The buccaneers and marooners of america

Page 378

362

THE

LIFE

OF

H. Glasby : Every man is commonly called by list, and insists on bis turn to go on board of a prize, because they then are allowed a shift of clothes (the best they can find) over and above the dividend from the robbery; and this they are so far from being compelled to that it often becomes the occasion of contest and quarrel amongst them.

But in the present or such like cases, where there

appears a prospect of trouble, the lazy and the timorous are often willing to decline this turn and yield to their betters, who thereby establish a greater reputation.

The

prisoner, and those men who went from the Fortune on board the Hanger to assist in this expedition were volun足 teers, and the trustiest men among us. President:

Were there no jealousies of the

Ranger's

leaving you in this chase, or at any other time, in order to surrender ? H. Glasby:

Most * of

the Ranger's

crew were fresh

men, men who had been entered only since their being on the coast of Guinea, and

therefore

had not so liberal

a share in fresh provisions or wine as the Fortune's people, who thought they had the

day, which

had

borne the burthen and heat of given

occasion indeed

to some

grumblings and whispers, as though they would take an opportunity to leave us, but wo never supposed, if they did, it would be with any other design then setting up for themselves, they having, many of them, behaved with greater severity than the old standers. The prisoner appeared undaunted, and rather solicitous about resting his stump than giving any answer to the court, or making any defence for himself till called upon; then he related in a careless, or rather hopeless, manner, the circumstances of his first entrance, being forced, he said, out of the

Blessing, of Lemmington,

at Newfoundland,

about twelve months past; this, he is sure, most of the


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