He order’d all the well Men upon Deck, and proposed it to ’em:  They all agreed it was the best Course they cou’d take, and many of them advised to quit the Ship, for the first good Sloop which should fall in their Way.  The Captain answered, it was Time enough to think of that when they had met with one for their Turn.

They now fell to knotting and splicing the Rigging, when the Day began to be overcast, and threaten dirty Weather:  The Thunder growl’d at a distance, and it began to blow hard; a smart Thunder-shower was succeeded by a Flash of Lightning, which shiver’d our Main-mast down to the Step.  A dreadful Peal of Thunder follow’d; the Sea began to run high, the Wind minutely encreas’d, and dark Clouds intercepted the Day; so that we had little more Light, than what the terrifying flashes of Lightning afforded us.  Our Captain, who was an able Seaman, at the first Signal of an approaching Storm, handed his Top-sails, took a Reef in his Foresail, and the Men were furling the Mainsail, when the Lightning shiver’d the Mast, which was cut away with the utmost Expedition.  We lay some time under a Mizzen-balast, but were at last forc’d to put before the Wind, and, for Four Days, we scudded with the Goose-wings of our Foresail, in which Time we had not the least Glimpse of Sun or Stars, but by very short Intervals; nor indeed did I see them, till after we struck, but by Slatches.  The Fifth Day, about Noon, our Foremast came by the board; we broach’d to, and a Sea fill’d us; we were at our Dying Rowls, and every Man gave himself for lost.  But in this Danger, which ought to have awakened those unhappy Wretches, to some Care of their future Happiness, the Ship rang with Imprecations, and not a Word was uttered, not back’d with Oaths and Curses.  However, it pleased the Great Disposer of Life and Death, that the Ship cleared her self of the Water, which had filled the Waist to the Top of the Gunnel.  They did all they could to keep her Head to the Sea, and setting up a small Jury-mast, to which they clapp’d a Top-gallant-yard, we again scudded, altogether ignorant where we were; for a Sea which pooped us the second Day, had carried away the Binnacle with the Two Compasses; and they either had not, or knew not, where to find another.  We left our selves to the Mercy of the Sea and Wind, for we had no other Party to take; and tho’ the former run Mountain-high, yet finding the Ship made no Water, the Captain apprehended no Danger, but that of being drove on some Coast.

I had not the least Compassion for any of the Pyrates, he alone excepted; for he was much more humane to us who would not take on with him, than could be expected from one of his Profession, which he told me, one Day, he had enter’d upon much against his Inclinations, and that he would gladly quit that detestable Life, were it possible for him:  But as he had no Hopes of Pardon, having, on board a Man of War, killed a Boatswain, who abused him, he was obliged to continue