being buſy in ſtripping him of his Shoes and Stockings.The Officer then enquired of him, whether Roberts’s Company were as likely Fellows as theſe. There are 120 of them,
(anſwered he) as clever Fellows as ever trod Shoe Leather: Would I were with them!
No doubt on’t,
ſays the Officer. By G it is naked Truth,
anſwered he, looking down and ſeeing himſelf, by this Time, quite ſtriped.
The Officer then approached Roger Ball, who was ſeated in a private Corner, with a Look as ſullen as Winter, and aſked him, how he came blown up in that frightful Manner. Why,
ſays he, John Morris fired a Piſtol into the Powder, and if he had not done it, I would,
(bearing his Pain without the leaſt Complaint.) The Officer gave him to underſtand he was Surgeon, and if he deſired it, he would dreſs him; but he ſwore it ſhould not be done, and that if any Thing was applied to him, he would tear it off.Nevertheleſs the Surgeon had good Nature enough to dreſs him, tho’ with much trouble: At Night he was in a kind of Delirium, and raved on the Bravery of Roberts, ſaying, he ſhould ſhortly be releaſed, as ſoon as they ſhould meet him, which procured him a laſhing down upon the Forecaſtle, which he reſiſting with all his Force, cauſed him to be uſed with the more Violence, ſo that he was tied down with ſo much Severity, that his Fleſh being ſore and tender with the blowing up, he died next Day of a Mortification.
They ſecured the Priſoners with Pinions, and Shackles, but the Ship was ſo much diſabled in the Engagement, that they had once Thoughts to ſet her on Fire; but this would have given them the Trouble of taking the Pyrates wounded Men on Board themſelves, and that they were certain the Royal Fortune would wait for their Conſort’s Return,
