Sims accordingly made the best of his Way, and sailing out in the Morning, arrived at Green Key the next Day towards Evening. The poor People on Shore saw them, and supposing them to be some of the Pyrates returned, thought it best to take to the Wood and hide, not knowing what Humour they might be in now.
Sims and his Ship-Mates carried some Provision on Shore, not knowing but they might want, and searched about, and calling out to them by their Names. After wandering about some Time, they came to the Place where the Fire was constantly kept; at perceiving which, they fancied they must be thereabouts, and that it would be best to wait for them there, and accordingly they sat them down, laying the Provisions near them. Turnley, who was climbed to the Top of a Tree just by, saw them, and observed their Motions, and fancied they were no Enemies who were bringing them Provisions, and, looking more earnestly, he knew Sims the Molotto, whom he was very well acquainted with at Providence; upon which he called him, who desired him to come down, telling him the comfortable News, that he was come to the Relief of him and his Companions.
Turnley made what Haste he could to the Bottom, and as soon as he was down, summoned his Companions, who were climbed to the Top of some neighbouring Trees, being in Haste to communicate the glad Tidings to them; being all together, the Molotto related to them the History of what had happened to the Pyrates.
That Night they supped comfortably together upon the Provision brought ashore; but so strange an Effect has Joy, that scarce one of them slept a Wink that Night, as they declared. The next Day they agreed to go a Hunting, in order to get something fresh to carry off with them, and were so successful, that they killed three fine Hogs. When they return’d, they made the best of their Way on Board, carrying with them all their Utensils, and set Sail for Providence, whither they arrived in three Days; it being now just seven Weeks from the Time of their being first set on Shore by the Pyrates.
The Governor, in the mean Time, was fitting out a Sloop to send for Long Island, in order to take those Pyrates who had saved themselves near the Salt Ponds there, which Sloop was now ready to sail, and put under the Command of Benjamin Horneygold; Turnley and his Companions embarked on Board of her, and Care was taken to get as many Men as they could, who were entire Strangers to the Pyrates.
When they arrived at the said Island, they run in pretty near the Shore, keeping but few Hands on Deck, that it might look like a trading Vessel, and those Men that were quite unknown to the Pyrates.
The Pyrates seeing them, came only two or three of them near the Shore, the rest lying in Ambush, not without Hopes of finding an Opportunity to seize the Sloop. The Sloop sent her Boat out towards the Shore, with Orders to lie off at a little Distance, as if she was afraid: Those in Ambush seeing the Boat so near, had not Patience to stay any longer, but flocked to the Water Side, calling out to them to come on Shore, and help them, for they were poor Ship-wreck’d Men, almost perish’d for Want. Upon which the Boat row’d back again to the Sloop.
Upon second Thoughts they sent her off again with two Bottles of Wine, a Bottle of Rum, and some Biscuits, and sent another Man, who was a Stranger to those ashore, with Orders to pass for Master of the Vessel. As soon as they approach’d them, the Pyrates call’d to them as before, begging them, for God’s sake to come on Shore; they did so, and gave them the Biscuit, Wine and Rum, which he said he brought ashore on purpose to comfort them, because his Men told him they were cast away. They were very inquisitive to know where he was bound; he told them, to New-York, and that he came in there to take in Salt: They earnestly intreated him to take them on Board, and carry them as Passengers to New-York; they being about sixteen in Number, he answered, he was afraid he had not Provision sufficient for so great a Number; but that he would go on Board and over-hall his Provision, and, if they pleased, some of them might go with him, and see how his Stock stood, that at least he would carry some of them, and leave some Refreshment for the rest, till they could be succoured another Way, but that he hoped they would make him some Recompence when they should arrive at New York.
They seemed wonderfully pleased with his Proposal, and promised to make him ample Satisfaction for all the Charges he should be at, pretending to have good Friends and considerable Effects in several Parts of America. Accordingly he took several of them with him in the Boat, and as soon as they got on Board, he invited them into the Cabin, where, to their Surprize, they saw Benjamin Horneygold, formerly a Brother Pyrate; but what astonished them more, was to see Richard Turnley, whom they had lately marooned upon Green Key; they were immediately surrounded by several with Pistols in their Hands, and clapped in Irons.
As soon as this was over, the Boat went on Shore again, and those in the Boat told the Pyrates, that the Captain would venture to carry them with what Provision he had; at which they appeared much rejoyced, and so the rest were brought on Board, and without much Trouble clapped in Irons, as well as their Companions.