to be staved and launched into the water and sunk, and the
masts, sails and oars to be carried out of sight. While this was doing
Mr. Fea perceived Gow's boat coming on shore, with five persons in her.
These men having landed on the main island, left their boat on the
beach, and altogether marched directly up to the mansion house. This put
him into some surprise at first, however, he resolved to meet them in a
peaceable manner, though he perceived they were all double-armed. When
he came up to them, he entreated them not to go up to the house,
because of the languishing condition of his wife, who was already
frighted with the rumours which had been raised of their being pirates,
and that she would certainly die with the fear she was in for herself
and family, if they came to the door.

The boatswain answered they did not desire to fright his wife, or
anybody else, but they came to desire the assistance of his boat, and if
he would not grant them so small a favour, he had nothing to expect from
them but the utmost extremity. Mr. Fea returned that they knew well
enough he could not venture to give them or lend them his boat or any
help, as they appeared to be such people as were reported, but that if
they would take them by force, he could not help himself. But in the
meantime, talking still in a friendly manner to them, he asked them to
go to a neighbouring house, which he said was a change-house, that is a
public-house, and take a cup of ale with him. This they consented to,
seeing Mr. Fea was alone; so they went all with him. In the meantime Mr.
Fea found means to give secret orders that the oars, masts and sails of
the pirates' boat should be all carried away, and that a quarter of an
hour after they had sat together, he should be called hastily out of the
room, on some pretence or other of somebody to speak with him; all which
was performed to a tittle. When he was got from them, he gave orders
that his six men, who before he had got together, and who were now come
to him well armed, should place themselves at a certain stile behind a
thick hedge, and which was about half way between the alehouse and his
own house, saying that if he came that way with the boatswain alone,
they should suddenly start out upon them both, and throwing him down,
should seize upon the other, but that if all the five came with him, he
would take an occasion to be either before or behind them, so that they
might all fire upon them, without da