o French subjects, according to a commission he had for that purpose;
though, one would think, after what he had already done, that he need
not have recourse to a quibble to give his actions a color.

In short, he took the cargo and sold it some time after; yet still he
seemed to have some fears upon him lest these proceedings should have a
bad end, for, coming up with a Dutch ship some time, when his men
thought of nothing but attacking her, Kid opposed it; upon which a
mutiny arose, and the majority being for taking the said ship, and
arming themselves to man the boat to go and seize her, he told them,
such as did, never should come on board him again, which put an end to
the design, so that he kept company with the said ship some time,
without offering her any violence. However, this dispute was the
occasion of an accident, upon which an indictment was afterwards
grounded against Kid; for Moor, the gunner, being one day upon deck, and
talking with Kid about the said Dutch ship, some words arose between
them, and Moor told Kid that he had ruined them all; upon which Kid,
calling him dog, took up a bucket and struck him with it, which,
breaking his skull, he died the next day.

But Kid's penitential fit did not last long, for, coasting along
Malabar, he met with a great number of boats, all which he plundered.
Upon the same coast he also lighted upon a Portuguese ship, which he
kept possession of a week, and then, having taken out of her some chests
of Indian goods, thirty jars of butter, with some wax, iron, and a
hundred bags of rice, he let her go.

Much about the same time he went to one of the Malabar islands for wood
and water, and his cooper, being ashore, was murdered by the natives;
upon which Kid himself landed, and burnt and pillaged several of their
houses, the people running away; but having taken one, he caused him to
be tied to a tree, and commanded one of his men to shoot him; then
putting to sea again he took the greatest prize which fell into his
hands while he followed his trade. This was a Moorish ship of four
hundred tons, richly laden, named the _Queda_, merchant, the master
whereof was an Englishman--he was called Wright, for the Indians often
make use of English or Dutch men to command their ships, their own
mariners not being so good artists in navigation. Kid chased her under
French colors, and, having come up with her, he ordered her to hoist out
her boat and to send on board of him, which,