Simon Ropes and I were yet in the cockpit when the America captured her fifth prize, the British brig Dart, laden with rum and cotton, and carrying eight guns.
While we lay below unable to move, the enemy had been overhauled, submitting without attempting to strike a blow, and we were the richer by just so much prize-money in prospect.
Although not a gun had been fired, two of the prisoners lost their lives.
It seems, as we heard later from Master Joshua, that our third officer, Mr. Sparhawk, together with Thomas Fuller, a boatswain’s mate, had been among those sent to board the prize. On returning to the America in order to make a report, they brought with them five prisoners; their boat was stove under the America’s counter, and two of the Britishers were drowned.
Anthony Caulfield, an able seaman who understood navigation, was put in charge of the prize, together with eight of our men. And twenty prisoners were added to the number in the hold.
The Dart was headed for Salem without delay, and our ship cruised back and forth, hoping to sight yet other vessels of the fleet.
Simon and I were not seriously wounded. The prisoners had had no weapons, therefore our only injuries came from blows with bare fists, save the one on my head which was caused by the barrel of my own musket, that had been wrested from my grasp.
Within eight and forty hours we were able to go on deck, and then, to our great surprise, we learned that the America was steering a course which would speedily bring her into Salem Harbour.
It had been necessary to part with so many of the crew in order to man the prizes, that we were short-handed, and there was nothing left for us save to make the home port as soon as possible, that we might take on board those who had probably arrived there in advance of us.
Captain Ropes ordered us lads into his cabin immediately we made our appearance on the spar-deck in company with the surgeon, and, once there, he spoke such words of praise as cause my ears to tingle even at this late day.