THE PIRATES OF THE HIGH SEAS – Know Your Infamous Buccaneers, Their Exploits & Their Real Histories (9 Books in One Edition). Даниэль Дефо

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СКАЧАТЬ answered by Fly, that he was very well. They did not think fit to attack this Ship, but returning to hold their Consultation, it was resolved to steer for North Carolina.

      Upon their Arrival on that Coast they spied a Sloop at Anchor within the Bar; she was call'd the John and Hannah, and commanded by Captain Fulker, who thinking the Snow might want a Pilot stepp'd into his Boat with his Mate, Mr. Atkinson, and Mr. Roan, two Passengers, and a young

      Lad, in order to bring her in. When they came on board, they were told, that the Snow was come with a Cargoe from Jamaica; Captain Fulker and Mr. Roan were desired to walk down to the Captain, who was in the Cabbin; Fly received them very civilly, ordered a Bowl of Punch, and hearing Captain Fulker had brought another Passenger on Board, Mr. Atkinson was also invited down.

      The Punch being brought in, Captain Fly told his Guest, that he was no Man to mince Matters; that he and his Comrades were Gentlemen of Fortune, and should make bold to try if Captain Fulker's Sloop was a better Sailor than the Snow, if she was, she would prove much fitter for their Business, and they must have her: The Snow came to an Anchor about a League off the Sloop, and Fly ordered Fulker, with six of his own Hands, into the Boat, to bring her alongside of the Snow; but the Wind proving contrary, their Endeavours proved also vain, and they returned again in the Boat, bringing Captain Fulker back with them.

      As soon as they came on board the Snow, Fly fell into a violent Passion, cursing and damning Fulker for not bringing off the Sloop; he gave him his Reason, and said, it was impossible. Damn ye, replied the Pyrate, you lie you Dog, but d — n my B— d, your Hide shall pay for your Roguery, and if I can't bring her off I'll burn her her where she lies. He then order'd Captain Fulker to the Geers; no Reason, no Arguments, could prevail; he was stripp'd and lash'd after a very inhuman Manner: And the Boat's Crew being sent again, with much ado carried her off as far as the Barr, where she bilged and sunk. The pyrates then endeavoured to set what remained of her out of Water on Fire, but they could not burn her.

      The Snow getting under Sail to look out for some Booty, Fulker and the others desired they might be set at Liberty, but it was denied them for the present, tho’ not without a Promise that they should be released the first Vessel they took.

      The fifth of June they left Carolina, and the next Day they spied a Sail, which prov'd the John and Betty, commanded by Capt. Gale, bound from Barbadoes to Guiney. Fly gave Chase, but finding the Ship wronged him, he made a Signal of Distress, hoisting his Jack at the main Top-Mast Head; but this Decoy did not hinder the Ship making the best of her Way. Fly continued the Chace all Night, and the Wind slackening, he came within Shot of the Ship, and fir'd several Guns at her under his black Ensign; the Ship being of no Force, and the pyrates ready to board, the Captain struck; and Fly manning his Long-Boat, which carried a Pateraro in the Bow, the Crew being well armed with Pistols and Cutlashes went on Board the Prize, and sent Capt. Gale, after having secured his Men, Prisoner on board the Snow.

      This Prize was of little Value to the pyrates, who took nothing but some ‘Sail-Cloaths and small Arms, and after two Days let her go, but took away six of his Men,’ setting on board Capt. Fulker and a Passenger (Mr. Atkinson was detained) and Capt. Green's Surgeon; they kept this Gentleman, Mr. Atkinson, knowing he was a good Artist, and lately Master of the Boneta Brigantine, as a Pilot for the Coast of New England, which they were satisfied he was well acquainted with.

      Upon Mr. Atkinson's desiring to have his Liberty with the others, Captain Fly made him the following Speech: Look ye, Captain Atkinson, it is

      not that we care a T— d for your Company, G— d d — n ye; G— d d — n my Soul, not a T— d by G— d, and that's fair; but G— d d — n ye, and G— d's B— d and W— ds, if you don't act like an honest Man G— d d — n ye, and offer to play us any Rogues Tricks by G— d, and G— d sink me, but I'll blow your Brains out; G— d d — n me, if I don't. Now, Capt. Atkinson, you may do as you please, you may be a Son of a Whore and pilot us wrong, which, G— d d — n ye, would be a rascally Trick by G— d, because you would betray Men who trust in you; but, by the eternal J— s, you shan't live to see us hang'd. I don't love many Words, G— d d — n ye, if you have a Mind to be well used you shall, G— d's B— d; but if you will be a Villain and betray your Trust, may G— d strike me dead, and may I drink a Bowl of Brimstone and Fire with the D— l, if I don't send you head-long to H— ll, G— d d — n me; and so there needs no more Arguments by G— d, for I've told you my Mind, and here's all the Ships Crew for Witnesses, that if I do blow your Brains out, you may blame no Body but your self, G— d d — n ye.

      Mr. Atkinson answered, it was very hard he should be forced to take upon him the Pilotage, when he did not pretend to know the Coast, and that his Life should answer for any Mistake his Ignorance of the Coast might make him guilty of, and therefore begg'd he might be set on board Capt. Gale; and that they would trust to their own Knowledge, since he did not doubt there being better Artists on Board. No, No, replied Fly, that won't do by G— d, your palavring won't save your Bacon. Muchas palabras no valen nada, as the Spaniards say; so either discharge your Trust like an honest Man, for go you shan't by G— d, or I'll send you with my Service to the D— l; so no more Words, G— d d — n ye.

      There was no Reply made, and they stood for the Coast of New England; off Delaware's Bay they made a Sloop, commanded by one Harris, bound from New York to Pensilvania: She had on Board about fifty Passengers; Fly gave Chase, and coming up with her, hoisted his black Ensign, and ordered her to strike, which she immediately did; and Fly sent Capt. Atkinson on Board with three of his Hands, to sail her, tho’ he would not allow him, (Atkinson) any Arms: They, the pyrates, ransack'd this Prize, but not finding her of any Use to them, after a Detention of 24 Hours, they let her go, with her Men, excepting only a well made young Fellow, whose Name was James Benbrooke, whom they kept.

      Fly, after having releas'd the Prize, ordered Captain Atkinson to carry the Snow into Martha's Vineyard, but, he willfully miss'd this Place. Fly finding himself beyond Nantuckets, and that his Design was baulk'd, called to Atkinson, and told him, he was a rascally Son of an envenom'd Bitch, and d — n his Blood it was a Piece of Cruelty to let such a Son of a Whore live, who design'd the Death of so many honest Fellows. Atkinson, in his Defence said, he never pretended to know the Coast, and that it was very hard he should die for being thought an abler Man than he really was; had he pretended to be their Pilot, and did not know his Business, he deserved Punishment; but when he was forc'd upon a Business which he before declared he did not understand, it would be certainly cruel to make him suffer for their Mistake. — G— d d — n ye, replied Fly, you are an obstinate Villain, and your Design is to hang us; but, B— d and W— ds you Dog, you shan't live to see it, and saying this, he ran into his Cabbin and fetch'd a Pistol with Design to shoot Atkinson; but by the Interposition of Mitchell, who thought him innocent of any Design, he escaped.

      Atkinson, who perceived his Life every Minute in Danger, began to ingratiate himself with the pyrates, and gave them Hopes, that with good and gentle Usage, he might be brought to join them; this he did not say in express Terms, but by Words he now and then let drop, as by Accident: They were not a little rejoiced at the View of having so good an Artist to join them; nay, some of them hinted to him, that if he would take upon him the Command, they were ready to dispossess Capt. Fly, who carried his Command too high, and was known to all the Crew to be no Artist, and to understand nothing beyond the Business of a Boatswain. Atkinson thought it his Interest to keep them in the Opinion that he would join; but always declined hearing any Thing as to the Command.

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