. It so happened, that,
just before John Gallop set out with his sloop on the spring trading
cruise, the people of the colony were excitedly discussing the
probable fate of one Oldham, who some weeks before had set out on a
like errand, in a pinnace, with a crew of two white boys and two
Indians, and had never returned. So when, on this May morning, Gallop,
being forced to hug the shore by stormy weather, saw a small vessel
lying at anchor in a cove, he immediately ran down nearer, to
investigate. The crew of the sloop numbered two men and two boys,
beside the skipper, Gallop. Some heavy duck-guns on board were no mean
ordnance; and the New Englander determined to probe the mystery of
Oldham's disappearance, though it might require some fighting. As the
sloop bore down upon the anchored pinnace, Gallop found no lack of
signs to arouse his suspicion. The rigging of the strange craft was
loose, and seemed to have been cut. No lookout was visible, and she
seemed to have been deserted; but a nearer view showed, lying on the
deck of the pinnace, fourteen stalwart Indians, one of whom, catching
sight of the approaching sloop, cut the anchor cable, and called to
his companions to awake.

This action on the part of the Indians left Gallop no doubt as to
their character. Evidently they had captured the pinnace, and had
either murdered Oldham, or even then had him a prisoner in their
midst. The daring sailor wasted no time in debate as to the proper
course to pursue, but clapping all sail on his craft, soon brought her
alongside the pinnace. As the sloop came up, the Indians opened the
fight with fire-arms and spears; but Gallop's crew responded with
their duck-guns with such vigor that the Indians deserted the decks,
and fled below for shelter. Gallop was then in a quandary. The odds
against him were too great for him to dare to board, and the pinnace
was rapidly drifting ashore. After some deliberation he put up his
helm, and beat to windward of the pinnace; then, coming about, came
scudding down upon her before the wind. The two vessels met with a
tremendous shock. The bow of the sloop struck the pinnace fairly
amidships, forcing her over on her beam-ends, until the water poured
into the open hatchway. The affrighted Indians, unused to warfare on
the water, rushed upon deck. Six leaped into the sea, and were
drowned; the rest retreated again into the cabin. Gallop then prepared
to repeat his ramming manoeuvre. This time, to m