of Carolina; the Letter was to this Effect, viz. That if the Sloops, which then appeared, were ſent out againſt him, by the ſaid Govenror, and he ſhould get clear off, that he would burn and deſtroy all Ships or Veſſels going in or coming out of South-Carolina.
The next Morning they got under Sail, and came down the River, deſigning only a running Fight. Colonel Rhet’s Sloops got likewiſe under Sail, and ſtood for him, getting upon each Quarter of the Pyrate, with Intent to board him; which he perceiving, edged in towards the Shore, and being warmly engaged, their Sloop ran a-ground: The Carolina Sloops being in the ſame ſhoal Water, were in the ſame Circumſtances; the Henry, in which Colonel Rhet was, grounded within Piſtol ſhot of the Pyrate, and on his Bow; the other Sloop grounded right a-head of him, and almoſt out of Gun-Shot, which made her of little Service to the Colonel, while they lay a-ground.
At this Time the Pyrate had a conſiderable Advantage; for their Sloop, after ſhe was a-ground, liſted from Colonel Rhet’s, by which Means they were all covered, and the Colonel’s Sloop liſting the ſame Way, his Men were much expoſed; notwithſtanding which, they kept a briſk Fire the whole Time they lay thus a-ground, which was near five Hours. The Pyrates made a Wiff in their bloody Flag, and beckoned ſeveral Times with their Hats in Deriſion to the Colonel’s Men, to come on Board, which they anſwered with chearful Huzza’s, and ſaid, that they would ſpeak with them by and by
; which accordingly happened, for the Colonel’s Sloop being firſt a float, he got into deeper Water, and after mending the Sloop’s Rigging, which was much ſhattered in the Engagement, they ſtood for the Pyrate, to give the finiſhing Stroke, and deſigned to go directly on Board him; which he prevented, by ſending a Flag of Truce, and
