The dark man seized the life-lines as they were extended to him from the pirates’ gangway, and climbed up the ladder with catlike agility.
“What ship is this?” he asked, curtly, ignoring the crew that pressed ominously about him, and addressing himself to a tall man of a quiet but commanding appearance who stepped forward to meet him.
“This is the sloop Hope, sir, and I am her commander, Thomas Tew, at your service.”
“And I am Captain Misson of the ship Victoire, lately of his French Majesty’s service, but now from the seas.”
The expression “from the seas” at once allayed the fears of Tew’s pirates, for the buccaneers of that day thus characterized themselves in their answering hails.
The crew went about their duty, and the two captains entered the cabin, where they began a friendly conversation, and informed each other of their respective histories.
It seemed that Mr. Richier, the Governor of Bermuda, had fitted out two sloops on the privateer account, one commanded by Captain George Drew, and the other by Thomas Tew. They were instructed to make their way to the river Gambia, in Africa, and to attempt the taking of the French factory of Goree on that coast. The vessels sailed together and kept company for some time, but, a violent storm coming up, Drew sprung his mast and they lost each other.
Tew, separated from his consort, thought of providing for his future with one bold stroke. Accordingly he summoned his crew to the mast, and addressed them upon the subject of his plans.
He told them that they were afloat in a fine craft bent upon a dangerous mission, with no prospect of advantage for themselves, but only for their employers. That he was little inclined to risk his health and his life except for some great personal gain, and finally he proposed bluntly that they should throw off their allegiance to Governor Richier, and go “on the account,” as piracy was called in those days.
The crew listened eagerly, and at the conclusion of his speech sung out as one man: