adventure, which yielded me in London, at my return, almost £300. I was now set up for a Guinea trader; but my friend, to (illegible text) great misfortune, dying soon after his arrival, I resolved to (illegible text) the same voyage again, and having left £200 in the hands of(illegible text) my friend’s widow, I embarked in the same vessel. This w(illegible text) one of the most unhappy voyages that ever man made ; for (illegible text) we were steering between the Canary islands and the African(illegible text) shore, we were surprised in the grey of the morning by (illegible text) Moorish rover of Salee, who gave chase to us, with all the s(illegible text) she could make. Finding that the pirate gained upon us, an(illegible text) would certainly come up with us in a few hours, we prepared to(illegible text) fight; our ship having twelve guns, and the pirate eighteen(illegible text) About three in the afternoon he came up with us, and a ve(illegible text) smart engagement ensued; but after having twice cleared the(illegible text) decks of the Moors, and lost three of our men, and had eight(illegible text) wounded, we were obliged to submit, and we were all carried(illegible text) prisoners into Salee, a port belonging to the Moors. I was kept by the captain of the rover as his own prize, and(illegible text) made his slave. My master having the long-boat of our English ship, had (illegible text) little state room or cabin built in the middle of it, like a barg(illegible text) with a place behind it to steer, and haul home the mainsheet(illegible text) and another before, for a hand or two to stand and work the(illegible text) sails. In this pleasure boat we frequently went out a-fishing(illegible text) and one day he had appointed to go out with two or three(illegible text) Moors of distinction, and had therefore sent over night a large(illegible text) store of provision than usual, and ordered me to get ready tw(illegible text) or three fusees with powder and shot, which were on board his(illegible text) ship, for that they designed to have sport at fowling as well as(illegible text) fishing. But in the morning he came on board, telling me that(illegible text) his guest had declined going, and ordered me, with the ma(illegible text) and boy, to sail out with the boat, and catch some fish, for h(illegible text) friends were to sup with him. At this moment the hopes of deliverance darted into my(illegible text) thoughts; every thing being prepared, we sailed out of th(illegible text) port to fish; but purposely catching none, I told Muley th(illegible text) this would not do, and that we must stand farther off, which l(illegible text) agreeing to, we set the sails, and I having the helm, ran th(illegible text) boat out near a league farther, and then brought her to, as if (illegible text) would fish; when giving the boy the helm, I stepped forward and stooping behind the Moor, took him by surprise, and tossed(illegible text) him overboard into the sea; he arose immediately, for he(illegible text) swam like a cork, and called to me to take him in ; but fetching(illegible text) out one of the fowling pieces, I presented it at him, and told(illegible text) him, that if he came near the boat, I would shoot him, so h(illegible text)
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