Darby Mullins urged in his defence, that he served under the king's
commission, and therefore could not disobey his commander without
incurring great punishments; that whenever a ship or ships went out upon
any expedition under the king's commission, the men were never allowed
to call their officers to an account, why they did this, or why they did
that, because such a liberty would destroy all discipline; that if any
thing was done which was unlawful, the officers were to answer it, for
the men did no more than their duty in obeying orders. He was told by
the court, that acting under the commission justified in what was
lawful, but not in what was unlawful. He answered, he stood in need of
nothing to justify him in what was lawful, but the case of seamen must
be very hard, if they must be brought into such danger for obeying the
commands of their officers, and punished for not obeying them; and if
they were allowed to dispute the orders, there could be no such thing as
command kept up at sea.

This seemed to be the best defence the thing could bear; but his taking
a share of the plunder, the seamen's mutinying on board several times,
and taking upon them to control the captain, showed there was no
obedience paid to the commission; and that they acted in all things
according to the custom of pirates and freebooters, which weighing with
the jury, they brought him in guilty with the rest.

As to Capt. Kidd's defence, he insisted much on his own innocence, and
the villainy of his men. He said, he went out in a laudable employment
and had no occasion, being then in good circumstances, to go a pirating;
that the men often mutinied against him, and did as they pleased; that
he was threatened to be shot in the cabin, and that ninety-five left him
at one time, and set fire to his boat, so that he was disabled from
bringing his ship home, or the prizes he took, to have them regularly
condemned, which he said were taken by virtue of a commission under the
broad seal, they having French passes. The captain called one Col.
Hewson to his reputation, who gave him an extraordinary character, and
declared to the court, that he had served under his command, and been in
two engagements with him against the French, in which he fought as well
as any man he ever saw; that there were only Kidd's ship and his own
against Monsieur du Cass, who commanded a squadron of six sail, and they
got the better of him. But this being several years before the facts
mentioned in the indictment were committed, proved of no manner of
service to the prisoner on his trial.

[Illustration: _Captain Kidd hanging in chains._]

As to the friendship shown to Culliford, a notorious pirate, Kidd
denied, and said, he intended to have taken him, but his men being a
parcel of rogues and villains refused to stand by him, and several of
them ran away from his ship to the said pirate. But the evidence being
full and particular against him, he was found guilty as before
mentioned.

When Kidd was asked what he had to say why sentence should not pass
against him, he answered, that _he had nothing to say, but that he had
been sworn against by perjured and wicked people_. And when sentence was
pronounced, he said, _My Lord, it is a very hard sentence. For my part,
I am the most innocent person of them all, only I have been sworn
against by perjured persons_.

Wherefore about a week after, Capt. Kidd, Nicholas Churchill, James How,
Gabriel Loff, Hugh Parrot, Abel Owen, and Darby Mullins, were executed
at Execution Dock, and afterwards hung up in chains, at some distance
from each other, down the river, where their bodies hung exposed for
many years.

Kidd died hard, for the rope with which he was first tied up broke with
his weight and he tumbled to the ground. He was tied up a second time,
and more effectually. Hence came the story of Kidd's being twice hung.

Such is Captain Kidd's true history; but it has given birth to an
innumerable progeny of traditions. The report of his having buried great
treasures of gold and silver which he actually did before his arrest,
set the brains of all the good people along the coast in a ferment.
There were rumors on rumors of great sums of money found here and there,
sometimes in one part of the country sometimes in another; of coins with
Moorish inscriptions, doubtless the spoils of his eastern prizes.

Some reported the treasure to have been buried in solitary, unsettled
places about Plymouth and Cape Cod; but by degrees, various other parts,
not only on the eastern coast but along the shores of the Sound, and
even Manhattan and Long Island were gilded by these rumors. In fact the
vigorous measures of Lord Bellamont had spread sudden consternation
among the pirates in every part of the provinces; they had secreted
their money and jewels in lonely out-of-the-way places, about the wild
shores of the sea coast, and dispersed themselves over the country. The
hand of justice prevented many of them from ever returning to regain
their buried treasures, which remain to this day thus secreted, and are
irrecoverably lost. This is the cause of those frequent reports of trees
and rocks bearing mysterious marks, supposed to indicate the spots where
treasure lay hidden; and many have been the ransackings after the
pirates' booty. A rocky place on the shores of Long Island, called
Kidd's Ledge, has received great attention from the money diggers; but
they have not as yet discovered any treasures.



THE BLOODY CAREER AND EXECUTION OF VINCENT BENAVIDES A
PIRATE ON THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH AMERICA.


Vincent Benavides was the son of the gaoler of Quirihue in the district
of Conception. He was a man of ferocious manners, and had been guilty of
several murders. Upon the breaking out of the revolutionary war, he
entered the patriot army as a private soldier; and was a serjeant of
grenadiers at the time of the first Chilian revolution. He, however,
deserted to the Spaniards, and was taken prisoner in their service, when
they sustained, on the plains of Maypo, on the 5th of April, 1818, that
defeat which decided their fortunes in that part of America, and secured
the independence of Chili. Benavides, his brother, and some other
traitors to the Chilian cause, were sentenced to death, and brought
forth in the Plaza, or public square of Santiago, in order to be shot.
Benavides, though terribly wounded by the discharge, was not killed; but
he had the presence of mind to counterfeit death in so perfect a manner,
that the imposture was not suspected. The bodies of the traitors were
not buried, but dragged away to a distance, and there left to be
devoured by the gallinazos or vultures. The serjeant who had the
superintendence of this part of the ceremony, had a personal hatred to
Benavides, on account of that person having murdered some of his
relations; and, to gratify his revenge, he drew his sword, and gave the
dead body, (as he thought,) a severe gash in the side, as they were
dragging it along. The resolute Benavides had fortitude to bear this
also, without flinching or even showing the least indication of life;
and one cannot help regretting that so determined a power of endurance
had not been turned to a better purpose.

Benavides lay like a dead man, in the heap of carcasses, until it became
dark; and then, pierced with shot, and gashed by the sword as he was, he
crawled to a neighboring cottage, the inhabitants of which received him
with the greatest kindness, and attended him with the greatest care.

The daring ruffian, who knew the value of his own talents and courage,
being aware that General San Martin was planning the expedition to Peru,
a service in which there would be much of desperation and danger, sent
word to the General that he was alive, and invited him to a secret
conference at midnight, in the same Plaza in which it was believed
Benavides had been shot. The signal agreed upon, was, that they should
strike fire three times with their flints, as that was not likely to be
answered by any but the proper party, and yet was not calculated to
awaken suspicion.

San Martin, alone, and provided with a brace of pistols, met the
desperado; and after a long conference, it was agreed that Benavides
should, in the mean time, go out against the Araucan Indians; but that
he should hold himself in readiness to proceed to Peru, when the
expedition suited.

Having procured the requisite passports, he proceeded to Chili, where,
having again diverted the Chilians, he succeeded in persuading the
commander of the Spanish troops, that he had force sufficient to carry
on the war against Chili; and the commander in consequence retired to
Valdivia, and left Benavides commander of the whole frontier on the
Biobio.

Having thus cleared the coast of the Spanish commander, he went over to
the Araucans, or rather, he formed a band of armed robbers, who
committed every cruelty, and were guilty of every perfidy in the south
of Chili. Whereever Benavides came, his footsteps were marked with
blood, and the old men, the women, and the children, were butchered lest
they should give notice of his motions.

When he had rendered himself formidable by land, he resolved to be
equally powerful upon the sea. He equipped a corsair, with instructions
to capture the vessels of all nations; and as Araucan is directly
opposite the island of Santa Maria, where vessels put in for
refreshment, after having doubled Cape Horn, his situation was well
adapted for his purpose. He was but too successful. The first of his
prizes was the American ship Hero, which he took by surprise in the
night; the second, was the Herculia, a brig belonging to the same
country. While the unconscious crew were proceeding, as usual, to catch
seals on this island, lying about three leagues from the main land of
Arauca, an armed body of men rushed from the woods, and overpowering
them, tied their hands behind them, and left them under a guard on the
beach. These were no other than the pirates, who now took the Herculia's
own boats, and going on board, surprised the captain and four of his
crew, who had remained to take care of the brig; and having brought off
the prisoners from the beach, threw them all into the hold, closing the
hatches over them. They then tripped the vessel's anchor, and sailing
over in triumph to Arauca, were received by Benavides, with a salute of
musketry fired under the Spanish flag, which it was their chief's
pleasure to hoist on that day. In the course of the next night,
Benavides ordered the captain and his crew to be removed to a house on
shore, at some distance from the town; then taking them out, one by one,
he stripped and pillaged them of all they possessed, threatening them
the whole time with drawn swords and loaded muskets. Next morning he
paid the prisoners a visit and ordered them to the capital, called
together the principal people of the town, and desired each to select
one as a servant. The captain and four others not happening to please
the fancy of any one, Benavides, after saying he would himself take
charge of the captain, gave directions, on pain of instant death, that
some one should hold themselves responsible for the other prisoners.
Some days after this they were called together, and required to serve as
soldiers in the pirates army; an order to which they consented, knowing
well by what they had already seen, that the consequence of refusal
would be fatal.

Benavides, though unquestionably a ferocious savage, was, nevertheless,
a man of resource, full of activity, and of considerable energy of
character. He converted the whale spears and harpoons into lances for
his cavalry, and halberts for his sergeants; and out of the sails he
made trowsers for half of his army; the carpenters he set to work making
baggage carts and repairing his boats; the armourers he kept perpetually
at work, mending muskets, and making pikes; managing in this way, to
turn the skill of every one of his prisoners to some useful account. He
treated the officers, too, not unkindly, allowed them to live in his
house, and was very anxious on all occasions, to have their advice
respecting the equipment of his troops.

Upon one occasion, when walking with the captain of the Herculia, he
remarked, that his army was now almost complete in every respect, except
in one essential particular, and it cut him, he said to the soul, to
think of such a deficiency; he had no trumpets for his cavalry, and
added, that it was utterly impossible to make the fellows believe
themselves dragoons, unless they heard a blast in their ears at every
turn; and neither men nor horses would ever do their duty properly, if
not roused to it by the sound of a trumpet; in short he declared, some
device must be hit upon to supply this equipment. The captain, willing
to ingratiate himself with the pirate, after a little reflection,
suggested to him, that trumpets might easily be made of copper sheets on
the bottoms of the vessels he had taken. "Very true," cried the
delighted chief, "how came I not to think of that before?" Instantly
all hands were employed in ripping off the copper, and the armourers
being set to work under his personal superintendence, the whole camp,
before night, resounded with the warlike blasts of the cavalry.

The captain of the ship, who had given him the brilliant idea of the
copper trumpets, had by these means, so far won upon his good will and
confidence, as to be allowed a considerable range to walk on. He of
course, was always looking out for some plan of escape, and at length an
opportunity occurring, he, with the mate of the Ocean, and nine of his
crew, seized two whale boats, imprudently left on the banks of the
river, and rowed off. Before quitting the shore, they took the
precaution of staving all the other boats, to prevent pursuit, and
accordingly, though their escape was immediately discovered, they
succeeded in getting so much the start of the people whom Benavides sent
in pursuit of them, that they reached St. Mary's Island in safety. Here
they caught several seals upon which they subsisted very miserably till
they reached Valparaiso. It was in consequence of their report of
Benavides proceedings made to Sir Thomas Hardy, the commander-in-chief,
that he deemed it proper to send a ship to rescue if possible, the
remaining unfortunate captives at Arauca.

Benavides having manned the Herculia, it suited the mate, (the captain
and crew being detained as hostages,) to sail with the brig to Chili,
and seek aid from the Spanish governor. The Herculia returned with a
twenty-four pounder, two field-pieces, eleven Spanish officers, and
twenty soldiers, together with the most flattering letters and
congratulations to the worthy ally of his Most Catholic Majesty. Soon
after this he captured the Perseverance, English whaler, and the
American brig Ocean, bound for Lima, with several thousand stand of arms
on board. The captain of the Herculia, with the mate of the Ocean, and
several men, after suffering great hardships, landed at Valparaiso, and
gave notice of the proceedings of Benavides; and in consequence, Sir
Thomas Hardy directed Captain Hall to proceed to Arauca with the convoy,
to set the captives free, if possible.

It was for the accomplishment of this service that Capt. Hall sailed
from Valparaiso; and he called at Conception on his way, in order to
glean information respecting the pirate. Here the Captain ascertained
that Benavides was between two considerable bodies of Chilian force, on
the Chilian side of the Biobio, and one of those bodies between him and
the river.

Having to wait two days at Conception for information, Captain Hall
occupied them in observing the place; the country he describes as green
and fertile, and having none of the dry and desert character of the
environs of Valparaiso. Abundance of vegetables, wood, and also coals,
are found on the shores of the bay.

On the 12th of October, the captain heard of the defeat of Benavides,
and his flight, alone, across the Biobio into the Araucan country; and
also that two of the Americans whom he had taken with him had made their
escape, and were on board the Chacabuco. As these were the only persons
who could give Captain Hall information respecting the prisoners of whom
he was in quest, he set out in search of the vessel, and after two days'
search, found her at anchor near the island of Mocha. From thence he
learned that the captain of the Ocean, with several English and American
seamen had been left at Arauca, when Benavides went on his expedition,
and he sailed for that place immediately.

He was too late, however; the Chilian forces had already made a
successful attack, and the Indians had fled, setting fire to the town
and the ships. The Indians, who were in league with the Chilians, were
every way as wild as those who arrayed themselves under Benavides. Capt.
Hall, upon his return to Conception, though dissuaded from it by the
governor, visited the Indian encampment.

When the captain and his associates entered the courtyard, they observed
a party seated on the ground, round a great tub of wine, who hailed
their entrance with loud shouts, or rather yells, and boisterously
demanded their business; to all appearance very little pleased with the
interruption. The interpreter became alarmed, and wished them to retire;
but this the captain thought imprudent, as each man had his long spear
close at hand, resting against the eaves of the house. Had they
attempted to escape they must have been taken, and possibly sacrificed,
by these drunken savages. As their best chance seemed to lie in treating
them without any show of distrust, they advanced to the circle with a
good humored confidence, which appeased them considerably. One of the
party rose and embraced them in the Indian fashion, which they had
learned from the gentlemen who had been prisoners with Benavides. After
this ceremony they roared out to them to sit down on the ground, and
with the most boisterous hospitality, insisted on their drinking with
them; a request which they cheerfully complied with. Their anger soon
vanished, and was succeeded by mirth and satisfaction, which speedily
became as outrageous as their displeasure had been at first. Seizing a
favorable opportunity, Captain Hall stated his wish to have an interview
with their chief, upon which a message was sent to him; but he did not
think fit to show himself for a considerable time, during which they
remained with the party round the tub, who continued swilling their wine
like so many hogs. Their heads soon became affected, and their
obstreperous mirth increasing every minute, the situation of the
strangers became by no means agreeable.

At length Peneleo's door opened, and the chief made his appearance; he
did not condescend, however, to cross the threshold, but leaned against
the door post to prevent falling, being by some degrees more drunk than
any of his people. A more finished picture of a savage cannot be
conceived. He was a tall, broad shouldered man; with a prodigiously
large head, and a square-shaped bloated face, from which peeped out two
very small eyes, partly hid by an immense superfluity of black, coarse,
oily, straight hair, covering his cheeks, hanging over his shoulders,
and rendering his head somewhat the shape and size of a bee-hive. Over
his shoulders was thrown a poncho of coarse blanket stuff. He received
them very gruffly, and appeared irritated and sulky at having been
disturbed; he was still more offended when he learned that they wished
to see his captive. They in vain endeavored to explain their real views;
but he grunted out his answer in a tone and manner which showed them
plainly that he neither did, nor wished to understand them.

Whilst in conversation with Peneleo, they stole an occasional glance at
his apartment. By the side of the fire burning in the middle of the
floor, was seated a young Indian woman, with long black hair reaching to
the ground; this, they conceived, could be no other than one of the
unfortunate persons they were in search of; and they were somewhat
disappointed to observe, that the lady was neither in tears, nor
apparently very miserable; they therefore came away impressed with the
unsentimental idea, that the amiable Peneleo had already made some
impression on her young heart.

Two Indians, who were not so drunk as the rest, followed them to the
outside of the court, and told them that several foreigners had been
taken by the Chilians in the battle near Chilian, and were now safe. The
interpreter hinted to them that this was probably invented by these
cunning people, on hearing their questions in the court; but he advised
them, as a matter of policy, to give them each a piece of money, and to
get away as far as they could.

Captain Hall returned to Conception on the 23d of October, reached
Valparaiso on the 26th, and in two weeks thereafter, the men of whom he
was in search, made their appearance.

The bloody career of Benavides now drew near to a close. The defeat on
the Chilian side of the Biobio, and the burning of Arauca with the loss
of his vessels, he never recovered. At length, in the end of December
1821, discovering the miserable state to which he was reduced, he
entreated the Intendant of Conception, that he might be received on
giving himself up along with his partisans. This generous chief accepted
his offer, and informed the supreme government; but in the meantime
Benavides embarked in a launch, at the mouth of the river Lebo, and
fled, with the intention of joining a division of the enemy's army,
which he supposed to be at some one of the ports on the south coast of
Peru. It was indeed absurd to expect any good faith from such an
intriguer; for in his letters at this time, he offered his services to
Chili and promised fidelity, while his real intention was still to
follow the enemy. He finally left the unhappy province of Conception,
the theatre of so many miserable scenes, overwhelmed with the misery
which he had caused, without ever recollecting that it was in that
province that he had first drawn his breath.

His despair in the boat made his conduct insupportable to those who
accompanied him, and they rejoiced when they were obliged to put into
the harbor of Topocalma in search of water of which they had run short.
He was now arrested by some patriotic individuals. From the notorious
nature of his crimes, alone, even the most impartial stranger would have
condemned him to the last punishment; but the supreme government wished
to hear what he had to say for himself, and ordered him to be tried
according to the laws. It appearing on his trial that he had placed
himself beyond the laws of society, such punishment was awarded him as
any one of his crimes deserved. As a pirate, he merited death, and as a
destroyer of whole towns, it became necessary to put him to death in
such a manner as might satisfy outraged humanity, and terrify others who
should dare to imitate him. In pursuance of the sentence passed upon
him, he was dragged from the prison in a pannier tied to the tail of a
mule, and was hanged in the great square; his head and hands were
afterwards cut off, in order to their being placed upon high poles, to
point out the places of his horrid crimes, Santa Juona, Tarpellanca and
Arauca.

[Illustration: _The head of Benavides stuck on a pole._]

[Illustration]




THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN DAVIS


_With an account of his surprising the Fort at Gambia_.

Davis was born in Monmouthshire, and, from a boy, trained to the sea.
His last voyage from England was in the sloop Cadogan from Bristol, in
the character of chief mate. This vessel was captured by the pirate
England, upon the Guinea coast, whose companions plundered the crew, and
murdered the captain, as is related in England's life.

Upon the death of Captain Skinner, Davis pretended that he was urged by
England to become a pirate, but that he resolutely refused. He added,
that England, pleased with his conduct, had made him captain in room of
Skinner, giving him a sealed paper, which he was not to open until he
was in a certain latitude, and then expressly to follow the given
directions. When he arrived in the appointed place, he collected the
whole crew, and solemnly read his sealed instructions, which contained a
generous grant of the ship and all her stores to Davis and his crew,
requesting them to go to Brazil, and dispose of the cargo to the best
advantage, and make an equal division of the money.

Davis then commanded the crew to signify whether they were inclined to
follow that mode of life, when, to his astonishment and chagrin, the
majority positively refused. Then, in a transport of rage, he desired
them to go where they would.

Knowing that part of the cargo was consigned to merchants in Barbadoes,
they directed their course to that place. When arrived there, they
informed the merchants of the unfortunate death of Skinner, and of the
proposal which had been made to them. Davis was accordingly seized, and
committed to prison, but he having never been in the pirate service,
nothing could be proved to condemn him, and he was discharged without a
trial. Convinced that he could never hope for employment in that quarter
after this detection, he went to the island of Providence, which he knew
to be a rendezvous for pirates. Upon his arrival there, he was
grievously disappointed, because the pirates who frequented that place
had just accepted of his majesty's pardon, and had surrendered.

Captain Rogers having equipped two sloops for trade, Davis obtained
employment in one of these, called the Buck. They were laden with
European goods to a considerable value, which they were to sell or
exchange with the French and Spanish. They first touched at the island
of Martinique, belonging to the French, and Davis knowing that many of
the men were formerly in the pirate service, enticed them to seize the
master, and to run off with the sloop. When they had effected their
purpose, they hailed the other ship, in which they knew that there were
many hands ripe for rebellion, and coming to, the greater part joined
Davis. Those who did not choose to adhere to them were allowed to remain
in the other sloop, and continue their course, after Davis had pillaged
her of what things he pleased.

In full possession of the vessel and stores and goods, a large bowl of
punch was made; under its exhilarating influence, it was proposed to
choose a commander, and to form their future mode of policy. The
election was soon over, and a large majority of legal votes were in
favor of Davis, and no scrutiny demanded, Davis was declared duly
elected. He then drew up a code of laws, to which he himself swore, and
required the same bond of alliance from all the rest of the crew. He
then addressed them in a short and appropriate speech, the substance of
which was, a proclamation of war with the whole world.

They next consulted, what part would be most convenient to clean the
vessel, and it was resolved to repair to Coxon's Hole, at the east end
of the island of Cuba, where they could remain in perfect security, as
the entrance was so narrow that one ship could keep out a hundred.

They, however, had no small difficulty in cleaning their vessel, as
there was no carpenter among them. They performed that laborious task in
the best manner they could, and then made to the north side of
Hispaniola. The first sail they met with was a French ship of twelve
guns, which they captured; and while they were plundering her, another
appeared in view. Enquiring of the Frenchmen, they learned that she was
a ship of twenty-four guns and sixty men. Davis proposed to his crew to
attack her, assuring them that she would prove a rich prize. This
appeared to the crew such a hazardous enterprise, that they were rather
adverse to the measure. But he acquainted them that he had conceived a
stratagem that he was confident would succeed; they might, therefore,
safely leave the matter to his management. He then commenced chase, and
ordered his prize to do the same. Being a better sailer, he soon came up
with the enemy, and showed his black colors. With no small surprise at
his insolence in coming so near them, they commanded him to strike. He
replied, that he was disposed to give them employment until his
companion came up, who was able to contend with them; meanwhile assuring
them that, if they did not strike to him, it would most certainly fare
the worse for them: then giving them a broadside, he received the same
in return.

When the other pirate ship drew near, they, according to the directions
of Davis, appeared upon deck in white shirts, which making an appearance
of numbers, the Frenchman was intimidated, and struck. Davis ordered
the captain with twenty of his men to come on board, and they were all
put in irons except the captain. He then despatched four of his men to
the other ship, and calling aloud to them, desired that his compliments
should be given to the captain, with a request to send a sufficient
number of hands to go on board their new prize, to see what they had got
in her. At the same time, he gave them a written paper with their proper
instructions, even to nail up the small guns, to take out all the arms
and powder, and to go every man on board the new prize. When his men
were on board her, he ordered the greater part of the prisoners to be
removed into the empty vessels, and by this means secured himself from
any attempt to recover their ship.

During three days, these three vessels sailed in company, but finding
that his late prize was a heavy sailer, he emptied her of everything
that he stood in need of, and then restored her to the captain with all
his men. The French captain was so much enraged at being thus miserably
deceived, that, upon the discovery of the stratagem, he would have
thrown himself overboard, had not his men prevented him.

Captain Davis then formed the resolution of parting with the other
prize-ship also, and soon afterwards steered northward, and took a
Spanish sloop. He next directed his course towards the western islands,
and from Cape de Verd islands cast anchor at St. Nicholas, and hoisted
English colors. The Portuguese supposed that he was a privateer, and
Davis going on shore was hospitably received, and they traded with him
for such articles as they found most advantageous. He remained here five
weeks, and he and half of his crew visited the principal town of the
island. Davis, from his appearing in the dress of a gentleman, was
greatly caressed by the Portuguese, and nothing was spared to entertain
and render him and his men happy. Having amused themselves during a
week, they returned to the ship, and allowed the other half of the crew
to visit the capital, and enjoy themselves in like manner. Upon their
return, they cleaned their ship and put to sea, but four of the men were
so captivated with the ladies and the luxuries of the place, that they
remained in the island, and one of them married and settled there.

Davis now sailed for Bonavista, and perceiving nothing in that harbor
steered for the Isle of May. Arrived there, he found several vessels in
the harbor, and plundered them of whatever he found necessary. He also
received a considerable reinforcement of men, the greater part of whom
entered willingly into the piratical service. He likewise made free with
one of the ships, equipped her for his own purpose, and called her the
King James. Davis next proceeded to St. Jago to take in water. Davis,
with some others going on shore to seek water, the governor came to
inquire who they were, and expressed his suspicion of their being
pirates. Upon this, Davis seemed highly affronted, and expressed his
displeasure in the most polite but determined manner. He, however,
hastened on board, informed his men, and suggested the possibility of
surprising the fort during the night. Accordingly, all his men being
well armed, they advanced to the assault; and, from the carelessness of
the guards, they were in the garrison before the inhabitants were
alarmed. Upon the discovery of their danger, they took shelter in the
governor's house, and fortified it against the pirates: but the latter
throwing in some grando shells, ruined the furniture, and killed several
people.

The alarm was circulated in the morning, and the country assembled to
attack them; but, unwilling to stand a siege, the pirates dismounted the
guns, pillaged the fort, and fled to their ships.

When at sea, they mustered their hands, and found that they were seventy
strong. They then consulted among themselves what course they should
steer, and were divided in opinion; but by a majority it was carried to
sail for Gambia, on the coast of Guinea. Of this opinion was the
captain, who having been employed in that trade, was acquainted with the
coast; and informed his companions, that there was always a large
quantity of money deposited in that castle, and he was confident, if the
matter was entrusted to him, he should successfully storm that fort.
From their experience of his former prudence and courage, they
cheerfully submitted to his direction, in the full assurance of success.

Arrived at Gambia, he ordered all his men below, except just so many as
were necessary to work the vessel, that those from the fort, seeing so
few hands, might have no suspicion that she was any other than a trading
vessel. He then ran under the fort and cast anchor, and having ordered
out the boat, manned with six men indifferently dressed, he, with the
master and doctor, dressed themselves like gentlemen, in order that the
one party might look like foremastmen, and the other like merchants. In
rowing ashore, he instructed his men what to say if any questions were
put to them by the garrison.

On reaching land, the party was conducted by a file of musqueteers into
the fort, and kindly received by the governor, who enquired what they
were, and whence they came? They replied, that they were from Liverpool,
and bound for the river Senegal, to trade for gum and elephants teeth;
but that they were chased on that coast by two French men-of-war, and
narrowly escaped being taken. "We were now disposed," continued Davis,
"to make the best of our voyage, and would willingly trade here for
slaves." The governor then inquired what were the principal articles of
their cargo. They replied, that they were iron and plate, which were
necessary articles in that place. The governor then said, that he would
give them slaves for all their cargo; and asked if they had any European
liquor on board. They answered, that they had a little for their own
use, but that he should have a hamper of it. He then treated them with
the greatest civility, and desired them all to dine with him. Davis
answered, that as he was commander of the vessel, it would be necessary
for him to go down to see if she were properly moored, and to give some
other directions; but that these gentlemen might stay, and he would
return before dinner, and bring the hamper with him.

While in the fort, his eyes were keenly employed to discover the
position of the arms, and how the fort might most successfully be
surprised. He discovered that there was a sentry standing near a
guard-house, in which there were a quantity of arms heaped up in a
corner, and that a considerable number of small arms were in the
governor's hall. When he went on board, he ordered some hands on board a
sloop lying at anchor, lest, hearing any bustle they should come to the
aid of the castle; then desiring his men to avoid too much liquor, and
to be ready when he should hoist the flag from the walls, to come to his
assistance, he proceeded to the castle.

Having taken these precautions and formed these arrangements, he ordered
every man who was to accompany him to arm himself with two pair of
pistols, which he himself also did, concealed under their clothes. He
then directed them to go into the guard-room, and fall into
conversation, and immediately upon his firing a pistol out of the
governor's window, to shut the men up, and secure the arms in the
guard-room.

When Davis arrived, dinner not being ready, the governor proposed that
they should pass the time in making a bowl of punch. Davis's boatswain
attending him, had an opportunity of visiting all parts of the house,
and observing their strength. He whispered his intelligence to his
master, who being surrounded by his own friends, and seeing the governor
unattended by any of his retinue, presented a pistol to the breast of
the latter, informing him that he was a dead man, unless he should
surrender the fort and all its riches. The governor, thus taken by
surprise, was compelled to submit; for Davis took down all the pistols
that hung in the hall, and loaded them. He then fired his pistol out of
the window. His men flew like lions, presented their pistols to the
soldiers, and while some carried out the arms, the rest secured the
military, and shut them all up in the guard-house, placing a guard on
the door. Then one of them struck the union flag on the top of the
castle, which the men from the vessel perceiving, rushed to the combat,
and in an instant were in possession of the castle, without tumult or
bloodshed.

Davis then harrangued the soldiers, many of whom enlisted with him; and
those who declined, he put on board the small ships, and to prevent the
necessity of a guard, or the possibility of escape, carried off the
sails, rigging and cables.

That day being spent in feasting and rejoicing, the castle saluting the
ship, and the ship the castle, on the day following they proceeded to
examine the contents of their prize. They, however, were greatly
disappointed in their expectations, a large sum of money having been
sent off a few days before. But they found money to the amount of about
two thousand pounds in gold, and many valuable articles of different
kinds. They carried on board their vessel whatever they deemed useful,
gave several articles to the captain and crew of the small vessel, and
allowed them to depart, while they dismounted the guns, and demolished
the fortifications.

After doing all the mischief that their vicious minds could possibly
devise, they weighed anchor; but in the mean time, perceiving a sail
bearing towards them with all possible speed, they hastened to prepare
for her reception, and made towards her. Upon her near approach they
discovered that she was a French pirate of fourteen guns and sixty-four
men, the one half French, and the other half negroes.

The Frenchman was in high expectation of a rich prize, but when he came
nearer, he suspected, from the number of her guns and men, that she was
a small English man-of-war; he determined, notwithstanding, upon the
bold attempt of boarding her, and immediately fired a gun, and hoisted
his black colors: Davis immediately returned the compliment. The
Frenchman was highly gratified at this discovery; both hoisted out their
boats, and congratulated each other. Mutual civilities and good offices
passed, and the French captain proposed to Davis to sail down the coast
with him, in order to look out for a better ship, assuring him that the
very first that could be captured should be his, as he was always
willing to encourage an industrious brother.

They first touched at Sierra Leone, where they espied a large vessel,
and Davis being the swifter sailer, came first up with him. He was not a
little surprised that she did not endeavor to make off, and began to
suspect her strength. When he came alongside of her, she fired a whole
broadside, and hoisted black colors. Davis did the same, and fired a gun
to leeward. The satisfaction of these brothers in iniquity was mutual,
at having thus acquired so much additional strength and ability to
undertake more formidable adventures. Two days were devoted to mirth and
song, and upon the third, Davis and Cochlyn, the captain of the new
confederate, agreed to go in the French pirate ship to attack the fort.
When they approached, the men in the fort, apprehensive of their
character and intentions, fired all the guns upon them at once. The ship
returned the fire, and afforded employment until the other two ships
arrived, when the men in the fort seeing such a number on board, lost
courage, and abandoned the fort to the mercy of the robbers.

They took possession, remained there seven weeks, and cleaned their
vessels. They then called a council of war, to deliberate concerning
future undertakings, when it was resolved to sail down the coast in
company; and, for the greater regularity and grandeur, Davis was chosen
Commodore. That dangerous enemy, strong drink, had well nigh, however,
sown the seeds of discord among these affectionate brethren. But Davis,
alike prepared for council or for war, addressed them to the following
purport: "Hear ye, you Cochlyn and La Boise, (which was the name of the
French captain) I find, by strengthening you, I have put a rod into your
hands to whip myself; but I am still able to deal with you both:
however, since we met in love, let us part in love; for I find that
three of a trade can never agree long together." Upon this, the other
two went on board of their respective ships, and steered different
courses.

Davis held down the coast, and reaching Cape Appolonia he captured three
vessels, two English and one Scottish, plundered them, and allowed them
to proceed. In five days after he met with a Dutchman of thirty guns and
ninety men. She gave Davis a broadside, and killed nine of his men; a
desperate engagement ensued, which continued from one o'clock at noon
until nine next morning, when the Dutchman struck.

Davis equipped her for the pirate service, and called her "The Rover."
With his two ships he sailed for the bay of Anamaboa, which he entered
about noon, and took several vessels which were there waiting to take in
negroes, gold, and elephants' teeth. Davis made a present of one of
these vessels to the Dutch captain and his crew, and allowed them to go
in quest of their fortune. When the fort had intelligence that they were
pirates, they fired at them, but without any effect; Davis fired also,
and hoisted the black colors, but deemed it prudent to depart.

The next day after he left Anamaboa, the man at the mast-head discovered
a sail. It may be proper to inform our readers, that, according to the
laws of pirates, the man who first discovers a vessel, is entitled to
the best pair of pistols in the ship, and such is the honor attached to
these, that a pair of them has been known to sell for thirty pounds.

Davis pursued that vessel, which, being between him and the shore,
labored hard to run aground. Davis perceiving this, got between her and
the land, and fired a broadside at her, when she immediately struck. She
proved to be a very rich prize, having on board the Governor of Acra,
with all his substance, going to Holland. There was in money to the
amount of fifteen thousand pounds, besides a large quantity of merchant
goods, and other valuable articles.

Before they reached the Isle of Princes, the St. James sprang a leak, so
that the men and the valuable articles were removed into Davis's own
ship. When he came in sight of the fort he hoisted English colors. The
Portuguese, seeing a large ship sailing towards the shore, sent a sloop
to discover her character and destination. Davis informed them, that he
was an English man-of-war, sent out in search of some pirates which they
had heard were in this quarter. Upon this, he was piloted into the port,
and anchored below the guns at the fort. The governor was happy to have
Englishmen in his harbor; and to do honor to Davis, sent down a file of
musqueteers to escort him into the fort, while Davis, the more to cover
his design, ordered nine men, according to the custom of the English, to