d to go unpunished,
interposed to save me and to deliver me from the hands of this
remorseless villain, at the very instant when in all probability he
intended to have destroyed my happiness forever.

On a sudden the Pirate's bugle was sounded, which (as I was
afterward informed) was the usual signal of a sail in sight. The
ruffian monster thereupon without uttering a word left my apartment,
and hastened with all speed to the place of their general rendezvous
on such occasions. Flattered by the pleasing hope that Providence
might be about to complete her work of mercy, and was conducting to
the dreary island some friendly aid, to rescue me from my perilous
situation, I mustered courage to ascend to the roof of my hovel, to
discover if possible the cause of the alarm, and what might be the
issue.

A short distance from the island I espied a sail which appeared to
be lying to, and a few miles therefrom to the windward, another,
which appeared to be bearing down under a press of sail for the
former--in a moment the whole gang of Pirates, with the exception of
four, were in their boats, and with their oars, etc., were making
every possible exertion to reach the vessel nearest to their island;
but by the time they had effected their object the more distant
vessel (which proved to be a British sloop of war disguised) had
approached them within fair gunshot, and probably knowing or
suspecting their characters, opened their ports and commenced a
destructive fire upon them. The Pirates were now, as nearly as I
could judge with the naked eye, thrown into great confusion. Every
possible exertion appeared to have been made by them to reach the
island, and escape from their pursuers. Some jumped from their boats
and attempted to gain the shore by swimming, but these were shot in
the water, and the remainder who remained in their boats were very
soon after overtaken and captured by two well manned boats
dispatched from the sloop of war for that purpose; and, soon had I
the satisfaction to see them all on board of the sloop, and in the
power of those from whom I was fully satisfied that they would meet
with the punishment due to their crimes.

In describing the characters of this Piratical band of robbers, I
have, dear brother, represented them as wretches of the most
frightful and fero