f our prospects was a source of the deepest
distress. At night we retired to our tent; but having nothing but the
cold damp ground for a bed, and the heavy dew of night penetrating the
old canvass--the situation of the island being fifty miles from the
usual track of friendly vessels, and one hundred and thirty-five from
Trinidad--seeing my owner's property so unjustly and wantonly
destroyed--considering my condition, the hands at whose mercy I was, and
deprived of all hopes, rendered sleep or rest a stranger to me.

Friday, 4th.--Commenced with light winds and hot sun, saw a boat coming
from the Exertion, apparently loaded; she passed between two small Keys
to northward, supposed to be bound for Cuba. At sunset a boat came and
inquired if we wanted anything, but instead of adding to our provisions,
took away our molasses, and pushed off. We found one of the Exertion's
water casks, and several pieces of plank, which we carefully laid up, in
hopes of getting enough to make a raft.

Saturday, 5th.--Pirates again in sight, coming from the eastward; they
beat up along side their prize, and commenced loading. In the afternoon
Nickola came to us, bringing with him two more prisoners, which they had
taken in a small sail boat coming from Trinidad to Manganeil, one a
Frenchman, the other a Scotchman, with two Spaniards, who remained on
board the pirate, and who afterwards joined them. The back of one of
these poor fellows was extremely sore, having just suffered a cruel
beating from Bolidar, with the broad side of a cutlass. It appeared,
that when the officer asked him "where their money was, and how much,"
he answered, "he was not certain but believed they had only two ounces
of gold"--Bolidar furiously swore he said "ten," and not finding any
more, gave him the beating. Nickola now related to me a singular fact;
which was, that the Spanish part of the crew were determined to shoot
him; that they tied him to the mast, and a man was appointed for the
purpose; but Lion, a Frenchman, his particular friend, stepped up and
told them, if they shot him they must shoot several more; some of the
Spaniards sided with him, and he was released. Nickola told me, the
reason for such treatment was, that he continually objected to their
conduct towards me, and their opinion if he should escape, they would be
discovered, as he declared he would take no prize money. While with us
he gave me a letter written in great haste, which contains some