ce to the winds, sprung into the midst of the
malcontents, and laid about him right manfully with his bare fists.
The mutineers were all well armed, but seemed loath to use their
weapons; and the captain, a tall, powerful man, soon awed them all
into submission.

Though he showed indomitable energy in overcoming obstacles, Phipps
was not destined to discover the object of his search at this time;
and, after several months' cruising, he was forced, by the leaky
condition of his vessel, to abandon the search. But, before leaving
the waters of the Spanish Main, he obtained enough information to
convince him that his plan was a practicable one, and no mere
visionary scheme. On reaching England, he went at once to some wealthy
noblemen, and, laying before them all the facts in his possession, so
interested them in the project that they readily agreed to supply him
with a fresh outfit. After a few weeks spent in organizing his
expedition, the treasure-seeker was again on the ocean, making his way
toward the Mexican Gulf. This time his search was successful, and a
few days' work with divers and dredges about the sunken ship brought
to light bullion and specie to the amount of more than a million and a
half dollars. As his ill success in the first expedition had embroiled
him with his crew, so his good fortune this time aroused the cupidity
of the sailors. Vague rumors of plotting against his life reached the
ears of Phipps. Examining further into the matter, he learned that the
crew was plotting to seize the vessel, divide the treasure, and set
out upon a buccaneering cruise. Alarmed at this intelligence, Phipps
strove to conciliate the seamen by offering them a share of the
treasure. Each man should receive a portion, he promised, even if he
himself had to pay it. The men agreed to this proposition; and so
well did Phipps keep his word with them on returning to England, that,
of the whole treasure, only about eighty thousand dollars remained to
him as his share. This, however, was an ample fortune for those times;
and with it Phipps returned to Boston, and began to devote himself to
the task of securing a command in the royal navy.

His first opportunity to distinguish himself came in the expedition of
1690 against Port Royal. Throughout the wars between France and
England, the French settlement of Port Royal had been a thorn in the
flesh of Massachusetts. From Port Royal, the trim-built speedy French
privateers put to sea,