The Ship Recovered
Whilewewerethuspreparingourdesigns,andhadfirst,bymainstrength,heavedtheboatupuponthebeachsohighthatthetidewouldnotfleetheroffathigh-watermark; andbesides,hadbrokeaholeinherbottomtoobigtobequicklystopped,andweresatdownmusingwhatweshoulddo,weheardtheshipfireagun,andsawhermakeawaftwithherancientasasignalfortheboattocomeonboard. Butnoboatstirred; andtheyfiredseveraltimes,makingothersignalsfortheboat.
Atlast,whenalltheirsignalsandfiringsprovedfruitless,andtheyfoundtheboatdidnotstir,wesawthem,bythehelpofmyglasses,hoistanotherboatout,androwtowardstheshore; andwefound,astheyapproached,thattherewasnolessthanoftenmeninher,andthattheyhadfire-armswiththem.
Astheshiplayalmosttwoleaguesfromtheshore,wehadafullviewofthem"astheycame,andaplainsightofthemen,evenoftheirfaces; becausethetidehavingsetthemalittletotheeastoftheotherboat,theyrowedupundershore,tocometothesameplacewheretheotherhadlanded,andwheretheboatlay.
Bythismeans,Isay,wehadafullviewofthem,andthecaptainknewthepersonsandcharactersofallthemenintheboat,ofwhomhesaidthattherewerethreeveryhonestfellows,who,hewassure,wereledintothisconspiracybytherest,beingoverpoweredandfrighted; butthatwasfortheboatswainwho,itseems,wasthechiefofficeramongthem,andalltherest, theywereasoutrageousasanyoftheship’screw,andwerenodoubtmadedesperateintheirnewenterprise; andterriblyapprehensivehewasthattheywouldbetoopowerfulforus.