“We left Annapolis one bright day, and sailing down the river, soon reached the open sea.
“I had nothing to guide me but my nose. I followed it, however, for five hundred miles out to sea, and in the direction of Bermuda.
“My plan was not to attempt to overhaul the Vestal Virgin.
“I caused the Utopia to be rigged up like a merchant vessel. The gunports were closed and painted, and everything warlike about her was concealed.
“Then I lay in the track of foreign-going vessels for weeks. My game worked.
“It was some while before the pirate showed up; but she did eventually, and bore down upon us.
“We made a show of running away, but she overhauled us like the wind. We did not have any trouble in letting her overtake us.
“She sent some hot shot across our bows and we hove to. We were all ready for a fight.
“Behind our high bulwarks crouched our men all ready for boarding. The false ports could be knocked out in ten seconds, and an instant broadside given from ten guns.
“Nearer drew the Vestal Virgin. When she was a hundred yards distant, Longboots himself appeared in the shrouds. I spoke to one of my men: