[Illustration:  The Pirates pelting Captain Skinner with Glass Bottles.]

Having taken such things out of the ship as they stood most in need of, she was given to Captain Davis in order to try his fortune with a few hands.

Captain England, some time after, took a ship called the Pearl, for which he exchanged his own sloop, fitted her up for piratical service, and called her the Royal James.  In that vessel he was very fortunate, and took several ships of different sizes and different nations.  In the spring of 1719, the pirates returned to Africa, and beginning at the river Gambia, sailed down the coast to Cape Corso, and captured several vessels.  Some of them they pillaged, and allowed to proceed, some they fitted out for the pirate service, and others they burned.

Leaving our pirate upon this coast, the Revenge and the Flying King, two other pirate vessels, sailed for the West Indies, where they took several prizes, and then cleared and sailed for Brazil.  There they captured some Portuguese vessels; but a large Portuguese man-of-war coming up to them, proved an unwelcome guest.  The Revenge escaped, but was soon lost upon that coast.  The Flying King in despair run ashore.  There were then seventy on board, twelve of whom were slain, and the remainder taken prisoners.  The Portuguese hanged thirty-eight of them.

Captain England, whilst cruising upon that coast, took the Peterborough of Bristol, and the Victory.  The former they detained, the latter they plundered and dismissed.  In the course of his voyage, England met with two ships, but these taking shelter under Cape Corso Castle, he unsuccessfully attempted to set them on fire.  He next sailed down to Whydah road, where Captain La Bouche had been before England, and left him no spoil.  He now went into the harbor, cleaned his own ship, and fitted up the Peterborough, which he called the Victory.  During several weeks the pirates remained in this quarter, indulging in every species of riot and debauchery, until the natives, exasperated with their conduct, came to an open rupture, when several of the negroes were slain, and one of their towns set on fire by the pirates.

Leaving that port, the pirates, when at sea, determined by vote to sail for the East Indies, and arrived at Madagascar.  After watering and taking in some provisions they sailed for the coast of Malabar.  This place is situated in the Mogul Empire, and is one of its most beautiful and fertile districts.  It extends from the coast of Canora to Cape Comorin.  The original natives are negroes; but a mingled race of Mahometans, who are generally merchants, have been introduced in modern times.  Having sailed almost round the one half of the globe, literally seeking whom they might devour, our pirates arrived in this hitherto untried and prolific field for their operations.