under the Direction of Lieutenant Sun, an experienced Officer, as to let the Ranger come up with her, when they thought they had got ſo far as not to have their Guns heard by her Conſort at the Cape. The Pyrates had ſuch an Opinion of their own Courage, that they could never dream any Body would uſe a Stratagem to ſpeak with them, and ſo was the more eaſily drawn into the Snare.
The Pyrates now drew nigh enough to fire their Chaſe Guns; they hoiſted the black Flag that was worn in Whydah Road, and got their Spritſail Yard along-ſhips, with Intent to board; no one having ever asked, all this while, what Country Ship they took the Chaſe to be; they would have her to be a Portugueſe, (Sugar being then a Commodity among them,) and were ſwearing every Minute at the Wind or Sails to expedite ſo ſweet a Chaſe; but, alaſs, all turned ſour in an Inſtant: It was with the utmoſt Conſternation they ſaw her ſuddenly bring to, and hawl up her lower Ports, now within Piſtol-ſhot, and ſtruck their black Flag upon it directly. After the firſt Surprize was over, they kept firing at a Diſtance, hoiſted it again, and vapoured with their Cutlaſhes on the Poop; tho’ wiſely endeavouring at the ſame Time to get away. Being now at their Wits end, boarding was propoſed by the Heads of them, and ſo to make one deſperate Puſh; but the Motion not being well ſeconded, and their Main-Top-Maſt coming down by a Shot, after two Hours firing, it was declin’d; they grew Sick, ſtruck their Colours, and called out for Quarters; having had 10 Men killed out right, and 20 wounded, without the loſs or hurt of one of the King’s Men. She had 32 Guns, mann’d with 16 French Men, 20 Negroes, and 77 Engliſh. The Colours were thrown over board, that they might not riſe in Judgment, nor be diſplay’d in Tryumph over them.
