We sailed on, while the schooner drew nearer, for about half a league, when we observed that the deck of the strange vessel swarmed with armed men, and her people were busy in getting out their boats. Upon seeing this, our captain was not a little frightened, and ordered a change in the course of the ship; but it was too late, for 6 we were already within reach of the pirate, who soon hailed us, commanding our captain to come on board of his vessel, and as his commands were not obeyed, fired a broadside into us, which, however, did us no injury. At the same time a boat, containing nine men, pushed off towards us. They presented a most ferocious appearance, being armed with guns, swords, and long knives. They boarded our brig, as we offered not the least resistance.
They then commanded the captain, the ship’s carpenter, and myself, to enter their boat, and sent us with an armed escort of four men, who handled us most roughly, to the schooner, where the pirate captain received us with deep curses. He was a gigantic, powerful, well-formed man, of a pale, sallow complexion, large prominent eyes, a hooked nose, and a huge mouth, and glossy hair and beard. He might be about thirty years old, and spoke broken English with a Spanish accent.
“Have you specie on board?” he asked.
“None at all,” answered our Captain, thoughtlessly enough, for we had only too much of it, and unfortunately the papers referring to it lay upon the cabin table.
“The devil,” cried the robber, “do you take me for a child? All home-bound vessels have money on board; give up yours quietly, and depart in the devil’s name whither you will.”
The captain repeated his silly denial, and enraged the pirate still further.
“Well,” he said with frightful calmness, “if you will not give up the money, I will throw your cargo overboard, 7 and search for it myself. If I find it, I’ll lock you in your cabin, and burn your vessel with every man on board.”
After this threat he walked up and down the deck, and said more quietly, turning to me:
“You must remain with us, for there is no one among my men who thoroughly understands a helmsman’s duty, and I must give myself more rest, I am not well.”
One can imagine my sensations. In the meanwhile supper had been prepared, and the pirate officers, six or seven in number, invited us politely to partake of it; we accepted, as we did not wish to displease them. The meal consisted of onion soup with bread, tolerable fish, and a very good ham, with plenty of excellent Cogniac and Bordeaux wine. During supper the schooner approached the Dolphin, and lay alongside. It was now perfectly dark, and they showed us a place close by the cabin door, where we could sleep.