches. His
answer was that he had no more than 100 pieces of eight in the world, and
these had been stolen from him two days before by his servant. The pirates
would not believe him, but dragged him to a rack without any regard to his
age of sixty years, and stretched him with cords, breaking both his arms
behind his shoulders. “This cruelty went not alone, for he not being able
or willing to make any other declaration, they put him to another sort of
torment more barbarous; they tied him with small cords by his two thumbs
and great toes to four stakes fixed in the ground at a convenient
distance, the whole weight of his body hanging by these cords. Not
satisfied yet with their cruel torture, they took a stone of above 200
pounds and laid it on his belly, as if they intended to press him to
death; they also kindled palm-leaves and applied the flame to the face of
this unfortunate Portuguese, burning with them the whole skin, beard, and
hair. At last, seeing that neither with these tortures nor others they
could get anything out of him, they untied the cords, and carried him,
half-dead, to the church, where was their corps du guard; here they tied
him anew to one of the pillars thereof, leaving him in that condition
without giving him either to eat or drink, unless very sparingly and so
little that would scarce sustain life, for some days. Four or five being
past, he desired one of the prisoners might come to him, by whose means he
promised he would endeavour to raise some money to satisfy their demands.
The prisoner whom he desired was brought to him, and he ordered him to
promise the pirates 500 pieces of eight for his ransom; but they were deaf
and obstinate at such a small sum, and instead of accepting it beat him
cruelly with cudgels, saying, ‘Old fellow, instead of 500, 5,000 pieces of
eight; otherwise you shall here end your life.’ Finally, after a thousand
protestations that he was but a miserable man, and kept a poor tavern for
his living, he agreed with them for 1,000 pieces of eight. These he
raised, and having paid them, got his liberty, though so horribly maimed,
that it is scarce to be believed he could survive many weeks.” Morgan
proceeded later to Gibraltar, and his proceedings there are but a
repetition of his former acts. And yet in searching the interior he and
some of his men were at one time in such straits that a couple of score or
so of Spaniards could have annihilated them.

And now they returned to Maracaibo, where an unpleasant surprise awaited
them. They learned from a poor old Spaniard that three large Spanish ships
had arrived off the bar, and were awaiting the exit of the pirates; and,
further, that the castle at the entrance had been repaired, well provided
with guns and ammunition, and thoroughly manned. Morgan sent a boat down
to find out how far this was true, and the report was that its crew had
ventured so near that they were in great danger of being shot; that there
were three great ships, mounting respectively forty, thirty, and
twenty-four guns. Morgan disguised the apprehension he must have felt, and
sent a message, couched in his usual style of braggadocia, demanding a
heavy ransom for not putting the city of Maracaibo to the flames. Here
follows the answer of the Spanish Admiral:—

 “_The letter of Don Alonso del Campo y Espinosa, Admiral of the Spanish
          Fleet, to Captain Morgan, Commander of the Pirates:_—

“Having understood by all our friends and neighbours the unexpected news
that you have dared to attempt and commit hostilities in the countries,
titles, towns, and villages belonging to the dominions of his Catholic
Majesty, my Sovereign Lord and Master, I let you understand by these lines
that I am come to this place, according to my obligation, near that castle
which you took out of the hands of a parcel of cowards, where I have put
things into a very good posture of defence, and mounted again the
artillery which you nailed and dismounted. My intent is to dispute with
you your passage out of the lake, and follow and pursue you everywhere, to
the end you may see the performance of my duty. Notwithstanding, if you be
contented to surrender with humility all that you have taken, together
with the slaves and all other prisoners, I will let you freely pass,
without trouble or molestation, on condition that you retire home
presently to your own country. But if you make any resistance or
opposition to what I offer you, I assure you I will command boats to come
from Caraccas, wherein I will put my troops, and coming to Maracaibo, will
put you every man to the sword. This is my last and absolute resolution.
Be prudent, therefore, and do not abuse my bounty with ingratitude. I have
with me very good soldiers, who desire nothing more ardently than to
revenge on you and your people all the cruelties and base infamous actions
you have committed upon the Spanish nation in America. Dated on board the
royal ship named the _Magdalen_, lying at anchor at the entry of the lake
of Maracaibo, the 24th April, 1669.

                                        “DON ALONSO DEL CAMPO Y ESPINOSA.”

              [Illustration: MORGAN’S ATTACK ON MARACAIBO.]

                               CHAPTER IV.

                 THE PIRATES AND BUCANIERS (_continued_).

    Attack resolved—The Fire-ship—Morgan passes the Castle—Off for St.
       Catherine’s—Given up by a Stratagem—St. Catherine’s an Easy
      Prey—Power of Fire—Thirty in Three Hundred Saved—The March on
      Panama—A Pirate Band of Twelve Hundred—Sufferings on the Way—A
     Pipe for Supper—Leather and Cold Water—Panama at last—The First
    Encounter—Resolute Fighting—Wild Bulls in Warfare—Victory for the
           Pirates—Ruthless Destruction of Property—Cruelty to
         Prisoners—Searching for Treasure—Dissatisfaction at the
                       Dividend—The last of Morgan.

On receipt of the captain’s letter Morgan called his men together and
asked them whether they were going to fight or surrender. They answered
unanimously that they would fight to the last drop of blood rather than
surrender so easily the booty they had obtained with so much danger.
“Among the rest one said to Captain Morgan, ‘Take you care for the rest,
and I will undertake to destroy the biggest of those ships with only
twelve men; the manner shall be by making a _brulot_, or fire-ship, of
that vessel we took in the river of Gibraltar, which, to the intent she
may not be known for a fire-ship, we will fill her decks with logs of
wood, standing with hats and montera caps, to deceive their sight with the
representation of men. The same we will do at the port-holes that serve
for the guns, which shall be filled with counterfeit cannon. At the stern
we will hang out English colours, and persuade the enemy she is one of our
best men-of-war going to fight them.’ This proposition was approved.
Attempts were afterwards made to compromise with Don Alonso, but he would
not listen to them, and sent them a peremptory message, which, simply
translated, meant that they must give in, or give up.

                  [Illustration: CAPTAIN HENRY MORGAN.
  (_From Captain C. Johnson’s __“__Lives of Famous Highwaymen, Pirates,
                                &c.__”_)]

“No sooner had Captain Morgan received this message from Don Alonso than
he put all things in order to fight, resolving to get out of the lake by
main force, without surrendering anything. First, he commanded all the
slaves and prisoners to be tied and guarded very well, and gathered all
the pitch, tar, and brimstone they could find in the whole town for the
fire-ship above-mentioned. Then they made several inventions of powder and
brimstone with palm-leaves well anointed with tar. They covered very well
their counterfeit cannon, laying under every piece many pounds of powder;
besides, they cut down many outworks of the ship, that the powder might
exert its strength the better; breaking open also new port-holes, where,
instead of guns, they placed little drums used by the negroes. Finally,
the decks were handsomely beset with many pieces of wood, dressed up like
men, with hats or monteras, and armed with swords, muskets, and
bandeleers.”

The fire-ship being fitted, they prepared to proceed to the entry of the
port. All the prisoners were put into one great boat, and in another all
the women were placed, with the plate, jewels, and other rich things; into
others they put the bales of goods, merchandise, and bulky articles. Each
of these boats had twelve armed men aboard; the _brulot_ had orders to go
before the rest of the vessels, and presently to fall foul of the great
ship. All things being ready, Captain Morgan exacted an oath of his
comrades, making them promise to defend themselves to the last drop of
blood without demanding quarter; promising, withal, that whoever behaved
himself thus should be well rewarded.

With this resolution they set sail to meet the Spaniards. On April 30th,
1669, they found the Spanish fleet riding at anchor in the middle of the
entry of the lake. “Captain Morgan, it being now late and almost dark,
commanded all his vessels to an anchor, designing to fight even all night
if they forced him to it. He ordered a careful watch to be kept aboard
every vessel till morning, they being almost within shot, as well as
within sight, of the enemy. The day dawning, they weighed anchor and
sailed again, steering directly towards the Spaniards, who, seeing them
move, did instantly the same. The fire-ship, sailing before the rest, fell
presently upon the great ship and grappled her, which the Spaniards (too
late) perceiving to be a fire-ship, they attempted to put her off, but in
vain; for the flame seizing her timber and tackling, soon consumed all the
stern, the fore-part sinking into the sea, where she perished. The second
Spanish ship perceiving the _Admiral_ to burn, not by accident, but by
industry of the enemy, escaped towards the castle, where the Spaniards
themselves sunk her, choosing to lose their ship rather than to fall into
the hands of those pirates. The third, having no opportunity to escape,
was taken by the pirates.”

The pirates were, we can well believe, rejoiced at this easy victory, and
they now attempted to take the castle. This was thoroughly well garrisoned
and provided, whereas they had nothing but muskets and a few hand
grenades. They consequently failed; the Spaniards gave them volley after
volley, and they at last retired, with a loss of thirty killed and as many
wounded. The attack was not renewed. From a pilot who was taken prisoner
the following day Captain Morgan learned that the expedition, which had
been sent out by the Supreme Council of State in Spain, consisted of six
well-equipped men-of-war, with instructions to root out the English
pirates. It had been organised in Spain, upon the receipt of the news of
the loss of Puerto Bello and other places, after fruitless representations
had been made to the King of England, who simply disclaimed any connivance
with the pirates. Two of the principal vessels had returned to Spain,
being considered too large for the enterprise, and one had been lost in a
gale. This pilot entered the service of Captain Morgan, and informed him
that in the ship which was sunk there was a great quantity of treasure,
and that he could see for himself that the Spaniards, in boats, were
endeavouring to rescue some of it. Morgan again sent a message to the
admiral, who had escaped to the castle, demanding a ransom, or he would
fire Maracaibo. This was at first, of course, indignantly refused, and the
pirate chief renewed his threats, when the Spanish settlers, down-hearted
at their constant ill-fortune, consented to pay the sum of 20,000 pieces
and 500 head of cattle, though the admiral, Don Alonso, sternly objected.

Morgan, in spite of his successes, rather feared passing the castle at the
entrance of the lake, and he endeavoured, by means of the prisoners he
held, to secure his escape, by sending some of them to Don Alonso with a
promise to give them all up if he would not fire, or hang them if he did.
A deputation of prisoners waited on the admiral, urging his consent; but
Don Alonso told them, “If you had been as loyal to your king in hindering
the entry of these pirates as I shall do their going out, you had never
caused these troubles, neither to yourselves nor to our whole nation,
which hath suffered so much through your pusillanimity. In a word, I shall
never grant your request, but shall endeavour to maintain that respect
which is due to my king according to my duty.” Thus the poor wretched
prisoners had to return to Morgan, and report the failure of their
mission. His reply was, in his usual vein, that he would find the means of
accomplishing his object in spite of Don Alonso.

The stratagem employed was as follows:—During the day that they hoped to
escape after dark they put a number of their men in canoes, and rowed
towards the shore, as if they intended to land. There they hid themselves
among the trees and by lying down in the boats. Then the canoes returned
to the ships, two or three men rowing in each, and the rest remaining at
the bottom concealed. Thus much only could be observed from the castle,
and the ruse was repeated several times, the impression given being that
the pirates intended to scale the walls by night from the land. This
caused the Spaniards to place most of their greater guns on the land side,
with the principal part of the garrison, leaving the side towards the sea
almost destitute of defence. Night being come they weighed anchor, and by
moonlight, without setting sail, the tide gently took them towards the
entrance near the castle. Having arrived off the latter, they spread their
sails with all speed. The Spaniards, perceiving this, brought their guns
over to the sea side, but the pirates, being favoured by this loss of time
and also with a good breeze, escaped almost scatheless. Just as they were
departing, Morgan ironically saluted the castle with a volley from seven
of his largest guns.

         [Illustration: CAPTAIN MORGAN’S ESCAPE FROM MARACAIBO.]

His next expedition, in which he was joined by many other pirates,
assembled on the south side of Tortuga on October the 24th, 1670, when a
council of ways and means was convened, the principal lack being in
provisions. This, however, was to them a small matter, and they resolved
to rob and rifle the towns and settlements of the mainland. Four vessels
were despatched on this errand to the River de la Hacha, where a village
was situated which was usually well provided with corn. Meanwhile, another
party was despatched into the woods, and the hunters were very successful.
The rest remained in the ships to clean and re-fit them. The river
expedition was becalmed off the coast, which gave the Spaniards ashore
time to hide and take away their goods. A large ship from Carthagena was
lying in the river, laden with maize (Indian corn), ready to depart. The
pirates soon made short work of this vessel, the crew of which was easily
mastered. The Spaniards peppered them from a battery when they landed, but
the freebooters drove them back to a fortified village, whence, after some
little resistance, the former were driven into the woods. They captured,
tortured, and robbed a number of these unfortunate settlers, who at length
were glad to get rid of them by paying a ransom of 4,000 bushels of maize.
Morgan had begun to despair of their return, when they arrived with the
captured ship and an enormous supply of the needed corn.

Captain Morgan having divided the maize, and the flesh which the hunters
brought in, among the ships according to their number of men, he departed,
having inspected beforehand every ship. “Thus he set sail, and stood for
Cape Tiburon, where he resolved to determine what enterprise he should
take in hand. No sooner were they arrived, but they met some other ships
newly come to join them from Jamaica; so that now their fleet consisted of
thirty-seven ships, wherein were 2,000 fighting men, beside mariners and
boys.

“Captain Morgan having such a number of ships, divided the whole fleet
into two squadrons, constituting a Vice-Admiral and other officers of the
second squadron distinct from the first. To these he gave letters patent,
or commissions to act all manner of hostilities against the Spanish
nation, and take of them what ships they could, either abroad at sea or in
the harbours, as if they were open and declared enemies (as he termed it)
of the King of England, his pretended master. This done, he called all his
captains and other officers together, and caused them to sign some
articles of agreement betwixt them, and in the name of all. Herein it was
stipulated that he should have the hundredth part of all that was gotten
to himself; that every captain should draw the shares of eight men for the
expenses of his ship besides his own. To the surgeon, besides his pay, 200
pieces of eight for his chest of medicaments. To every carpenter, above
his salary, 100 pieces of eight. The rewards were settled in this voyage
much higher than before: as, for the loss of both hands, 1,800 pieces of
eight, or eighteen slaves; for one leg, whether right or left, 600 pieces
of eight, or six slaves; for a hand as much as for a leg; and for the loss
of an eye 100 pieces of eight or one slave. Lastly, to him that in any
battle should signalise himself, either by entering first any castle, or
taking down the Spanish colours and setting up the English, they allotted
fifty pieces of eight for a reward. All which extraordinary salaries and
rewards to be paid out of the first spoil they should take, as every one
should occur to be either rewarded or paid.” The first captain who should
take a Spanish vessel was to receive the tenth part of its value. One of
three cities was to be attacked—Carthagena, Panama, or Vera Cruz; and
after a council had been held the lot fell on Panama. They resolved to
first visit the Isle of St. Catherine, there to obtain guides for the
enterprise.

As soon as Captain Morgan approached the island he sent one of his best
sailing vessels to examine the entrance of the river, and see whether
there were any foreign ships there, and next day they anchored in a
neighbouring bay, where the Spaniards had built a battery, which made no
resistance. Morgan landed about 1,000 men, and marched them through the
woods, where they discovered another deserted battery, the Spaniards
having retired to the smaller and adjacent island, which was thoroughly
fortified. As soon as the pirates got in range the Spaniards opened a
furious fire upon them, and the former were that day compelled to retreat
to a hungry camp, as they had come utterly unprovided, while about
midnight the rain somewhat damped their ardour. They passed a miserable
and shelterless night; nor did the weather improve next day, when they
found in the fields an old lean and diseased horse, which they killed and
ate, but this was not anything like sufficient to satisfy the cravings of
their hunger, as it afforded only a morsel each for a part of them, some
being compelled to go entirely without. But nothing could daunt Morgan,
and he had the audacity to send a canoe with a flag of truce to the
Spanish governor, telling him that he would put the Spaniards to the
sword, without quarter, if they did not instantly submit.

In the afternoon the canoe returned with this answer:—“That the governor
desired two hours’ time to deliberate with his officers about it, which
having passed he would give his positive answer.” This time elapsed, the
governor sent two canoes with white colours, having on board two persons
to treat with Captain Morgan; but, before they landed, they demanded of
the pirates two men as hostages. These were readily granted by Captain
Morgan, who delivered up two of his captains for a pledge of the security
required. The Spaniards then announced that they had resolved to deliver
up the island, not being provided with sufficient forces to defend it
against a fleet. Morgan was asked to use a stratagem of war, for the
better saving of their credit, which was as follows:—That he would come
with his troops by night to the bridge that joined the smaller island to
the principal one, and there attack the fort of St. Jerome; that at the
same time all his fleet would draw near the castle of Santa Teresa and
attack it by land, landing in the meantime more troops near the battery of
St. Matthew; that these troops being landed, should by this means
intercept the governor as he endeavoured to pass to St. Jerome’s fort, and
then take him prisoner, making pretence as if they had forced him to
deliver the castle, and that he would lead the English into it under
colour of being his own troops. That on both sides there should be
continual firing carried on, but without bullets, or at least that they
should be fired only into the air, so that no side might be hurt. That
thus having obtained two such considerable forts, the chiefest of the
isle, he need not take care for the rest, which must fall of course into
his hands.

These propositions were granted by Captain Morgan, and, soon after, he
commanded the whole fleet to enter the port, and his men to be ready to
assault that night the Castle of St. Jerome. Thus the false battle began,
with incessant firing from both the castles against the ships, but without
bullets, as was agreed. Then the pirates landed, and assaulted the lesser
island by night, which they took, with both the fortresses, forcing the
Spaniards, in appearance, to fly to the church.

St. Catherine’s thus became an easy prey to Morgan and his followers, and
the first few days were simply spent in riotous feasting. The prisoners
which they had taken numbered 459 souls; and besides all kinds of plunder
they secured no less than thirty thousand pounds of powder, together with
large quantities of other ammunition. The fortresses were, with one
exception, demolished.

Morgan’s next enterprise was against the important city of Panama. He took
with him 1,200 men, five boats laden with artillery, and thirty-two
canoes. But the Chagres river of the time was very like that of to-day—a
shallow stream, except in the freshet season—and after a few days of
tedious progress, they left it, preferring to continue their journey by
land. On this trip a pipe of tobacco was the only supper that many of them
could obtain, while a piece of leather, washed down by a draught of muddy
water, formed, by comparison, a splendid meal.

On the ninth day of that tedious journey, Captain Morgan marched on while
the fresh air of the morning lasted, a common practice in very hot
countries. The way was now more difficult than before; but after two
hours’ march they observed some Spaniards in the distance, who watched
their motions. They endeavoured to catch some of them, but could not, as
they would suddenly disappear, and hide themselves in caves among the
rocks, unknown to the pirates. At last, ascending a high hill, the latter
saw in the distance the blue waters of the Pacific, then known as the
South Sea. This happy sight, as it seemed the end of their labours, caused
great joy among them; they could see, also, one ship and six boats, which
were sailing from Panama, and proceeded to the Islands of Torvoga and
Tavogilla; then they came to a valley, where they found cattle in
abundance, of which they killed a number. There, while some killed and
flayed horses, cows, bulls, and asses, others kindled fires, and got wood
to roast them; then cutting the flesh into convenient pieces, or gobbets,
they threw them into the fire, and, half burnt or roasted, they devoured
them with greedy appetite. Such was their hunger, they behaved as though
they were rather cannibals than Europeans, “the blood many times running
down from their beards to their waists.”

A little while after they came in sight of the highest steeple in Panama;
and one can imagine their satisfaction. All their trumpets were sounded,
and drums beat. Then they pitched their camp for that night; the whole
army waiting with impatience for the morning, when they intended to attack
the city. During the evening fifty horse appeared, who came out of the
city on the noise of the drums and trumpets, to observe the enemy’s
position, and came almost within musket-shot of the army. Those on
horseback hallooed to the pirates, and threatened them, saying, “Perros!
nos veremos!”—that is, “Ye dogs! we shall meet ye!” They then returned to
the city, except only seven or eight horsemen, who hovered about to watch
the pirates. “Immediately after the city fired, and ceased not to play
their biggest guns all night long against the camp, but with little or no
harm to the pirates, whom they could not easily reach. Now also the 200
Spaniards, whom the pirates had seen in the afternoon, appeared again,
making a show of blocking up the passages, that no pirates might escape
their hands. But the pirates, though in a manner besieged, instead of
fearing their blockades, as soon as they had placed sentinels about their
camp, opened their satchels, and, without any napkins or plates, fell to
eating very heartily the pieces of bulls’ and horses’ flesh which they had
reserved since noon. This done they laid themselves down to sleep on the
grass, with great repose and satisfaction, expecting only with impatience
the dawning of the next day.

“The tenth day, betimes in the morning, they put all their men in order,
and, with drums and trumpets sounding, marched directly towards the city;
but one of the guides directed Captain Morgan not to take the common
highway, lest they should find in it many ambuscades. He took his advice,
and chose another way through the wood, though very irksome and difficult.
The Spaniards, perceiving the pirates had taken another way they scarce
had thought of, were compelled to leave their barricades and batteries,
and come out to meet them. The Governor of Panama put his forces in order,
consisting of two squadrons, four regiments of foot, and a large number of
wild bulls, which were driven by a large number of Indians, with some
negroes and others to help them.”

The pirates, now upon their march, came to the top of a low hill, whence
they had a prospect of the city and champaigne country underneath. Here
they found the forces of the people of Panama in battle array to be so
numerous that they were rather alarmed. Much doubting the fortunes of the
day, most of them wished themselves at home, or at least free from the
obligation of fighting at that moment, but it was obvious that they must
either fight resolutely or die; for no quarter could be expected from an
enemy on whom they had committed so many cruelties. They divided
themselves into three battalions, sending in advance two hundred
bucaniers, who were good shots. Descending the hill they marched directly
towards the Spaniards, who waited for their coming. As soon as they
approached, the Spaniards began to shout and cry, “Viva el Roy!” (“God
save the King!”) and immediately their horse moved against the pirates;
but the fields being full of quagmires, soft under foot, they could not
wheel about as they desired. The two hundred bucaniers who went before,
each putting one knee to the ground, began the battle briskly with a full
volley of shot; the Spaniards defended themselves courageously, doing all
they could to disorder the enemy. Their infantry endeavoured to second the
cavalry, but were constrained by the pirates to leave them. Finding
themselves baffled, they attempted to drive a number of half-wild bulls
against them behind, to put them into disorder; but the cattle ran away
frightened with the noise of the battle; some few broke through the
English companies, and only tore the colours in pieces, while the
bucaniers shot every one of them dead.

The battle having continued two hours, the greater part of the Spanish
horse was routed, and almost all killed; the rest fled, which the foot
seeing, and finding that they could not possibly prevail, they discharged
the shot they had in their muskets, and throwing them down, fled away,
every one as he could. The pirates could not follow them, being too much
harassed and wearied with their long journey. Many, not being able to fly
whither they desired, hid themselves temporarily among the shrubs of the
sea-side, but very unfortunately, for most of them being found by the
pirates were instantly killed, without any quarter. Some priests were
brought prisoners before Captain Morgan, but he was deaf to their cries,
and commanded them all to be pistolled, which was done. Soon after they
brought a captain to him, whom he examined very strictly as to the forces
of Panama. He answered, their whole strength consisted in four hundred
horse, twenty-four companies of foot, each of one hundred men complete;
sixty Indians and some negroes, who were to drive two thousand wild bulls
upon the English, and thus, by breaking their files, put them into a total
disorder; besides, that in the city they had made trenches and raised
batteries in several places; and that at the entry of the highway leading
to the city, they had built a fort mounted with eight great brass guns,
defended by fifty men. The pirates were now, however, both elated by their
successes and furious at their losses, and that same day the city fell
completely into their hands. Strict injunctions were given to the
freebooters not to even taste the wine they found, as the captain feared
that a considerable amount of debauchery must ensue after the privations
they had endured. He gave out, however, that he had been informed that the
wine was poisoned. Captain Morgan, as soon as he had placed the necessary
guards, commanded twenty-five men to seize a large boat, which had stuck
in the mud of the port, for want of water, at a low tide. The same day,
about noon, he fired privately several great edifices of the city, nobody
knowing who was the author of the outrage; the fire increased so that
before night the greater part of the city was in flames. Captain Morgan
pretended that the Spaniards had done it, finding that his own people
blamed him for the action. Many of the Spaniards, and some of the pirates,
did what they could either to quench the flames, or, by blowing up houses
with gunpowder, and pulling down others, to stop it, but almost in vain,
for in less than half an hour it consumed a whole street. All the houses
of the city were then built of cedar.

                    [Illustration: BURNING OF PANAMA.]

Next day Captain Morgan despatched away two troops, of 150 men each, to
seek for the inhabitants who had escaped. Above 200 prisoners, men, women,
and slaves, were taken. Three other boats were also taken. But all these
prizes they would willingly have given for one galleon, which miraculously
escaped, richly laden with the king’s plate, jewels, and other precious
goods of the best and richest merchants of Panama; a number of nuns also
had embarked with them all the ornaments of their church, consisting of
gold, plate, and other things of great value. “The strength of this
galleon was inconsiderable, having only seven guns and ten or twelve
muskets, and very ill provided with victuals, necessaries, and fresh
water.” They subsequently took a tolerably rich prize, having on board
20,000 dollars in coin.

February 24th, 1671, Captain Morgan departed from Panama, or rather from
the place where Panama had once stood.(6) The spoils included 175 beasts
of burden, laden with silver and gold, besides about 600 prisoners, men,
women, children, and slaves.

When the march began, the cries and shrieks of the unfortunate prisoners
were renewed, which did not worry Captain Morgan. They marched in the same
order as before, one party of the pirates in the van, the prisoners in the
middle, and the rest of the pirates in the rear, by whom the miserable
Spaniards were abused, punched, and thrust in their backs and sides, to
make them walk faster. A beautiful and virtuous lady, the wife of a
merchant, was led prisoner by herself, between two pirates. Her
lamentations pierced the skies, seeing herself carried away into
captivity, often crying to the pirates, and telling them “that she had
given orders to two religious persons, in whom she had relied, to go to a
certain place, and fetch so much as her ransom did amount to; that they
had promised faithfully to do it, but having obtained the money, instead
of bringing it to her, they had employed it another way, to ransom some of
their own and particular friends.” This Captain Morgan found to be true,
and he gave the lady her liberty; otherwise he had designed to transport
her to Jamaica. But he detained the monks as prisoners in her place, using
them according to their deserts. Many of the prisoners ransomed themselves
later, while others were taken to Jamaica and sold. About half-way across
the Isthmus Morgan had his men searched, going through the form himself.
This was to see whether any one had secreted valuables for his own use.
The French pirates of Morgan’s expedition took great offence at this, but
they were forced to submit. At Chagres the dividend was made, and there
was a considerable amount of dissatisfaction, his own companions telling
him to his face that he had reserved the best jewels for himself. It
appears likely that he had done so, and at all events, at this period he
suddenly sailed away from the larger part of his pirate-associates, and
left them in the lurch. Indeed, afterwards, some of them suffered great
privations before they reached the common rendezvous in Jamaica.

Many of Morgan’s former associates vowed to murder him if they could catch
him, believing that he had enriched himself greatly at their expense. He,
for the nonce, settled in Jamaica, and married the daughter of a wealthy
man. Long after this the pirates sought means to punish him, and hearing
that he intended to retire to the island of St. Catherine, vowed among
themselves to waylay him on the voyage. An unexpected incident saved
Morgan. At this very crisis a new governor (Lord Vaughan) arrived at Port
Royal, Jamaica, bringing a royal order for the successful bucanier to be
sent to England, to answer the complaints of the King of Spain, in regard
to the depredations made on his subjects. Of his trial little or nothing
is known, but he was soon after knighted by Charles II., and appointed
Commissioner for the Admiralty at Jamaica! Furthermore, in the autumn of
1680, the Earl of Carnarvon, then Governor of Jamaica, returning to
England, left the _ci-devant_ pirate as his deputy, and Morgan seized the
opportunity to hang many of his old comrades! In the next reign he was
thrown into prison—wherefore, precisely is not known, and his final fate
is uncertain. So much for the vicissitudes of a pirate’s life.

                                CHAPTER V.

                 THE PIRATES AND BUCANIERS (_continued_).

         The Exploits of Captain Sawkins—Three Ships attacked by
     Canoes—Valiant Peralta—Explosion on Board—Miserable Sight on Two
     Ship’s Decks—Capture of an Empty Ship—Dissatisfaction among the
    Pirates—Desertion of many—Message from the Governor of Panama—The
       Pirate Captain’s Bravado—His Death—Fear inspired on all the
       Southern Coasts—Preparations for punishing and hindering the
      Bucaniers—Captain Kidd—His first Commission as Privateer—Turns
        Pirate—The Mocha Fleet—Almost a Mutiny on Board—Kills his
        Gunner—Capture of Rich Prizes—A Rich Ransom derided—Grand
        Dividend—Kidd deserted by some of his Men—Proclamation of
    Pardon—Kidd excepted—Rushes on his Doom—Arrested in New York—Trial
        at the Old Bailey—Pleadings—Execution with Six Companions.

Among the great bucaniers of the seventeenth century were Captains Coxon,
Harris, Bournano, Sawkins, and Sharp, of the exploits of only one or two
of whom we shall have space to speak. On one of their principal
expeditions they started with nine vessels, having on board 460 men, and,
after a desertion of two of the ships’ companies, had still three-fourths
of the number left. Their march from the coast of Darien—the point of
destination being the unfortunate city of Panama—presented similar
difficulties to those already experienced by Morgan, and the narration of
them would be, therefore, tedious. On the way they took the town of Santa
Maria, but did not obtain much booty. From thence they proceeded by river,
in thirty-five canoes and a boat, to the Pacific Ocean. At the mouth of
the river, and on the rocks outside, some of them were shipwrecked, and
for a time the company became separated, although almost all of them were
able afterwards to rejoin. On the morning of April 23rd, 1680 (St.
George’s Day), they arrived within sight of the city of Panama, and also
in full view of some Spanish men-of-war ready for the fray, as they
immediately weighed anchor and sailed towards them. Some of the canoes
were sailing faster than the boats, and there was every fear that the
former would be run down by the ships. When the fight commenced, the
pirates had only sixty-eight men to contend against 228, Biscayans,
mulattoes, and negroes.

                     [Illustration: VIEW OF PANAMA.]

Captain Sawkins’s canoe, and also that on which was the narrator of the
fight, were much to leeward of the rest, so that one of the Spanish ships
came between the two and fired on both, wounding, with these broadsides,
five men in the two canoes. But the commander paid dearly for his passage
between them, as he was not quick in coming about again, and making the
same way; for the pirates killed, with their first volley, several of his
men upon the decks. Thus they got also to windward, as the rest were
before. The admiral of this armadilla (or little fleet) came up with them
instantly, scarce giving time to charge, thinking to pass by them all with
as little damage as the first of the ships had done. But, as it happened,
it turned out much the worse for him; for they were so fortunate as to
kill the man at the helm, so that his ship ran into the wind, and her
sails lay aback. By this means they all had time to come up under her
stern, and, firing continually into his vessel, they killed all that came
to the helm; besides which slaughter they cut asunder his mainsheet and
brace with their shot. At this time the third vessel was coming to the aid
of their general. Hereupon Captain Sawkins, who had changed his canoe and
had gone into one of the boats, left the admiral to four canoes (for his
own was quite disabled), and met the captain of the second ship. “Between
him and Captain Sawkins,” says the chronicler, “the dispute was very hot,
lying aboard each other, and both giving and receiving death as fast as
they could charge. While we were thus engaged the first ship tacked about,
and came up to relieve the admiral; but, we perceiving it, and foreseeing
how hard it would go with us if we should be beaten from the admiral’s
stern, determined to prevent his design. Hereupon two of our canoes, to
wit, Captain Springer’s and my own, stood off to meet him. He made up
directly towards the admiral, who stood upon the quarter-deck waving unto
him with a handkerchief so to do; but we engaged him so closely in the
middle of his way, that had he not given us the helm, and made away from
us, we had certainly been on board him. We killed so many of the men that
the vessel had scarce men enough left alive, or unwounded, to carry her
off; yet, the wind now blowing fresh, they made shift to get away from us,
and save their lives.

“The vessel which was to relieve the admiral being thus put to flight, we
came about again upon the admiral, and all together gave a loud halloo,
which was answered by our men in the periagua (large boat), though at a
distance from us. At that time we came so close under the stern of the
admiral, that we wedged up the rudder; and withal killed both the admiral
himself and the chief pilot of his ship; so that now they were almost
quite disabled and disheartened likewise, seeing what a bloody massacre we
had made among them with our shot. Hereupon, two-thirds of his men being
killed, and many others wounded, they cried for quarter, which had several
times been offered to them, and as stoutly denied till then. Captain Coxon
boarded the admiral, and took with him Captain Harris, who had been shot
through both his legs as he boldly adventured up along the side of the
ship. This vessel being thus taken we put on board her all our wounded
men, and instantly manned two of our canoes to go and aid Captain Sawkins,
who had now been three times beaten from on board Peralta, such valiant
defence had he made; and, indeed, to give our enemies their due, no men in
the world did ever act more bravely than these Spaniards.

“Thus coming close under Peralta’s side, we gave him a full volley of
shot, and expected to have the like return from him again; but on a sudden
we saw his men blown up that were abaft the mast, some of them falling on
the deck and others into the sea. This disaster was soon perceived by
their valiant captain Peralta; but he leaped overboard, and, in spite of
all our shot got several of them back into the ship again, though he was
much burnt in both his hands himself. But as one misfortune seldom cometh
alone, meanwhile he was recovering these men to reinforce his ship withal
and renew the fight, another jar of powder took fire forward, and blew up
several others upon the forecastle. Among this smoke, and under the
opportunity thereof, Captain Sawkins laid them on board, and took the
ship.”

Soon after they were taken the narrator went on board Captain Peralta’s
vessel to see what condition they were in, and a miserable sight it was;
for there was not a man that was not either killed, desperately wounded,
or horribly burnt with powder. Their dark skins were frequently turned
white, the powder having torn it from their flesh and bones. On the
admiral’s ship there were but twenty-five men alive out of eighty-six. Of
these twenty-five men only eight were able to bear arms, all the rest
being desperately wounded and by their wounds totally disabled to make any
resistance, or defend themselves. Their blood ran down the decks in whole
streams, and scarce one place in the ship was found that was free from
blood.

Having possessed themselves of these two vessels, Captain Sawkins asked
the prisoners how many men there were on board the greatest ship, lying in
the harbour of the island of Perico, as also on the others that were
something smaller. Captain Peralta hearing these questions, dissuaded him
as much as he could, saying that in the biggest alone there were three
hundred and fifty men, and that he would find the rest too well provided
for defence against his small number. But one of the men who lay dying
upon the deck contradicted Peralta as he was speaking, and told Captain
Sawkins there was not one man on board those ships that were in view, for
they had all been taken out of them to fight the pirates, in the three
vessels just taken. These words were credited as proceeding from a dying
man; and steering their course to the island they went on board them, and
found, as he had said, not one person there. The largest of the ships,
which was called _La __Santissima Trinidad_, they had set on fire. They
had also made a hole in her, and loosened her fore-sail. But they quenched
the fire with all speed, and stopped the leak. This being done they put
their wounded men on board her, and made her for the present their
hospital.

Having surveyed their own loss, they found eighteen of their men had been
killed in the fight, and twenty-two wounded. The three captains against
whom they had fought had been esteemed by the Spaniards the bravest in all
the “South Seas”; neither was their reputation undeserved, as may easily
be inferred from the narrative given of the engagement. As the third ship
was running away from the fight, she met with two more coming out to their
assistance; but gave them so little encouragement that they turned back
and dared not engage the pirates. The fight began about half an hour after
sunrise, and by noon the battle was finished. Captain Peralta, while he
was their prisoner, would often break out into admiration of their valour,
and say that surely “Englishmen were the most valiant men in the whole
world, who endeavoured always to fight openly, whilst all other nations
invented all the ways imaginable to barricade themselves, and fight as
close as they could.”

Other vessels were shortly afterwards taken. But in spite of their
successes, there was dissatisfaction among some of the pirates, and
Captain Coxon was openly branded as a coward by some of them, for the
small part he had taken in the engagement. He immediately deserted with
seventy of the men. Soon afterwards other pirates, however, joined the
forces.

Eight days after their arrival at Tavoga (now called Toboga), they took a
ship that was coming from Truxillo, and bound for Panama. In this vessel
they found two thousand jars of wine, fifty jars of gunpowder, and
fifty-one thousand pieces of eight. This money had been sent from that
city to pay the soldiers belonging to the garrison of Panama. From the
prize they had information that there was another ship coming from Lima
with one hundred thousand pieces of eight more, which vessel was to sail
ten or twelve days after them, and which, they said, could not be long
before she arrived at Panama. Within two days after this intelligence they
took another ship laden with flour from Truxillo, and the men on this
prize confirmed what the first had told them, and said that the rich
vessel might be expected there in the space of eight or ten days.

While they lay at Tavoga the President or Governor of Panama sent a
message by some merchants to them to know what they came for. To this
message Captain Sawkins made answer that “he came to assist the King of
Darien, who was the true lord of Panama and all the country thereabouts,
and that since he had come so far it was reasonable that they should have
some satisfaction. So that if he pleased to send five hundred pieces of
eight for each man and one thousand for each commander, and would not any
further annoy the Indians, but suffer them to use their own power and
liberty, as became the true and natural lords of the country, that then
they would desist from further hostilities, and go away peaceably;
otherwise, that he should stay there, and get what he could, causing the
Spaniards what damage was possible.” From the Panama merchants they
learned there lived there as Bishop of Panama, one who had formerly been
Bishop of Santa Martha, and who had been prisoner to Captain Sawkins when
he took the place about four or five years before. The captain having
received this intelligence sent two loaves of sugar to the bishop as a
present. The next day the merchant who carried them, returning to Tavoga,
brought the captain a gold ring, and a message to Captain Sawkins from the
President above mentioned, to know farther of him, since they were
Englishmen, “From whom they had their commission, and to whom he ought to
complain for the damages they had already done them?” To this message
Captain Sawkins sent back for an answer, “that as yet all his company were
not come together, but that when they were come up, they would come and
visit him at Panama, and bring their commissions on the muzzles of their
guns; at which time he should read them as plain as the flame of gunpowder
could make them.” But Sawkins’s bravado never came to anything, and he was
shortly afterwards killed at Puebla Nueva.

But the impression made by the pirates’ deeds had spread far and wide.
Some time afterwards, when Captain Sharp, who succeeded Sawkins, and had
made several captures in the meantime, took a vessel of the Spanish armada
on that coast (not the Great Armada, gentle reader; the word simply
signifies “fleet”) the captain proved to them in a speech how the fame and
fear of the pirates had pervaded the South Pacific, and what preparations
had been made to resist them. He said, “Gentlemen, I am now your prisoner
of war by the overruling providence of Fortune; and, moreover, am very
well satisfied that no money whatsoever can procure my ransom, at least
for the present, at your hands; hence I am persuaded it is not my interest
to tell you a lie, which if I do, I desire you to punish me as severely as
you think fit. We heard of your taking and destroying our armadilla and
other ships at Panama, about six weeks after that engagement, by two
several barks which arrived here from thence; but they could not inform us
whether you designed to come any farther to the southward, but rather
desired we would send them speedily all the help by sea that we possibly
could; hereupon we sent the rumour of your being in these seas to Lima,
desiring they would expedite what succour they could send to join with
ours. We had at that time in our harbour two or three great ships, but all
of them very unfit to sail; for this reason, at Lima, the Viceroy of Peru
pressed three large merchant-ships, into the biggest of which he put
fourteen brass guns, into the second ten, and in the other six. Unto these
he added two barks, and put 750 men on board them all. Of this number of
men they landed eight score at Point St. Helen, all the rest being carried
down to Panama, with design to fight you there. Besides these forces two
other men-of-war, bigger than the afore-mentioned, are still lying at
Lima, and fitting out with all speed to follow and pursue you. One of
these men-of-war is equipped with thirty-six brass guns, and the other
with thirty; these ships, besides their complement of seamen, have 400
soldiers added to them by the viceroy. Another man-of-war belonging to
this number, and lesser than the afore-mentioned, is called the _Patache_.
This ship carries twenty-four guns, and was sent to Arica to fetch the
king’s plate from thence; but the viceroy having received intelligence of
your exploits at Panama, sent for this ship back from thence in such haste
that they came away and left the money behind them. Hence the _Patache_
now lies at the port of Callao, ready to sail on the first occasion, or
news of your arrival thereabout; they having for this purpose sent to all
parts very strict orders to keep a good look-out on all sides, and all
places along the coast. Since this, from Manta, they sent us word that
they had seen two ships at sea pass by that place; and from the Goat Key
also we heard that the Indians had seen you, and that they were assured
that one of your vessels was the ship called _La Trinidad_, which you had
taken before Panama, as being a ship well known in these seas. From hence
we concluded that your design was to ply and make your voyage thereabouts.
Now this bark wherein you took us prisoners being bound for Panama, the
Governor of Guayaquil sent us out before her departure, if possible, to
discover you; which, if we did, we were to run the bark on shore and get
away, or else to fight you with these soldiers and fire-arms that you see.
As soon as we heard of your being in the seas we built two forts, the one
of six guns, and the other of four, for the defence of the town. At the
last muster taken, in the town of Guayaquil, we had there 850 men of all
colours; but when we came out we left only 250 men that were actually
under arms.” The story of Sharp and others of the pirates, after this,
shows that the Spanish preparations had a very decided effect on the
spoils they were able to acquire. Their gains were small; and apart from
the dangers of the sea, a number barely escaped being massacred ashore at
the Island of Plate. When they attempted to return by the Straits of
Magellan, they were tempest-tossed and sorely tried. They could not find
the entrance to the straits, and eventually rounded America by what is
described as “an unknown way.” That unknown route was unmistakably _viâ_
Cape Horn.

Among the notorious pirates probably no one is better known in England
than Captain Robert Kidd, whose trial and execution formed the subject of
many once popular ballads. He commenced life in the king’s service, and
had so far distinguished himself, that we find him in the first month of
1695 receiving a commission from His Majesty William III. to command a
“private” man-of-war to “apprehend, seize, and take” certain American
pirates. The privateer was actually fitted out at the expense of Lord
Bellamont, at one time Governor of Barbadoes, and others, who knew the
wealth that the pirates had acquired; and they obtained the king’s
commission, partly with the view of keeping the men under better command,
and also to give their enterprise some sort of sanction of legality. Kidd
sailed for New York, where he engaged more men, increasing his officers
and crew to a total of 150. Each man was to have one share in any division
of spoil, while he reserved for himself and owners forty shares. This
vessel was the _Adventure_ galley, of thirty guns.

After calling at Madeira and the De Verde Islands for provisions and
necessaries, he set sail for Madagascar, then a rendezvous of the Indian
Ocean pirates. After cruising on that and the Malabar coasts, where he was
not at first successful in meeting with any of the pirate vessels, he
touched at a place called Mabbee, on the Red Sea, where he helped himself
to a quantity of the natives’ corn, without offering payment. Hitherto he
had acted strictly in his capacity as a legalised privateer, but he now
began to show his true colours. The Mocha fleet was expected shortly to
pass that way, and when he proposed to his crew that they should attack
it, one and all agreed. He thereupon sent a well-manned boat to
reconnoitre, which returned in a few days with the news that there were
fourteen or fifteen ships about to sail. It will be understood that the
Mocha fleet had nothing to do with American pirates, but was a commercial
fleet, in this case consisting of English, Dutch, and Moorish vessels,
convoyed by a vessel or vessels of war, in the fashion of those days. The
man at the masthead soon announced its approach, and Kidd, getting into
the midst of the vessels, fired briskly at a Moorish ship. Two men-of-war,
however, bore down upon him, and knowing he was not a match for them, Kidd
reluctantly put on all sail, and ran away. Shortly afterwards he took a
small vessel belonging to Moorish owners, the master being an Englishman,
whom he forced into his service as pilot. He used the men brutally, having
them hoisted by the arms and drubbed with a cutlass, to find out whether
or no any valuables were on board. As there was next to nothing to be
found, he seized some quantity of coffee and pepper, and let the vessel
go. When he touched shortly afterwards at a Moorish port, he found that he
was suspected, and soon after this he discovered that many places along
the coast had become alarmed. A Portuguese man-of-war was despatched after
him, and met him; he fought her gallantly for about six hours, when he
again became convinced that prudence, in his case, was the better part of
valour, and made good his escape.

Not long after this he encountered a Moorish vessel, having for master a
Dutch “schipper.” Kidd chased her under French colours, and hailed her in
the same language. A Frenchman on board answered, when he was told, “you
are the captain,” meaning, “you must be.” Kidd’s reason for this was that
he held, in addition to his commission against pirates, one called a
“commission of reprisal” against French vessels. At this time he seems to
have been almost doubtful as to his course of action, for while he took
the cargo of the last-named ship, he refused to attack a Dutch vessel
which he met some time afterwards. In this case there was almost a mutiny
on board, a majority being in favour of attack. Many threatened even to
man a boat and seize her, which Kidd prevented by swearing that if they
did they would never come on board his ship again. His gunner shortly
afterwards reproached him with this matter, and said that he had ruined
them all. Kidd, whose career might have ended much sooner than it did, if
the mutinous ones had been so disposed, was equal to the emergency.
Politely calling his gunner “a dog,” he raised a bucket and broke it over
the unfortunate man’s skull, who died a day after. A Portuguese prize of
tolerable value, containing Indian goods, jars of butter, bags of rice,
wax, &c., was taken shortly afterwards, and this put the crew in better
humour, which was vastly increased when he fell in with the _Quieda
Merchant_, a richly-laden Moorish ship of 400 tons, having for master an
Englishman named Wright. Kidd chased her under French colours, and took
her without a struggle. There were hardly any Europeans on board, but
there were a number of Armenian merchants. The pirate at first proposed
that they should pay a ransom, and that he would let them depart in peace.
They offered a sum something under £3,000, at which he laughed, and seized
the vessel, selling the cargo at various points, where he also left the
crew. When the division of the spoil was made, each man netted about £200,
while his forty shares amounted to a total of £8,000. In spite of these
enormous gains he was not above cheating some poor natives shortly
afterwards, who up to that time had been accustomed to look upon even
pirates as fair dealers in petty matters.

With the _Quieda Merchant_ and _Adventure_ he sailed once more for
Madagascar, where he, unfortunately for himself, met with some Englishmen
who knew him. Among them was a pirate named Culliford. When they met, they
told him that they had been informed he was sent out to take them and hang
them. Kidd laughed at their fears, and told them that they might look upon
him as a brother, pledging them in wine. The _Adventure_ was now old and
leaky, and Kidd shifted his guns and stores to the prize. Here he acted
fairly to his men, by dividing such of the cargo, &c., which was
available; a number of them returned the compliment by deserting him,
others remaining in the country, and some going on board Captain
Culliford’s ship.

At Amboyna, where he touched soon afterwards, he learnt that his
proceedings were understood in England, and that he had been declared a
pirate. The fact was that questions had been asked in Parliament regarding
the commission which had been given to him, and those who had fitted out
the vessel. The discussion seemed to Lord Bellamont to bear hardly on him,
and after Kidd’s execution, he published a pamphlet defending his course.
But to stop the piracy so common in those days, a free pardon was offered
to those pirates who had been engaged in the Eastern African waters who
should surrender their persons any time prior to the 30th April, 1699.
Kidd and Avery, the latter of whom we shall hereafter meet, were excepted
distinctly in the proclamation. When Kidd left Amboyna he most certainly
did not know this fact, or he would not have rushed into the lion’s jaw.
Trusting to his money, and his influence with Lord Bellamont, he sailed
for New York, where on arrival he was arrested with other of his
companions, and sent to England for trial.

A solemn session of Admiralty was that which met at the Old Bailey, in
May, 1701, when Captain Kidd and nine others were arraigned for piracy and
robbery on the high seas. All were found guilty except three, who were
proved to have been apprentices. Kidd was also tried for the murder of his
gunner, and found guilty. The men pleaded variously, and two of them had
undoubtedly surrendered themselves within the time limited by the
proclamation. Colonel Bass, the Governor of West Jersey (now the state of
New Jersey, adjoining that of New York), corroborated this statement. It
was shown that they had not surrendered to a commission of four specially
sent over for the purpose, and they were condemned to die. This was, as
far as the writer can judge, a hard case. Another seaman, Darby Mullins,
said in his defence that he served under the king’s commission, and had no
right to disobey any commands of his superior officer; that, in fact, the
men were never allowed to question his authority, because it would destroy
all discipline; and that even if unlawful acts were committed, the
officers were the persons to answer it, not the men. He was answered that
serving as he did only entitled him to do that which was lawful, not that
which was unlawful. He replied that the case of a seaman must be bad
indeed, if he were punished in both cases, for obeying and for not obeying
his officers, and that if he were allowed to dispute his superior’s
orders, there would be no such thing as command on the high seas. This
ingenious defence availed him nothing; he had taken a share of the
plunder, and had mutinied, showing no regard to the commission; and
further, had acted in accordance with the customs of pirates and
freebooters. The jury brought him in guilty with the rest.

Kidd’s defence was not strong, as a matter of legal argument. He insisted
that he had been more sinned against than sinning. He said that he went
out on a laudable employment, and had no occasion, being then in good
circumstances, to go a pirating; that the men had frequently mutinied, and
that he had been threatened in his own cabin, and that ninety-five
deserted him at one time and set fire to his boat, so that he was disabled
from bringing his ship home, or the prizes he took, to have them regularly
condemned, which prizes, he said, were taken under virtue of his
commission, they having French passes (false). A witness, Colonel Hewson,
spoke highly of his previous reputation for bravery. So much of his own
statement was doubtful or false that he was found guilty. When the judge
put on the black cap, Kidd stood up and said: “My lord, it is a very hard
sentence. For my part I am the most innocent person of them all, and have
been sworn against by perjured persons.” A week after the bodies of Kidd
and six of his men were seen by the passers-by on the river, hanging high,
suspended by chains, a warning especially to the seamen of and entering to
the port of London not to turn pirates.

                               CHAPTER VI.

                  THE PIRATES OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

     Difference between the Pirates of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth
    Centuries—Avery’s brief Career—A Captain all at Sea—Capture of his
     Ship—Madagascar, a Rendezvous for Pirates—A Rich Prize—The Great
     Mogul’s Ship taken—Immense Spoils—The Great Mogul’s Rage—Avery’s
      Treachery—His Companions abandon their Evil Ways—The Water-rat
        beaten by Land-rats—Avery dies in abject Poverty—A Pirate
        Settlement on Madagascar—Roberts the Daring—Sails among a
      Portuguese Fleet, and selects the best Vessel for his Prey—His
            Brutal Destruction of Property—His End—Misson and
     Caraccioli—Communistic Pirates—Their Captures—High Morality and
                      Robbery combined—Their Fates.

As we have seen, the seventeenth century presented innumerable examples of
piracy on a grand scale. The eighteenth presents no examples of formidable
organisations; on the contrary, each pirate, as a rule, worked for
himself, and relied on the unaided strength of himself and crew. An
example is afforded by Avery. Captain Avery’s brief career was,
piratically considered, brilliant enough. In 1715 we find him mate of a
vessel starting from Bristol, and designed for a privateer. The commander,
Captain Gibson, was a convivial sailor, fond of his bottle, and in port
was usually found ashore. On the evening on which the event about to be
described took place, he was on board, but having taken his usual dose or
doses of strong liquor, had retired to his berth. The crew not in the
secret were also below, leaving on deck only a few conspirators with whom
Avery had made a compact. At the time agreed some other conspirators came
off in a long-boat, and Avery hailed them, and was answered in the
following terms: “Is your drunken boatswain aboard?”—the watch-word
previously arranged. Avery replied in the affirmative, and the boat,
manned by sixteen stout fellows, came alongside, and in a few minutes the
hatches were secured, and the ship put to sea. There were several vessels
in port, and a Dutch skipper was offered a considerable reward to pursue
Avery, but he declined. When Captain Gibson awoke he rang his bell, and
Avery and one of the men going into the cabin, found him only half awake.
He inquired what was the matter with the ship: “Does she drive? What
weather is it?” He thought she was still in port. “No, no,” answered
Avery; “we are at sea.” “At sea!” said the captain. “How is that?” “Come,
come,” said Avery, “put on your clothes, and I’ll let you into a secret.
You must know that I am captain now, and this is my cabin; therefore you
must walk out!” He then explained his intentions of proceeding to
Madagascar on a piratical venture. The captain was terribly frightened,
but Avery reassured him by saying that he could either go ashore, or, if
he chose to make one of them, and keep sober, he might in time be raised
to the dignity of lieutenant. Gibson preferred the former alternative,
and, with four or five men of the same mind, was put on shore.

Avery sailed for Madagascar, where he was joined by two sloops, the
sailors on board which were themselves well inclined to his enterprise,
having just before run away with the vessels from the East Indies. They
sailed in company, and off the mouth of the Indus the man at the masthead
espied a sail, and they gave chase. She was evidently a fine tall vessel,
possibly an East Indiaman. She proved something better, for, when they
fired a shot at her, she hoisted Mogul colours, and appeared ready for a
fight. The sloops first attacked, with Avery for a support. The men of the
sloops attacked on either quarter, and boarded her; she immediately
afterwards struck her colours. She was one of the Great Mogul’s own ships,
having on board many distinguished persons of his own court, including one
of his daughters, going on a pilgrimage to the Holy City, Mecca. They were
carrying with them rich offerings to present at the shrine of Mahomet.
They were travelling in full Eastern magnificence, with retinues and
slaves, immense sums of money, jewellery, and plate. The spoil which they
obtained was immense, and after rifling the ship of everything valuable,
the pirates allowed her to depart. The news soon reached the Great Mogul,
and he was so enraged that he threatened to extirpate the English on the
Indian coast. The East India Company had enough to do to pacify him, and
only succeeded in doing so by promising to use every endeavour to punish
the pirates. Avery’s name and fame soon after reached Europe, and, as
might have been expected, all kinds of wild fables were circulated
concerning him.

          [Illustration: AVERY CHASING THE GREAT MOGUL’S SHIP.]

On the voyage to Madagascar Avery proposed to the commanders of the sloops
that the treasures taken should be collectively stored on board his own
ship, as being by far the strongest and safest place, until an opportunity
should occur for a division on land. They acceded, and the treasure was
brought on board, and, with what he had, deposited in three great chests.
Avery having got it on his own ship, suggested to his men that they had
now on board sufficient to make them all happy, and he proposed that they
should immediately make for some country where they were not known, and
where they might live in plenty. They soon understood his hint, and
pressing on all sail, left the sloops’ crews to curse their perfidy. They
proceeded to America, and at the Island of Providence, then newly settled,
divided the spoils, and Avery pretending that his vessel had been an
unsuccessful privateer, sold her readily. He then purchased a sloop, in
which he and his companions sailed, and most of them landed on various
parts of the American coasts, and settled. They dispersed over that
country.

Avery, however, had carefully concealed the greater part of the jewels and
other valuable articles, so that his riches were considerable. Arriving at
Boston he was almost induced to settle there; but as the greater part of
his wealth consisted of diamonds, he feared that if he attempted to
dispose of them at that place he should certainly be arrested as a pirate.
He resolved, therefore, to sail for the north of Ireland, where he
dispersed his men, some of whom obtained the pardon of King William, and
eventually became peaceable Irish settlers.

He found, however, that it was as difficult to dispose of his diamonds in
Ireland, without rendering himself suspected, as in Boston. It, therefore,
occurred to him that Bristol might be a likely place to suit his purpose,
and he accordingly proceeded to Devonshire, having previously made
arrangements to meet one of his friends at Bideford. The so-called friend
introduced him to others, and the latter persuaded him that the safest
plan would be to place his effects in the hands of some wealthy merchants
who would make no inquiry as to how he came by them. One of these persons
informed him that he knew merchants who would not bother him with
inquiries, and Avery, falling easily into the trap, assented to this
proposal. Accordingly the merchants who had been named paid him a visit at
Bideford, where, after protestations of honour and integrity on their
part, he delivered his diamonds and gold to them. After giving him a
little money for his immediate support, they departed.

The old pirate changed his name, and lived quietly at Bideford, so that no
notice was taken of him. The first sum of money he had received from the
supposed merchants was soon spent, and for some time he heard nothing from
the latter, though he wrote to them repeatedly. At length they sent him a
small supply, but it was not sufficient to pay his debts. He therefore
resolved to go at once to Bristol and have a personal interview with the
merchants themselves. However, on arriving there he met with a mortifying
repulse; for when he desired them to account with him, they silenced him
by threatening to disclose his real character; thus proving themselves as
good land-rats as he had been a water-rat.

Avery went again to Ireland, and from thence solicited the merchants very
strongly, but to no purpose, so that he was reduced to utter beggary. Next
we find him on board a trading vessel working his passage over to
Plymouth, from whence he travelled on foot to Bideford. He had been there
but a few days when he fell sick, and died, “not being worth as much money
as would buy him a coffin.” Such was the end of a man who had, in his
brief career, astonished and alarmed not merely the Great Mogul of all the
Indies, and the great East India Company, but had become a hero of romance
in Europe.

And now to return to the unfortunate sloops. Their provisions were nearly
exhausted, and although fish and fowl were readily obtainable at
Madagascar, whither they returned, they had no salt to cure them for a
long voyage. They therefore made an encampment on the coast, where they
were joined by other piratical Englishmen who had selected the island as a
permanent place of settlement. When the pirates first settled there many
of the native princes were very friendly, and the former, having
fire-arms, which in those days the latter had not, often joined in the
inter-tribal wars, carrying terror wherever they went. Half a dozen
pirates with a small native army would put a much larger number of the
enemy to flight, and they were therefore great personages, and were almost
worshipped.

By these means they became in a little time very formidable, and such
prisoners as they took in war were employed in cultivating the ground, and
the most beautiful of the women they married; nor were they contented with
one wife, but often adopted the practice of polygamy. The natural result
was, that they separated, each of them choosing a convenient place for
himself, where he lived in princely style, surrounded by his family,
slaves, and dependents. Nor was it long before jarring interests excited
them to draw the sword against each other, and they appeared in the field
of battle, at the head of their respective clans as it were. In these
civil wars their number and strength were very soon greatly lessened.

These pirates, in the strange manner elevated to the dignity of petty
princes, and being destitute of honourable principles, used their power
with the most wanton barbarity. The most trifling offences were punished
with death; the victim was led to a tree, and instantly shot through the
head. The negroes at length, exasperated by continual oppression, formed
the determination to exterminate their masters in the course of a single
night; and this was not apparently a very difficult matter to accomplish,
so much were they divided. Fortunately, however, for them, a negro woman
who was partial to them ran twenty miles in three hours, and warning them
of their danger, they were united in arms to oppose the negroes before the
latter had assembled. This narrow escape made them more cautious. By
degrees the original stock of course died out, and when Captain Woods
Rodgers called there about thirty years after, there were only eleven of
them left, surrounded by a numerous progeny of half-breed children. The
circumstance will remind our readers of the descendants of the mutineers
of the _Bounty_ on Pitcairn Island.

A little later we find a remarkable pirate on the field of action. Captain
Bartholomew Roberts seems at first to have been really averse to the line
of life to which he afterwards took so kindly. When his commander, Captain
Davis, a pirate, died, the crew, in solemn conclave, selected Roberts. He
accepted the dignity, and told them that “since he had dipped his hands in
muddy water, and must be a pirate, it was better being a commander than a
private.” Very shortly afterwards he captured two vessels, the first Dutch
and the second English. The crew of the latter joined him, and emptied and
burned the vessel. On the Brazilian coast they were not successful, but
among the West Indian Islands they encountered a fleet of forty-two sail
of Portuguese ships, waiting for two men-of-war to convoy them. Roberts,
with his one little vessel, determined to have one or more of them, and he
sailed among the fleet, keeping the larger part of his men concealed. He
steered his ship almost alongside one of them, hailed her, and ordered her
master to come on board quietly, threatening to give no quarter if the
least resistance were made, or even if a signal of distress were
displayed. The Portuguese, perceiving a sudden flash of cutlasses on board
the pirate ship—a _coup de théâtre_ arranged by Roberts—submitted at once.
The newly-fledged pirate saluted the captain courteously, and told him
that he should go scot-free if he indicated which was the richest ship in
the fleet. He gladly pointed to a large vessel, and, although very much
superior in size and apparent strength to his own, made towards her,
carrying with him the poor Portuguese captain, for reasons which will at
once appear. Coming alongside, Roberts made his unwilling prisoner ask in
Portuguese how Seignior Capitano did, and to invite him on board, as he
had a matter of great importance to impart. He was answered in the
affirmative, but Roberts perceiving an unusual movement on board, and
expecting that they meant to give him a broadside, forestalled them by
pouring in a shower of shot, and then grappled, boarded, and took her. She
proved herself a rich prize, laden with tobacco, sugar, skins, and a
goodly number of golden moidores. Roberts was not long in securing the
better part of her cargo, and speedily sailed away.

After touching at various points, they sailed for Newfoundland, entering
the harbour of Trepassi with the black flags flying, and drums and
trumpets sounding. The original account says that there were twenty-two
“ships” lying there, but it probably means large fishing boats. The men
aboard abandoned them, and the pirates burnt or sunk them all, besides
doing enormous damage ashore. Roberts here took a small Bristol vessel,
which he fitted and manned for his own service. Shortly afterwards he
destroyed ten French “ships” (probably meaning, as before, large fishing
boats) on the banks of Newfoundland, and after that a number of prizes of
more value. At Martinique it had been the custom of Dutch traders, when
they approached the island, to hoist their jacks. Roberts knew the signal,
and imitated it, and the poor people believing that a profitable market
was at hand, vied with each other who should first row out to the ship. As
they one by one approached he fired into and sunk them, determined to do
them as much damage as possible. This was in retaliation; he had heard
that some cruisers had been sent out to punish him.

But the end of this brute was at hand. One morning, soon after leaving
Martinique, while he was at breakfast, he was informed that a man-of-war
was at hand. He took little notice, and his men were undetermined whether
she was a Portuguese ship or a French vessel. As she came nearer, she,
however, hoisted English colours, and proved to be the _Swallow_, a
man-of-war of no inconsiderable size. Roberts knew his danger, but
determined to get clear, or die in the attempt. A man on board, who was a
deserter from the _Swallow_, informed him that she sailed best upon the
wind, and that the pirate-ship should, therefore, go before it. The
resolution was made to pass close to the _Swallow_ under all sail, and to
receive her broadside before they returned a shot; if seriously injured,
to run on the shore to which they were close; or, should both fail, to
blow up together, and balk the enemy. The greater part of his men were at
this time drunk, for they had captured a quantity of liquor not long
before, and their brandy-courage was likely to prove of the Dutch order.
Roberts was determined to die game, and dressed himself in his best
uniform—a rich crimson damask waistcoat and breeches, and a red feather in
his hat, a gold chain and diamond cross, two pairs of pistols in a silk
sling hung over his shoulders, and his sword in hand. In short, he was
just the typical kind of showy pirate of whom boys delight to read.

The _Swallow_ approached, and poured in her fire; Roberts hoisted the
black flag, and passed her with all sail. But for a fatal mistake he might
have got clear away; but either by bad steering, or in not keeping his
vessel before the wind, she again came up very near him. He was preparing
for action, when a grape-shot struck him directly in the throat, and he
fell back dead on the tackles of a gun. The man at the helm, one
Stephenson, not at first thinking he was wounded, swore at him, and
upbraided him as a coward; but, almost immediately afterwards, when he
found that his captain was indeed dead, burst into tears, and wished
himself dead. The pirate-ship almost immediately surrendered. His men
threw his body overboard, with all his finery and arms on, as he had
repeatedly ordered during his lifetime. Thus, at about forty years of age,
perished a brave and daring, though utterly reckless and unprincipled,
man, who, under better auspices, might have been of the greatest service
to his country.

               [Illustration: DEATH OF “CAPTAIN” ROBERTS.]

One of the most remarkable pirates of the century was Captain Misson, who
commenced life in the French navy. When on leave at Rome he met one
Caraccioli, a priest, who had imbibed some peculiar religious and social
views, and who was afterwards, through his influence, admitted on board
the man-of-war on which he was then serving. Both on several occasions
showed a considerable amount of bravery. Caraccioli was a very ambitious
man, and freely aired his peculiar ideas before both his friend Misson and
the crew. His social views were of the communistic order; he believed that
every man had as much right to that which would properly support him as to
the air he breathed, and that wealth and poverty were both wrong, and that
the world needed remodelling. It will be understood that he considered
himself one of the men to do it, and was by no means strict in his regard
for the rightful property of others. In a word, he meant to reform as much
of the world as possible by means of piracy!

So far, however, both men were serving in the legitimate navy of France,
but an opportunity occurred of which they made the most. Off Martinique,
their vessel, the _Victoire_, encountered an English man-of-war, the
_Winchelsea_, and a smart engagement followed, during which the French
captain and his four principal officers were killed. The master
(presumably the navigating officer) would have struck, but Misson took up
the sword, ordering Caraccioli to act as lieutenant, and, encouraging his
men, fought for three hours, when the powder-magazine of the _Winchelsea_
exploded, and only one man, who died shortly afterwards, was saved for the
moment. After this unexpected termination, Caraccioli came to Misson,
saluting him as captain, and, in a very French manner, reminding him what
Mahomet and Darius had become from very small beginnings, showed him how
he might become sovereign of the Southern Seas, and enjoy a life of
liberty. Misson, who probably did not need a great deal of convincing,
agreed, and calling all hands together, told them that any who would not
follow his fortunes should be set ashore at places whence they might
easily return to France, but recommended them to adopt the freebooter’s
life. One and all cried, “Vive le Capitaine Misson et son Lieutenant le
savant Caraccioli,” and the _Victoire_ was at once transformed from a
vessel of the royal navy of France to a pirate-ship.

The crew selected their officers; and then came the question as to what
colours they should fight under. The boatswain advised black, as the most
terrifying. Caraccioli strenuously opposed this, saying that they were no
pirates, but men who were resolved to assert that liberty which nature had
given them, and own no subjection to any one, further than for the common
good of all; that they would wage war on the immensely rich, and defend
the wretched. In short, he defined his mission as a kind of piratical
knight-errantry. He was to be the Don Quixote of the ocean. He advised
that, as they did not proceed upon the same grounds with pirates, who were
men of dissolute lives and no principles, they should not adopt their
colours. “Ours,” said he, “is a brave, a just, an innocent, and a noble
cause—the cause of liberty.” He advised a white ensign, with the motto
“For God and liberty” inscribed upon it. The valuable property on board
was put under lock and key, for the general benefit. When the plate
belonging to the late captain was going to the chest, the men unanimously
voted it for Misson’s use. Misson then spoke to the assembled crew; and
the observations of this moral robber are worthy of note. He said that,
“since they had resolved unanimously to seize upon and defend their
liberty, which ambitious men had usurped, and that this could not be
esteemed by impartial judges other than a brave and just resolution, he
was under an obligation to recommend to them a brotherly love to each
other, the banishment of all private piques and grudges, and a strict
agreement and harmony among themselves; that in throwing off the yoke of
tyranny, of which the action spoke abhorrence, he hoped none would follow
the example of tyrants, and turn his back upon justice; for when equity
was trodden under foot, misery, confusion, and distrust naturally
followed. He also advised them to remember that there was a Supreme Being,
the adoration of whom reason and gratitude prompted us to, and our own
interest would engage us ... to conciliate; that he was satisfied that men
born and bred in slavery, by which their spirits were broken and made
incapable of so generous a way of thinking; who, ignorant of their
birthright, and the sweets of liberty, dance to the music of their
chains—which was, indeed, the greater part of the inhabitants of the
globe—would brand this generous crew with the invidious name of pirates,
and think it meritorious to be instrumental in their destruction.
Self-preservation, therefore, and not a cruel disposition, obliged him to
declare war against all such as should refuse the entry of their ports,
and against all who should not immediately surrender and give up what
their necessities required; but in a more particular manner against all
European ships and vessels as concluded implacable enemies. And I do now,”
said he, “declare such war, and at the same time recommend to you, my
comrades, a humane and generous disposition towards your prisoners, which
will appear by so much more the effects of a noble soul, as we are
satisfied we should not meet the same treatment should our ill-fortune, or
more properly our disunion, or want of courage, give us up to their
mercy.”

And strangest of all to tell, the pirate kept very closely to his creed.
If he took a small vessel, he would often let it go, after taking from the
crew their ammunition, or some comparatively trifling matters; he was
generous with his prisoners, and always spared life, except in open
fighting. Compared with some of the pirates whose lives have been recorded
in these pages he was an angel of light. Perhaps nothing will better
exemplify this than his conduct after taking a large Dutch ship, the
_Nieuwstadt_, which had on board seventeen slaves and some gold-dust. He
ordered them to be clothed, and told his men that trading in those of our
own species could never be right. He ordered them to be divided among the
messes, that they might sooner learn the French language. The Dutch
prisoners soon developed their latent tendencies for hard swearing and
drinking; and Misson found that his own men were becoming demoralised. He
addressed them all on board, and gave them a most serious lecture on the
sin of swearing.

Vessel after vessel was taken by him, the commanders of which were
generally patted on the back by Misson for their gallant defence, and
always treated with courteous hospitality. His greatest prize, among
dozens of others, was a Portuguese vessel of fifty guns. The vessels were
locked together. His crew found that instead of having it all their own
way, they were vigorously attacked. Expecting no quarter, they contended
fiercely, cleared the decks, and a number followed the Portuguese on board
their own ship. Misson seeing this called out, “_Elle est à nous; à
l’abordage!_” and a crowd of his men boarded. He engaged the captain,
struck him so that he fell down the main-hatch, and the Portuguese almost
immediately struck. Misson lost fifty-six men, and netted nearly £200,000
for himself and crew.(7)

                               CHAPTER VII.

                  THE PIRATES OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

        Mary Read, the Female Pirate—As Male Servant, Soldier, and
      Sailor—Her Bravery and Modesty—The Pirate Vane—No Honour among
         Thieves—Delivered to Justice—The brief Career of Captain
      Worley—The Biter Bit—A more than usually Brutal Pirate—Captain
      Low’s Life of Villainy—His Wonderful Successes—An unfortunate
       Black Burned to Death—Torture of a Portuguese Captain—Of Two
    Portuguese Friars—The Results of Sympathy—Low’s Cupidity Defeated
     by a Portuguese—Eleven Thousand Moidores dropped out of a Cabin
                       Window—An Unpunished Fiend.

One of the most remarkable pirates of the century under review was,
strange as it may appear, a female! Mary Read acted first as a male page,
then volunteered as a sailor, was afterwards a cadet in a Flanders
regiment, and eventually returned to the sea to become a pirate. Her first
impersonation of a boy was undertaken at her mother’s command. The latter
had been twice married, and a son born of the first husband had died. When
the poor woman was in great destitution she thought of that husband’s
mother, who was in easy circumstances, and passed off her second child
Mary as a boy, thereby obtaining some pecuniary assistance. In the army
Mary Read is said to have behaved with great bravery, and when she retired
she married a young Fleming who had been a comrade in the field. They set
up a restaurant, or tavern, and for a time flourished in their business,
but the husband dying suddenly, and peace being concluded, she was obliged
to seek some other employment, and after a short lapse of time we find her
a sailor on a vessel bound to the West Indies. This ship was captured by
English pirates, and Mary was found to be the only English person on
board, so they detained her, letting the rest go, after they had stripped
the vessel of all they wanted. This was her first introduction to such
company, and it is said that in after life she stated that it was
compulsion and necessity which led her to follow the career of a pirate,
and not any desire on her part. But some of her actions looked as though
she had taken rather kindly to that unlawful profession.

        [Illustration: THE FEMALE PIRATES. (_From an Old Print._)]

When the royal pardon was granted to all pirates in the West Indies who
should abandon their mode of life before a given date, the crew with whom
Mary was serving availed themselves of it, and for some little time
afterwards we find Mary working on a privateer. The crew on this vessel
soon after mutinied, and turned her into a pirate ship, on which Mary is
said to have behaved with almost ferocious bravery. When the vessel was at
last captured, she, with another female pirate, named Anne Bonney, and one
male, were the last three on deck, the others having fled below. Mary on
this occasion is said to have fired a pistol among the cowardly sailors,
killing one and wounding another. It is just to her to say that in her
intercourse with others she was modest to the last degree, and her sex was
undiscovered by the sailors. In fact, the before-named Anne Bonney,
thinking Mary Read was a handsome young man, fell violently in love with
her, and the latter was obliged to disclose her sex. She was a strong,
robust woman, and although the course of life she had undertaken made her
practically a criminal of the worst description—a robber and a
murderer—she had, if all accounts are true, many very good qualities.
Captain Rackam, another pirate, not knowing at the time her sex, asked her
one day why she—or, as he thought, he—had chosen a life so dangerous, and
one which exposed her to the risk of being hanged at any time. She
answered that as to the hanging she thought it no very great hardship,
“for were it not for that every cowardly fellow would turn pirate, and so
infest the seas, while men of courage might starve; that if it were put to
her choice she would not have the punishment less than death, the fear of
which kept some dastardly rogues honest; that many of those who are now
cheating the widows and orphans, and oppressing their poor neighbours who
have no money to obtain justice, would then rob at sea, and the ocean
would be as crowded with rogues as the land.” Curious argument! Mary Read
came near tasting the quality of hanging when at last she was captured,
but an illness, fortunately for herself, intervened, and she died a
natural death. Woman’s mission in life rarely takes her to sea as a
practical sailor.

A prominent pirate of the seventeenth century was Captain Charles Vane,
the details of whose career would, however, read much like some already
given in the lives of earlier freebooters. One incident at the end of his
life is presented, to show how much distrust often existed among the
pirates themselves. Vane was at last wrecked on a small uninhabited island
near the Bay of Honduras; his vessel was completely lost and most of his
men drowned. He resided there some weeks, being reduced to great straits.

While Vane was upon this island a ship put in there from Jamaica for
water, the captain of which, one Holford, an old pirate, happened to be an
acquaintance of Vane’s. He thought this a good opportunity to get off, and
accordingly applied to his friend; but Holford absolutely refused him,
saying to him, “Charles, I can’t trust you on board my ship unless I carry
you as a prisoner, for I shall have you caballing with my men, knocking me
on the head, and running away with my ship pirating.” Vane made all the
protestations of honour in the world to him; but it seems Captain Holford
was too intimately acquainted with him to place any confidence in his
words or oaths. He told him he might easily get off if he had a mind to
it. “I am going down the bay,” said he, “and shall return hither in about
a month; and if I find you upon the island when I come back, I will carry
you to Jamaica and there hang you!” “How can I get away?” answered Vane.
“Are there not fishermen’s dories upon the beach? Can’t you take one of
them?” replied Holford. “What!” replied Vane; “would you have me steal a
dory, then?” “Do you make it a matter of conscience?” replied Holford, “to
steal a dory, when you have been a common robber and pirate, stealing
ships and cargoes, and plundering all mankind that fell in your way? Stay
here if you are so squeamish;” and he left him to consider the matter.

After Captain Holford’s departure another ship put into the small island,
on her way home, for some water. None of the company knowing Vane, he
easily passed his examination, and so was shipped for the voyage. One
would be apt to think that Vane was now pretty safe, and likely to escape
the fate which his crimes had merited; but here a cross accident happened
which ruined all. Holford, returning from the bay, was met by this ship,
and the captains being very well acquainted with each other, Holford was
invited to dine aboard, which he did. As he passed along to the cabin he
chanced to cast his eye down in the hold, and there saw Charles Vane at
work. He immediately spoke to the captain, saying, “Do you know whom you
have aboard there?” “Why,” said he, “I shipped the man the other day at an
island where he had been cast away, and he seems to be a brisk hand.” “I
tell you,” replied Captain Holford, “it is Vane, the notorious pirate.”
“If it be he,” replied the other, “I won’t keep him.” “Why, then,” said
Holford, “I’ll send and take him aboard, and surrender him at Jamaica.”
This being settled, Captain Holford, as soon as he returned to his ship,
sent his mate, armed, to Vane, who had his pistol ready cocked, and told
him he was his prisoner. No man daring to make opposition, he was brought
aboard and put into irons; and when Captain Holford arrived at Jamaica he
delivered up his old acquaintance to justice, at which place he was tried,
convicted, and executed, as was, some time before, Vane’s companion,
Robert Deal, who was brought thither by one of the men-of-war. “It is
clear,” says the original narrator, “from this how little ancient
friendship will avail a great villain when he is deprived of the power
that had before supported and rendered him formidable.”

Another pirate of the same period was Captain Worley, who commenced
business by leaving New York, in September, 1718, in a small open boat,
with eight men, six muskets, a few pounds of biscuit and dried tongues,
and a keg of water. He took first a shallop laden with household goods and
plate, and later three sloops. He was becoming formidable enough to cause
uneasiness to the authorities, who despatched two armed sloops after him.
Worley saw them off the coast of Virginia, and believing that they were
two vessels bound for the James River, hastened to get into its mouth
first. Meantime the inhabitants of James Town, supposing that all three
were pirates, made every preparation ashore to defend themselves. Their
surprise must have been great indeed when they saw the pirates were
fighting among themselves. Worley had waited in the entrance of the river,
with the black colours flying, when he discovered that the approaching
vessels hoisted English colours, and that he was entrapped. The pirate and
his men fought bravely, and when the action was over Worley and only one
man out of twenty-five survived. As they would probably have died of their
wounds in a short time they were brought ashore in irons, and hanged
almost immediately. Worley’s career as a pirate had lasted less than five
months.

Yet another example. Captain Edward Low had, as a boy, shown peculiarly
brutal qualities. He had bullied, and in low games had cheated, every one
he could, so that it was not surprising that when grown to man’s estate he
developed into a successful but specially obnoxious villain. After sundry
vicissitudes he had entered among the company of a ship bound to Honduras
for logwood, and when arrived there was employed in bringing it on shore
in command of a party of twelve armed men. One day the boat came alongside
the ship just a little before dinner-time, and Low desired that they
should remain for the meal, while the captain wanted them to make one more
trip, and offered them a bottle of rum. Low and some of the men became
enraged, and the former took a loaded musket and fired at the captain,
missing him, but injuring another man. They then ran away with the boat,
and only next day took a small vessel, on which they hoisted the black
flag.

Fortune now constantly favoured him, and he was joined by many others. At
the Azores he captured a French ship of thirty-four guns, taking her with
his own two vessels. Entering St. Michael’s roadstead, he captured seven
sail without firing a gun. He then sent ashore to the governor for water
and provisions, promising to release the vessels if his demands were
conceded, and burn them if they were not. The request was instantly
granted, and six of the vessels were returned. But a French vessel being
among them, they took away all her guns and men, except the cook, whom
they said, “being a greasy fellow, would fry well.” The brutes then bound
the unfortunate wretch to the mast, and set fire to the ship.

“The next who fell in their way was Captain Garren, in the _Wright_
galley, who, because he showed some inclination to defend himself, was cut
and mangled in a barbarous manner. There were also two Portuguese friars,
whom they tied to the foremast, and several times let them down before
they were dead, merely to gratify their ferocious dispositions. Meanwhile,
another Portuguese beholding this cruel scene expressed some sorrow in his
countenance, upon which one of the wretches said he did not like his
looks, and so giving him a stroke across the body with his cutlass he fell
upon the spot. Another of the miscreants aiming a blow at a prisoner
missed his aim, and struck Low upon the under jaw. The surgeon was called,
and stitched up the wound; but Low finding fault with the operation, the
surgeon gave him a blow which broke all the stitches, and left him to sew
them himself. After he had plundered this vessel some of them were for
burning her, as they had done the Frenchman; but instead of that, they cut
her cables, rigging, and sails to pieces, and set her adrift to the mercy
of the waves.”

On another occasion he had taken a fine Portuguese vessel, but could not
find the treasure, and he accordingly tortured some of the men to make
them inform him. He was told that during the chase the captain had hung a
sack containing eleven thousand moidores out of the cabin window, and that
when they were taken he had cut the rope, and let it drop to the bottom of
the sea. One can imagine Low’s rage. He ordered the unfortunate captain’s
lips to be cut off and broiled before his eyes. He then murdered him and
the whole crew in cold blood. The narrative of Low’s career is one
continuous succession of such stories; nor can the writer discover that he
met with punishment in this world.

                              CHAPTER VIII.

                         PAUL JONES AND DE SOTO.

      Paul Jones, the Privateer—A Story of his Boyhood—He joins the
     American Revolutionists—Attempt to Burn the Town and Shipping of
      Whitehaven—Foiled—His Appearance at St. Mary’s—Capture of Lady
      Selkirk’s Family Plate—A Letter from Jones—Return of the Plate
      several years after—A Press-gang Impressed—Engagement with the
      _Ranger_—A Privateer Squadron—The Fight off Scarborough—Brave
    Captains Pearson and Piercy—Victory for the Privateers—Jones dies
       in abject Poverty—A Nineteenth Century Freebooter—Benito de
    Soto—Mutiny on a Slave Ship—The Commander left ashore and the Mate
    Murdered—Encounters the _Morning Star_—A Ship without a Gun—Terror
     of the Passengers—Order to spare no Lives—A terrified Steward—De
      Soto’s commands only partially observed, and the Ship saved—At
    Cadiz—Failure of the Pirate’s Plans—Captured, Tried, and Hanged at
                                Gibraltar.

A celebrated character now appears on the scene; and the writer must avow
that Paul Jones has hardly been treated fairly in many works of fiction(8)
and so-called history. He was not a pirate in the true sense of the word,
although very generally regarded as such, but was a privateer, employed by
colonies rebelling against the mother country.

John Paul—for such was his real name—was born on the estate of Lord
Selkirk, near Kirkcudbright, Scotland, in 1728, his father being head
gardener. Young Paul worked with his father for some length of time, and
there is a story recorded of the elder Paul which showed him to possess a
good sense of humour. In the gardens were two summer-houses, exactly alike
in build and size. One day Lord Selkirk, while strolling about the walks,
observed a young man locked up in one of the summer-houses and looking out
of the window. In the other house young Paul appeared, looking out of the
corresponding window. His lordship inquired why the lads were confined, to
which the gardener replied, “My lord, I caught the rascal stealing your
lordship’s fruit.” “But,” said the nobleman, “there are two of them. What
has your son done? is he also guilty?” “Oh no, please your lordship,” old
Paul coolly replied, “I just put him in for the sake of symmetry!” But it
appears that afterwards young Paul got himself in serious trouble, and
deserved to have been locked up in some stronger place than a
summer-house, and on other grounds than symmetry, and after some specially
knavish trick he was dismissed from his employment, and almost immediately
took to a seafaring life. He speedily rose to be mate, and soon after
master.

In 1777, when the rupture broke out between America and Great Britain, he
was in New England, and he immediately enlisted among the revolutionists,
who appointed him commander of the _Ranger_ privateer, mounting eighteen
guns and several swivels, and manned with a picked crew of 150 hardy men.

In the course of the following winter he put to sea, and made two
captures, which were sold in a French port, and in 1778 made an attempt to
burn and destroy the town and shipping of Whitehaven. Having got near the
land, he kept cautiously in the offing, but at midnight, having proceeded
nearer, he despatched his boats with thirty daring sailors. A little
battery at the entrance of the harbour was easily taken, and the small
garrison made prisoners before they could raise an alarm, and the guns
spiked. The vessels inside were laying close together at low water, and as
no enemy was expected there were no watches kept. The privateers deposited
combustibles, trains of powder, and matches, ready primed, on the decks
and about the rigging, and all was ready for the signal to be given, when
a commotion and loud knocking was heard in the main street, and crowds
came running to the piers, attracted by the lights which were being
hastily thrown on the ships by the enemy. The attacking party could only
just manage to get away and back to the ship, when, on the muster being
called, one man was missing. He it was who, either from hopes of great
reward, or, let us hope, from some purer motive of humanity, had started
the alarm, and saved both town and shipping, for only one vessel was
seriously scorched.

               [Illustration: PAUL JONES AND LADY SELKIRK.]

Paul Jones therefore left Whitehaven: the expedition had been a most
complete failure. He next made for the harbour of Kirkcudbright, at the
entrance of the river Dee—on which that “jolly miller” once lived of whom
we sing. A little distance from the sea the Dee expands into an estuary,
in which is the island of St. Mary, the very place on which Lord Selkirk’s
castle and estate stood. Early in the morning the privateer, with her guns
and generally warlike appearance, had been observed, but her character was
not known. Few vessels of size ever entered the river, and in this case
she was supposed to be an English man-of-war, possibly bent on
“impressing” men for the navy, and as the male population there, as
elsewhere, objected strongly to being torn away from their families and
employments, a number of them hid themselves, as did, indeed, Lady
Selkirk’s men-servants, who obtained temporary leave of absence. A boat
from the privateer landed a number of men immediately, who strolled about
leisurely, without having apparently any special object in view, and later
returned to the ship. The alarm of those who watched their movements from
a distance had hardly subsided when the boat, with a strong body of armed
men, again put in for shore.

“They did not now stroll about as before, but forming in regular order,
marched directly to the castle; and then, for the first time, a suspicion
of the real character of such unexpected and unwelcome guests was excited.
Lady Selkirk and her children were then the only members of the family
resident in the castle. Her ladyship had just finished breakfast when she
received a summons, but under considerable apprehensions of danger, which
were not abated upon a nearer approach to inspection of the party, whose
ferocious appearance and ragged dress too plainly betokened their hostile
purpose; and, as it now appeared plunder was their chief object, the worst
might be expected should any resistance be offered. The diversity of arms
with which the party were equipped further confirmed the bad opinion
entertained of the marauders. These consisted of muskets, pistols, swords,
&c., and one fellow bore an American tomahawk over his shoulder. There