While Vane was upon this Iſland, a Ship put in from Jamaica for Water, the Captain of which, one Holford, an old Buccaneer, happened to be Vane’s Acquaintance; he thought this a good Opportunity to get off, and accordingly applied to his old Friend; but he abſolutely refuſed him, ſaying to him, Charles, I ſhan’t trust you aboard my Ship, unleſs I carry you a Priſoner; for I ſhall have you caballing with my Men, knock me on the Head, and run away with my Ship a pyrating.
Vane made all the Proteſtations of Honour in the World to him; but, it ſeems, Captain Holford was too intimately acquainted with him, to repoſe any Confidence at all in his Words or Oaths. He told him, He might eaſily find a Way to get off, if he had a Mind to it: I am now going down the Bay,
ſays he, and ſhall return hither, in about a Month; and if I find you upon the Iſland when I come back, I’ll carry you to Jamaica, and hang you.
Which Way can I get away?
Anſwers Vane. Are there not Fiſhermen’s Dories upon the Beach? Can’t you take one of them?
Replies Holford. What,
ſays Vane, would you have me ſteal a Dory then?
Do you make it a Matter of Conſcience?
Said Holford, to ſteal a Dory, when you have been a common Robber and Pyrate, ſtealing Ships and Cargoes, and plundering all Mankind that fell in your Way? Stay there, and be dn’d, if you are ſo Squeamiſh
: And ſo left him.
After Captain Holford’s Departure, another Ship put in to the ſame Iſland in her Way home for Water; none of whoſe Company knowing Vane, he eaſily paſſed upon them for another Man, and ſo was ſhipp’d for the Voyage. One would be apt to think that Vane was now pretty ſafe, and likely to eſcape the Fate which his Crimes had merited; but here a croſs Accident happen’d that ruin’d all: Holford, returning from the Bay, was met with by this Ship; the Captains being very well acquainted together, Holford was invited to dine
