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Page 9
For Three Weeks after we met with no Adventure; wherefore the Captain
resolved to cruize off the _Havana_, and many of our Water-casks being
emptied, and we not far from the River of _Chagre_, we made for, and
came to an Anchor at the Mouth of that River, and sent our Boats ashore
with the Casks.
After we had water'd, we steer'd for the _Havana_, and between
_Portobello_ and _Carthagena_, we spied a Sail; as she clapp'd upon a
Wind, as soon as she descry'd us, and we went upon One Mast, we soon
met, but were as willing to shake her off, as we had been to speak to
her. She proved a Forty Gun _French_ Ship, which handled us without the
least Ceremony. We began the Fight by a Broad-side, as we were under her
Stern, which raked her fore and aft, and must, doubtless, as she was
full of Men, do great Execution. She returned the Compliment; and tho'
we lost but few Men, yet they miserably cut our Rigging. Our Captain
found his Business was to board, or her Weight of Metal would soon send
us to the Bottom. We enter'd the greater Number of our Men, who were so
warmly received, that but few came off; and as she was preparing to
board us in her Turn, if we had not, by a lucky Shot, brought her
Main-top-mast by the board, by which Accident we got off, she had
certainly carried us. Upon this we got our Fore-Tack to the Cat-head,
hoisted our Top-sails a-trip, and went away all Sails drawing. In few
Hours we lost Sight of her, and then upon the Muster, we found that she
had kill'd us Two and Forty of our Men, and wounded Fifteen, which was a
very sensible Loss, and made the Captain alter his Course, and think of
lying off _Campechy_, in hopes of geting more Men.
He order'd all the well Men upon Deck, and proposed it to 'em: They all
agreed it was the best Course they cou'd take, and many of them advised
to quit the Ship, for the first good Sloop which should fall in their
Way. The Captain answered, it was Time enough to think of that when they
had met with one for their Turn.
They now fell to knotting and splicing the Rigging, when the Day began
to be overcast, and threaten dirty Weather: The Thunder growl'd at a
distance, and it began to blow hard; a smart Thunder-shower was
succeeded by a Flash of Lightning, which shiver'd our Main-mast down
to the Step. A dreadful Peal of Thunder follow'd; the Sea began to run
high, the Wind minutely encreas'd, and dark Clouds intercepted the Day;
so that we had little more Light, than what the terrifying flashes of
Lightning afforded us. Our Captain, who was an able Seaman, at the first
Signal of an approaching Storm, handed his Top-sails, took a Reef in his
Foresail, and the Men were furling the Mainsail, when the Lightning
shiver'd the Mast, which was cut away with the utmost Expedition. We lay
some time under a Mizzen-balast, but were at last forc'd to put before
the Wind, and, for Four Days, we scudded with the Goose-wings of our
Foresail, in which Time we had not the least Glimpse of Sun or Stars,
but by very short Intervals; nor indeed did I see them, till after we
struck, but by Slatches. The Fifth Day, about Noon, our Foremast came
by the board; we broach'd to, and a Sea fill'd us; we were at our Dying
Rowls, and every Man gave himself for lost. But in this Danger, which
ought to have awakened those unhappy Wretches, to some Care of their
future Happiness, the Ship rang with Imprecations, and not a Word was
uttered, not back'd with Oaths and Curses. However, it pleased the Great
Disposer of Life and Death, that the Ship cleared her self of the Water,
which had filled the Waist to the Top of the Gunnel. They did all they
could to keep her Head to the Sea, and setting up a small Jury-mast,
to which they clapp'd a Top-gallant-yard, we again scudded, altogether
ignorant where we were; for a Sea which pooped us the second Day, had
carried away the Binnacle with the Two Compasses; and they either had
not, or knew not, where to find another. We left our selves to the Mercy
of the Sea and Wind, for we had no other Party to take; and tho' the
former run Mountain-high, yet finding the Ship made no Water, the
Captain apprehended no Danger, but that of being drove on some Coast.
I had not the least Compassion for any of the Pyrates, he alone
excepted; for he was much more humane to us who would not take on with
him, than could be expected from one of his Profession, which he told
me, one Day, he had enter'd upon much against his Inclinations, and that
he would gladly quit that detestable Life, were it possible for him: But
as he had no Hopes of Pardon, having, on board a Man of War, killed a
Boatswain, who abused him, he was obliged to continue his Villainies for
his own Security. This Man alone shewed some Sense of a Deity. I never
heard him in the Storm swear an Oath; but, on the contrary, I often
heard him, as by stealth, say, _Lord have Mercy on me! Great God forgive
me!_ The Seventh Day, a Sea poop'd us, and wash'd away this unhappy Man,
and the Two who were at the Wheel, whom we never more set Eyes on. Two
others immediately stepp'd into their Places. The Loss of the Captain
was an Addition to our Misfortune, which together with the violent
Continuance of the Storm, took away all Hopes of Safety.
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