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

Читать онлайн книгу THE PIRATES OF THE HIGH SEAS – Know Your Infamous Buccaneers, Their Exploits & Their Real Histories (9 Books in One Edition) - Даниэль Дефо страница 134

СКАЧАТЬ the Fact, took him Prisoner, plunder'd his House, and what Goods they could not take off in a great Canoe belonging to him, they threw into the River or burnt. Ort Van Tyle they design'd to carry on board, and hang at a Yard Arm, but one of the pyrates help'd him to escape, and he took into the Woods, where meeting some of his Blacks, he way-laid his Canoa, and Howard's Pinnace by the River Side; besides what Goods they had on board of this Dutchman's, they had several Women and Children belonging to him, and some white Men, who had left them under his Care. The pyrates set the Women to the Paddles, and the Canoa was over-set on the Bar; Ort Van Tyle fired on the Men, and shot one thro’ the Arm and thro’ the Thigh, whom with his Comrade, he took Prisoner, and kept with him: The rest of the Men got ashore on the South-Side the River and escaped him; the Women on the North-Side, and returned home. When the Pinnace came down, he fir'd and shot the Captain thro’ the Arm, but he got on board, where his Arm was set. After this, the Prosperous sail'd for Methelage, where they victualled, with a Design to go to the East-Indies; while he lay here, came in a large Dutch Ship, well mann'd, and of 40 Guns; the Prosperous was not strong enough to attack her, and the Dutch fearing he should spoil his Trade, would not meddle with Captain Howard, tho’ hard Words pass'd, and the Dutchmen threatned to fall foul on him if he did not leave the Place, which Howard thought fit to do, and sail'd to Mayotta.

      Few Days after the Departure of the Prosperous, Captain Bowen, in the Scotch Ship, came in, anchored within small Arm-Shot, and right a-head of the Dutchman, whom he saluted with 11 Guns Shot and all, which the other returned, with 15 after the same Manner; Drums beating, and Trumpets sounding, on both Sides. The Dutchman, however, was surprized, and under Apprehensions; he hal'd the Pyrate, and answer was return'd, From the Seas; he then bid ’em send their Boat on Board, which accordingly went with the Quarter-Master, who told the Captain, that they had no Design on him, but were going against the Moors, and came in for Provision; he replied, they could get none there, and the best Way was to be gone; however the Quarter-Master went ashore (where the Dutch had made his Factory, and had some Goods) and shot down three Oxen, which he ordered the Natives to help to cut in Pieces; the Dutchman perceiving a Friendship between the Natives and pyrates, seeing Bowen full of Men, and hearing two more pyrates were expected, thought fit to go off in the Night, and leave the Goods he had put on shore.

      Few Days after Bowen seizing the Goods left, went for Mayotta, where he join'd the Prosperous, and lay for the Season to go to the East-Indies. After some Stay here, their Salt Provisions perishing, they return'd to Madagascar to revictual, Bowen to St. Augustin's, and Howard (on board of whose Ship was Captain Whaley, taken as is said in Bowen's Life) to Methelage, agreeing to meet at the Island of St. John's, to lie for the Moors Fleet; where, after some Disappoints, they met, and got Sight of the Moors Fleet, one of which sell a Prize to Bowen; but the Prosperous being a heavy Sailor, did not come up with them till they were at an Anchor at the Bar of Surat, where they waited to lighten. The Moors, seeing few Hands on board, for Howard concealed his Men; and not imagining a Pyrate would venture up, they concluded him an English East-India Man: Howard clapp'd the largest on board, which stood him a smart Engagement, and killed him about 30 Men. At length the pyrates forced Captain Whaley, who spoke the Moors Language, to go on board and offer Quarter, which they accepted: There was on board this Prize a Nobleman belonging to the Great Mogul, who had been at Juffa to buy Horses for his Master; the Prize yielded them a great Booty, tho’ they found but Part of the Money which was on board. They intended to carry her to Madagascar, but her Bowsprit being wounded in the boarding, she lost all her Masts, wherefore, they set her a-drift, and she ran ashore at Deman, belonging to the Portuguese.

      From hence he steer'd to the Malabar Coast, where he met Bowen in his Prize, which mounted 56 Guns; here a Dispute arose, as shall be mention'd in the Appendix of Bowen's Life, both Crews went on board Bowen, sunk the Prosperous, and burnt the Scotch Ship, called the Speedy Return: Hence they stood along the Coast of India, and Howard, with about 20 more, landed with what they had, and retired among the Natives, where Howard married a Woman of the Country, and being a morose ill natur'd Fellow, and using her ill, he was murder'd by her Relations.

      Chapter XXXI.

       Of Captain Lewis. And his Crew

       Table of Contents

      This worthy Gentleman was an early Pyrate; we first find him a Boy on Board the PyrateBanister, who was hang'd at the Yard Arm of a Man of War in sight of Port-Royal in Jamaica. This Lewis and another Boy were taken with him, and brought into the Island hanging by the Middle at the Mizzen-Peak. He had a great Aptitude for Languages, and spoke perfectly well that of the Mosquill Indians, the French, Spanish and English. I mention our own, because it is doubted whether he was French or English, for we cannot trace him back to his Original.

      He sailed out of Jamaica till he was a lusty Lad, and was then taken by the Spaniards at the Havana, where he staid some Time; but at length he and six more ran away with a small Canoe, and surprized a Spanish Periagua, out of which two Men joined them, so that they were now nine in Company: With this Pariagua they suprized a Turtleing Sloop, and forced some of the Hands to take on with them, the others they sent away in the Periagua.

      He play'd at this small Game, surprising and taking Coasters and Turtlers, till with forced Men and Voluntiers he made up a Complement of 40 Men.

      With these he took a large Pink built Ship, bound from Jamaica to the Bay of Campeachy, and after her several others bound to the said Bay; and having Intelligence that there lay in the Bay a fine Bermudas built Brigantine of 10 Guns, commanded by Captain Tucker; he sent the Captain of the Pink to him with a Letter, the Purport of which was, that he wanted such a Brigantine, and if he would part with her, he would pay him honestly 10000 Pieces of Eight; if he refused this, he would take Care to lie in his Way, for he was resolved, either by fair or foul Means, to have the Vessel. Captain Tucker having read the Letter, sent for the Masters of Vessels then lying in the Bay, and told them, after he had shown the Letter, that if they would made him up 54 Men (for there were about 10 Bermudas Sloops) he would go out and fight the pyrates. They said, No, they would not hazard their Men, they depended on their Sailing, and every one must take Care of himself as well as he could.

      However, they all put to Sea together, and spied a Sail under the Land, which had a Breeze while they lay becalmed; some said he was a Turtler, others, the Pyrate, and so it proved; for it was honest Captain Lewis, who putting out his Oars, got in among them. Some of the Sloops had four Guns, some two, some none. Joseph Dill had two, which he brought on one Side, and fired smartly at the Pyrate, but unfortunately one of them split, and killed him three Men. Tucker called to all the Sloops to send him Men, and he would fight Lewis, but to no Purpose; no Body came on board him. In the mean while a Breeze sprung up, and Tucker trimming his Sails left them, who all fell a Prey to the Pyrate; into whom however he fired a Broadside at going off. One Sloop, whose Master I won't Name, was a very good Sailer, and was going off; but Lewis firing a Shot at him, brought her to, and he lay by till all the Sloops were visited and secured. Then Lewis sent on board him, and ordered the Master into his Sloop. As soon as he was aboard, he asked the Reason of his lying by, and betraying the Trust his Owners had reposed in him, which was doing like a Knave and Coward, and he would punish him accordingly; for, he said, you might have got off, being so much a better Sailer than my Vessel. After this Speech he fell upon him with a Rope's End, and then snatching up his Cane, drove him about the Decks without Mercy. The Master, thinking to pacify him, told him he had been out trading in that Sloop several Months, and had СКАЧАТЬ