of their own hands. The Samuel, one of these,
was a very rich vessel, having some respectable passengers on board, who
were roughly used, and threatened with death if they did not deliver up
their money and their goods. They stripped the vessel of every article,
either necessary for their vessel or themselves, to the amount of eight
or nine thousand pounds. They then deliberated whether to sink or burn
the Samuel, but in the mean time they discovered a sail, so they left
the empty Samuel, and gave the other chase. At midnight they overtook
her, and she proved to be the Snow from Bristol; and, because he was an
Englishman, they used the master in a cruel and barbarous manner. Two
days after, they took the Little York of Virginia, and the Love of
Liverpool, both of which they plundered and sent off. In three days they
captured three other vessels, removing the goods out of them, sinking
one, and sending off the other two.

They next sailed for the West Indies, but provisions growing short,
proceeded to St. Christopher's, where, being denied provisions by the
governor, they fired on the town, and burnt two ships in the roads. They
then repaired to the island of St. Bartholomew, where the governor
supplied them with every necessary, and caressed them in the kindest
manner. Satiated with indulgence, and having taken in a large stock of
everything necessary, they unanimously voted to hasten to the coast of
Guinea. In their way they took a Frenchman, and as she was fitter for
the pirate service than their own, they informed the captain, that, as
"a fair exchange was no robbery," they would exchange sloops with him;
accordingly, having shifted their men, they set sail. However, going by
mistake out of the track of the trade winds, they were under the
necessity of returning to the West Indies.

They now directed their course to Surinam but not having sufficient
water for the voyage they were soon reduced to a mouthful of water in
the day; their numbers daily diminished by thirst and famine and the few
who survived were reduced to the greatest weakness. They at last had not
one drop of water or any other liquid, when, to their inexpressible joy,
they anchored in seven fathoms of water. This tended to revive exhausted
nature and inspire them with new vigour, though as yet they had received
no relief. In the morning they discovered land, but at such a distance
that their hopes were greatly dampened. The boat was however sent off,