Here they cleaned with much Difficulty, for they had no Carpenter in their Company, a Perſon of great Uſe upon ſuch Exigencies; from hence they put to Sea, making to the North-Side of the Iſland of Hiſpaniola. The firſt Sail which fell in their Way, was a French Ship of twelve Guns; it muſt be obſerved, that Davis had but thirty five Hands, yet Proviſions began to grow ſhort with him; wherefore he attacked this Ship, ſhe ſoon ſtruck, and he ſent twelve of his Hands on Board of her, in order to plunder: This was no ſooner done, but a Sail was ſpied a great Way to Windward of them; they enquired of the French Man what ſhe might be, he anſwered, that he had ſpoke with a Ship, the Day before, of 24 Guns and 60 Men, and he took this to be the ſame.
Davis then propoſed to his Men to attack her, telling them, ſhe would be a rare Ship for their Uſe, but they looked upon it to be an extravagant Attempt, and diſcovered no Fondneſs for it, but he aſſured them he had a Stratagem in his Head would make all ſafe; wherefore he gave Chace, and ordered his Prize to do the ſame. The Prize being a ſlow Sailor, Davis firſt came up with the Enemy, and ſtanding along Side of them, ſhewed his pyratical Colours: They, much ſurpriz’d, called to Davis, telling him, they wondered at his Impudence in venturing to come ſo near them, and ordered him to ſtrike; but he anſwered, that he intended to keep them in Play, till his Conſort came up, who was able to deal with them, and that if they did not ſtrike to him, they ſhould have but bad Quarters; whereupon he gave them a Broad-Side, which they returned.
In the mean Time the Prize drew near, who obliged all the Priſoners to come upon Deck in white Shirts, to make a Shew of Force, as they had been directed by Davis; they alſo hoiſted a dirty
