Avery proceeded on his voyage to Madagascar, and it does not appear that he captured any vessels upon his way.  When arrived at the northeast part of that island, he found two sloops at anchor, which, upon seeing him, slipped their cables and ran themselves ashore, while the men all landed and concealed themselves in the woods.  These were two sloops which the men had run off with from the East Indies, and seeing Avery’s ship, supposed that he had been sent out after them.  Suspecting who they were, he sent some of his men on shore to inform them that they were friends, and to propose a union for their common safety.  The sloops’ men being well armed, had posted themselves in a wood, and placed sentinels to observe whether the ship’s men were landing to pursue them.  The sentinels only observing two or three men coming towards them unarmed, did not oppose them.  Upon being informed that they were friends, the sentinels conveyed them to the main body, where they delivered their message.  They were at first afraid that it was a stratagem to entrap them, but when the messengers assured them that their captain had also run away with his ship, and that a few of their men along with him would meet them unarmed, to consult matters for their common advantage, confidence was established, and they were mutually well pleased, as it added to their strength.

Having consulted what was most proper to be attempted they endeavored to get off the sloops, and hastened to prepare all things, in order to sail for the Arabian coast.  Near the river Indus, the man at the mast-head espied a sail, upon which they gave chase; as they came nearer to her, they discovered that she was a tall vessel, and might turn out to be an East Indiaman.  She, however, proved a better prize; for when they fired at her she hoisted Mogul colors, and seemed to stand upon her defence.  Avery only cannonaded at a distance, when some of his men began to suspect that he was not the hero they had supposed.  The sloops, however attacked, the one on the bow, and another upon the quarter of the ship, and so boarded her.  She then struck her colors.  She was one of the Great Mogul’s own ships, and there were in her several of the greatest persons in his court, among whom, it was said, was one of his daughters going upon a pilgrimage to Mecca; and they were carrying with them rich offerings to present at the shrine of Mahomet.  It is a well known fact, that the people of the east travel with great magnificence, so that these had along with them all their slaves and attendants, with a large quantity of vessels of gold and silver, and immense sums of money to defray their expenses by land; the spoil therefore which they received from that ship was almost incalculable.

[Illustration:  Captain Avery engaging the Great Mogul’s Ship.]

Taking the treasure on board their own ships, and plundering their prize of every thing valuable, they then allowed her to depart.  As soon as the Mogul received this intelligence, he threatened to send a mighty army to extirpate the English from all their settlements upon the Indian coast.  The East India Company were greatly alarmed, but found means to calm his resentment, by promising to search for the robbers, and deliver them into his hands.  The noise which this made over all Europe, gave birth to the rumors that were circulated concerning Avery’s greatness.