fortunate to the Owners of the Guiney Man, for Yeats having often attempted to quit this Courſe of Life, took an Opportunity in the Night, to leave Vane and to run into North-Ediſto River, to the Southward of Charles-Town, and ſurrendered to his Majeſty’s Pardon. The Owners got their Negroes, and Yeats and his Men had Certificates given them from the Government.
Vane cruiſed ſome Time off the Bar, in hopes to catch Yeats, and unfortunately for them, took two Ships coming out, bound to London, and while the Priſoners were aboard, ſome of the Pyrates gave out, that they deſigned to go into one of the Rivers to the Southward. Colonel Rhet, upon hearing this, ſailed over the Bar the 15th of September, with the two Sloops before mentioned; and having the Wind Northerly, went after the Pyrate Vane, and ſcoured the Rivers and Inlets to the Southward; but not meeting with him, tacked and ſtood for Cape Fear River, in Proſecution of his firſt Deſign. On the 26th following, in the Evening, the Colonel with his ſmall Squadron, entered the River, and ſaw, over a Point of Land, three Sloops at an Anchor, which were Major Bonnet and his Prizes; but it happened that in going up the River, the Pilot run the Colonel’s Sloops aground, and it was dark before they were on Float, which hindered their getting up that Night. The Pyrates ſoon diſcovered the Sloops, but not knowing who they were, or upon what Deſign they came into that River, they manned three Canoes, and ſent them down to take them, but they quickly found their Miſtake, and returned to the Sloop, with the unwelcome News. Major Bonnet made Preparations that Night for engaging, and took all the Men out of the Prizes. He ſhewed Captain Manwaring, one of his Priſoners, a Letter, he had juſt wrote, which he declared he would ſend to the Governor
