day they weighed anchor, but on the evening of the same day came again to anchor near another island. Here the boatswain and some men were sent on shore in search of plunder, but did not obtain any. They then sailed to an island called Calf Sound, with an intention of robbing the house of Mr. Fea, who had been an old school-fellow with Gow. This house was the rather pitched upon, as Gow supposed that Mr. Fea could not have yet heard of the transactions at Mr. Honeyman's; but in this he was mistaken: however Mr. Fea, on account of the then indisposition of his wife, was ill capable of opposing them. His house was situated near the sea-shore: he had only six servants at home when the pirates appeared off the coast, and these were by no means equal to a contest with the plunderers. It may not be improper to remark, that the tide runs so high among these islands, and beats with such force against the rocks, that the navigation is frequently attended with great danger. Gow, who had not boats to assist him in an emergency, and was unskilled in the navigation of those seas, made a blunder in turning into the bay of Calf Sound; for standing too near the point of a small island called the Calf, the vessel was in the utmost danger of being run on shore. This little island was merely a pasture for sheep belonging to Mr. Fea, who had at that time six hundred feeding on it. Gow having cast his anchor too near the shore, so that the wind could not bring him off, sent a boat with a letter to Mr. Fea, requesting that he would lend him another boat, to assist him in heaving off the ship, by carrying out an anchor, and assuring him that he would not do the least injury to any individual. As Gow's messenger did

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not see Mr. Fea's boat, the latter gave him an evasive answer, and, on the approach of night, ordered his servants to sink his own boat, and hide the sails and rigging. While they were obeying this order five of Gow's men came on shore in the boat, and proceeded, doubly armed, towards Fea's house. Hereupon the latter advanced towards them with an assurance of friendship, and begged that they would not enter the house, for that his wife was exceeding ill, that the idea of their approach had greatly alarmed her, and that the sight of them might probably deprive her of life. The boatswain replied, that they had no design to terrify Mrs. Fea, or any other person, but that the most rigorous treatment must be expected, if the use of the boat was denied them. Mr. Fea represented how dangerous it would be for him to assist them, on account of the reports circulated to their discredit; but he offered to entertain them at an adjacent alehouse, and they accepted the invitation, as they observed that he had no company. While they were drinking, Mr. Fea ordered his servants to destroy their boat, and when they had done so, to call him hastily out of company, and inform him of it.These orders were exactly complied with; and when he had left the pirates he directed six men, well armed, to station themselves behind a hedge, and if they observed him come alone with the boatswain, instantly to seize him; but if he came with all the five desperadoes, he would walk forward, so as to give them an opportunity of firing without wounding himself. After giving these orders. Fea returned to the company, whom he invited to his house, on the promise of their behaving peaceably, and said he would make them heartily wel

come.

come. They all expressed a readiness to attend him, in the hope of getting the beat but he told them he would rather have the boatswain's company only, and would afterwards send for his companions. This being agreed to, the boatswain set forward with two brace of pistols, and walking with Mr. Fea till they came to the hedge where his men were concealed, he then seized him by the collar, while the others took him into custody before he had time to make any defence. The boatswain called aloud for his men; but Mr. Fea, forcing a handkerchief into his mouth, bound him hand and foot, and then left one of his own people to guard him, while himself and the rest went back to the public-house. There being two doors to the house, they went some to the one, and some to the other, and rushing in at once, they made prisoners of the other four men, before they had time to have recourse to their arms for defence. The five pirates being thus in custody, were sent to an adjacent village, and separately confined in the interim Mr. Fea sent messengers round the island, to acquaint the inhabitants with what had been done; desiring them to haul their boats on the beach, that the pirates should not swim to, and steal them; and requesting that no person would venture to row within reach of the pirates' guns. On the following day the wind shifted to the north-west, and blew hard, on which the pirates conceived hopes of getting out to sea; but the person employed to cut the cable missing some of his strokes, the ship's way was checked; she turned round, and the cable parting, the vessel was driven on Calf Island. Reduced to this dilemma, without even a boat to assist in getting off the ship, Gow hung out a white flag, as 2 K 3

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an intimation that he was willing to treat on friendly terms: but Mr. Fea, having now little doubt of securing the pirates, wrote to Gow, and told him he had been compelled to make prisoners of his men on account of their insolent behaviour. He likewise told him that the whole country was alarmed, and that the most probable chance of securing his own life, would be by surrendering, and becoming an evidence against his accomplices. Four armed men in an open boat carried this letter to Gow, who sent for answer that he would give goods to the value of a thousand pounds to be assisted in his escape: but if this should be refused, he would set fire to the ship, rather than become a prisoner. He even said, that he would trust to the mercy of the waves, if Mr. Fea would indulge him with a boat, On reading this letter Mr. Fea determined to persuade him to submit, and therefore took four men well armed, in a boat, and rowed towards the ship: but he previously placed a man with a flag in his hand at the top of his house, to make such signals as might be proper to prevent his falling a sacrifice to any artifice of the pirates. The instructions given to the servant were, that he should wave the flag once if he saw one of the pirates swim towards the shore; but if he beheld four or more of them, he should wave it constantly till his master got out of danger. Mr. Fea rowing forwards, spoke through a trumpet, asking Gow to come on shore, and talk with him, which the latter said he would, Hereupon Fea lay too, in waiting for him; but at this juncture he saw a man swimming from the ship, with a white flag in his hand, on which the man on the house waved his flag; but soon afterwards he was observed to wave it continually, on

which Mr. Fea's boat retired, and those in her presently saw five more of the pirates swimming to. wards them; but they returned to the ship as soon as they saw the others were aware of the artifice. The first pirate, who carried the white flag, now retired to a corner of the island, and calling to Mr. Fea, told him that "the captain had sent him a bottle of brandy." Fea replied, that he hoped to see Gow hanged, and that he was inclined to shoot the messenger for his insolence; on which the fel low decamped with great precipitation. Soon after this Gow wrote a most humble letter to Mrs. Fea, imploring her interference in his behalf; and though she had determined not to interest herself in his fa vour, yet he resolved to go on shore; and taking a white flag in his hand, he made signals for a parley; on which Mr. Fea sent some armed men to seize him living or dead. On their meeting, Gow insis ted that one of the men should be left as a hostage and this circumstance being seen by Mr. Fea, from the windows of his house, he sailed over to the island, where he reprimanded his people for deliver ing the hostage; and likewise told Gow that he was his prisoner. Gow replied, that could not be, since a hostage had been delivered for him. To this Mr. Fea replied, that he had issued no orders for delivering the hostage, and that the man who had foolishly engaged himself as such, must submit to the consequence: but he advised Gow, for his own sake, to make signals, that the man might obtain his liberty. This Gow refused to do: but Fea made signals which deceived the pirates, two of whom came on shore with the man, and were instantly taken into custody. Gow was now disarmed of his sword, and made prisoner, after beg

ging