and at night returned with plenty of that necessary element. But this
remarkable deliverance produced no reformation in the manners of these
unfeeling and obdurate men.

Steering their course from that place to Barbadoes, in their way they
met with a vessel which supplied them with all necessaries. Not long
after, they captured a brigantine, the mate of which joined their
association. Having from these two obtained a large supply, they changed
their course and watered at Tobago. Informed, however, that there were
two vessels sent in pursuit of them, they went to return their
compliments to the Governor of Martinique for this kindness.

It was the custom of the Dutch interlopers, when they approached this
island to trade with the inhabitants, to hoist their jacks. Roberts knew
the signal, and did so likewise. They, supposing that a good market was
near, strove who could first reach Roberts. Determined to do them all
possible mischief he destroyed them one by one as they came into his
power. He only reserved one ship to send the men on shore, and burnt the
remainder, to the number of twenty.

Roberts and his crew were so fortunate as to capture several vessels and
to render their liquor so plentiful, that it was esteemed a crime
against Providence not to be continually drunk. One man, remarkable
for his sobriety, along with two others, found an opportunity to set off
without taking leave of their friends. But a despatch being sent after
them, they were brought back, and in a formal manner tried and
sentenced, but one of them was saved by the humorous interference of one
of the judges, whose speech was truly worthy of a pirate--while the
other two suffered the punishment of death.

[Illustration: _Captain Roberts' Crew carousing at Old Calabar River._]

When necessity again compelled them, they renewed their cruising; and,
dissatisfied with capturing vessels which only afforded them a temporary
supply, directed their course to the Guinea coast to forage for gold.
Intoxication rendered them unruly, and the brigantine at last embraced
the cover of night to abandon the commodore. Unconcerned at the loss of
his companion, Roberts pursued his voyage. He fell in with two French
ships, the one of ten guns and sixty-five men, and the other of sixteen
guns and seventy-five men. These dastards no sooner beheld the black
flag than they surrendered. With these they went to Sierra Leone,
constituting one of them a consort, by the n