The next Day, we spied another Sail, which gave us Chase:  We lay bye, till we saw she was an Overmatch for us; for by the Canvass she spread, we concluded her no less than a Man of War of Fifty Guns.  We clapp’d upon a Wind, and made all the Sail, and lay as close as we possibly could, but it blowing a fresh Gale, we found she gain’d upon us.  This obliged our Men to throw over the Treasure which they had found the Day before, and had been the Cause of no small Joy.  Finding she still gained upon us, we threw over our Eight Guns, which together with the Wind’s slackening, was the Means of our Escape; for now we visibly wrong’d the Ship, and in less than Six Hours, lost her.

The Loss of the Money was a considerable Affliction to the Crew, but that of their Guns was so great a one, it had well near set them all together by the Ears.  Some condemn’d the Captain for ordering them to be thrown over, others justifying what he had done, as the only Means of their Escape.  At length, good Words, and a Bowl of Punch the Captain made for each Mess, laid this Storm for a while; but that which at first pacify’d these turbulent Spirits, was what blew them up again:  For when they were all drunk, the Boatswain said the Captain was a Coward, and took a Merchant-man for a Man of War:  That his Fear had magnified the Object, and deprived them of the Means of either taking others, or defending themselves.  This he said in the Captain’s Hearing, who, without returning any Answer, took a Pistol from his Girdle, and shot him dead; and then seizing another Mutineer, he ordered him a Hundred Lashes at the Gangway, which were very honestly paid him.

After this, he called all Hands upon Deck, and told them he should not be fit to command so many brave Fellows, would he suffer any to insult him:  That if any on board thought he was a braver Man than himself, he was ready to shew him his Error, either with his Fusil, Pistol, or Cutlass:  That since they had done him the Honour to chuse him Captain, he would carry Command, which all brave and experienced Men knew necessary, and none but Cowards would murmur at.  That, as to the Boatswain, he had deserved his Death, since one Mutineer was enough to breed Confusion in the Vessel, which must end in the Destruction of them all.

What, continued he, I have already said, I repeat, If any Man has a Mind to exchange a Ball with me, I am ready for him; but while I am Captain, I will be Captain, and let the boldest of ye disobey my Commands.

This resolute Procedure quash’d the Mutineers, and he ever after kept a strict Command, and was esteemed a gallant Man.