a large family, and they would then become
orphans and destitute. He promised
solemnly, the moment he was freed, to go
straight to the Havannah, and send a
man-of-war in search of the corsair.

"Whatever property you have," he
added, "shall be safely delivered to your
family; and mine will for ever bless you for
your generosity." I foolishly replied that if
the lot must eventually fall upon one of us,
I would consent to become the victim.

After supper (a bowl of chopped garlic
and bread, for which there was a scramble)
the pirates fired a musket, as a signal for
the Zephyr to back in shore, and then one
of our men was ordered to the lead, to give
notice the moment he found soundings.
The captain then asked, angrily, how many
American sailors we had on board, as he
meant to kill them, because the Americans
had lately destroyed one of his vessels. To
the Americans, he said, he should never
give quarter; and as all nations were
hostile to Spain, he would attack all nations.
The pirate and the Zephyr then anchored
in four fathoms, and I and the other
prisoners were left on board the pirate. That
night we could not sleep, for our carpenter
took an opportunity of telling us that the
Zephyr really had specie on board, and the
dread of a cruel death weighed upon us.

At daylight we could perceive the pirates
beating the Zephyr's crew with the flats of
their cutlasses, and making them haul up a
rope cable from the after- hatchway, as if to
remove the brig's cargo. When the pirate
captain returned, he brandished his cutlass
over my head, and told me to go on board
the Zephyr and bring back everything
necessary for purposes of navigation, as
he had resolved to keep me. When I
made no reply, he swore, and, with a
ferocious air, waving his sword, said, "Mind
and obey me, then, or I will take off your
skin." On reaching the Zephyr and entering
my cabin, I found my chest broken
open and two diamond rings gone. The
pirates then made us hoist up two seroons
of indigo, and as much arrowroot and
coffee as they required. They stole all
the children's earrings, our foretop-gallant
mast and yard, and all the ship's stores,
live stock, and water; they then told Mr.
Lumsden and Captain Cowper that if they
did not produce the concealed money, they
would burn the Zephyr and all aboard.
The children were sent into the schooner,
and those two unfortunate men (Lumsden
and Cowper) were taken below and lashed
to the pumps, round which combustibles
were piled. Lumsden remained obstinate
for some time, but at length produced a
small roll of doubloons from the round
house. Captain Cowper also surrendered
nine doubloons which had been entrusted
to his care by a poor woman.

The combustibles I have mentioned were
lighted, and as the flame approached these
poor wretches, their cries were heartrending,
and they implored the pirates to turn them
adrift to the mercy of the waves, and keep
the Zephyr and all that they could find in
her. Finding no better compromise could
be obtained, the captain ordered water to
be brought to quench the flames. After a
carouse, he drew his knife, ordered me with
him back to his own ship, and threatened,
with an oath, to cut my head off if I did
not move instantly. I asked to be allowed
to send my watch to my mother by Mr.
Lumsden. This he granted, saying:

"Your people have a very bad opinion
of us, but I will convince you that we are
not so bad as we are represented."

The Zephyr was then cast loose: Mr.
Lumsden being first told by the pirate
captain that if he caught him steering for
the Havannah, he would destroy him and
his vessel together. I sank into utter
despair as the Zephyr receded. My brain
began to turn. I was about to throw myself
overboard, when the pirates rushed on me,
secured me, and placed a guard over me: the
captain swearing that, if I made a second
attempt, I should be lashed to a gun and
left to die of hunger.

At daylight we stood to the south-west,
and entered the delightful harbour of
Rio Medias. In the afternoon, boats and
canoes began to arrive to congratulate the
captain on his success, and he received
with great pomp two magistrates, a priest,
and several ladies and gentlemen; to whom
I was shown as an English captive likely
to be useful in navigating the vessel. I
was asked many questions about England,
London, and my religion. Then dancing
was proposed. I was selected, against my
will, as a partner for Seraphina Riego, one
of the magistrates' daughters. I refused
to dance, and the lady (she was the most
beautiful Spanish girl I ever beheld) told
me with tears in her beautiful black eyes,
that she sincerely pitied me, and would do
what she could to alleviate my sufferings
and procure my liberty.

The captain then roughly ordered me out
to join the dancers, but Seraphina soon
sat down, and we talked about London
sights. Her father and the priest being