Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
assisted the now almost helpless Don Benito up the side; but Don Benito, wan as
he was, refused to move, or be moved, until the negro should have been rst put
below out of view. When, presently assured that it was done, he no more shrank
from the ascent.
The boat was immediately dispatched back to pick up the three swimming
sailors. Meantime, the guns were in readiness, though, owing to the San Dominick
having glided somewhat astern of the sealer, only the aftermost one could be
brought to bear. With this, they red six times; thinking to cripple the fugitive ship
by bringing down her spars. But only a few inconsiderable ropes were shot away.
Soon the ship was beyond the gun’s range, steering broad out of the bay; the blacks
thickly clustering round the bowsprit, one moment with taunting cries towards the
whites, the next with upthrown gestures hailing the now dusky moors of ocean—
cawing crows escaped from the hand of the fowler.
The rst impulse was to slip the cables and give chase. But, upon second
thoughts, to pursue with whale-boat and yawl seemed more promising.
Upon inquiring of Don Benito what rearms they had on board the San
Dominick, Captain Delano was answered that they had none that could be used;
because, in the earlier stages of the mutiny, a cabin-passenger, since dead, had
secretly put out of order the locks of what few muskets there were. But with all his
remaining strength, Don Benito entreated the American not to give chase, either
with ship or boat; for the negroes had already proved themselves such desperadoes,
that, in case of a present assault, nothing but a total massacre of the whites could
be looked for. But, regarding this warning as coming from one whose spirit had
been crushed by misery the American did not give up his design.
The boats were got ready and armed. Captain Delano ordered his men into
them. He was going himself when Don Benito grasped his arm.
“What! have you saved my life, Señor, and are you now going to throw away
your own?”
The ocers also, for reasons connected with their interests and those of
the voyage, and a duty owing to the owners, strongly objected against their
commander’s going. Weighing their remonstrances a moment, Captain Delano felt
bound to remain; appointing his chief mate—an athletic and resolute man, who
had been a privateer’s-man—to head the party. The more to encourage the sailors,
they were told, that the Spanish captain considered his ship good as lost; that she
and her cargo, including some gold and silver, were worth more than a thousand
doubloons. Take her, and no small part should be theirs. The sailors replied with
a shout.
The fugitives had now almost gained an ong. It was nearly night; but the moon
was rising. After hard, prolonged pulling, the boats came up on the ship’s quarters,
at a suitable distance laying upon their oars to discharge their muskets. Having no
bullets to return, the negroes sent their yells. But, upon the second volley, Indianlike,
they hurtled their hatchets. One took o a sailor’s ngers. Another struck the
whale-boat’s bow, cutting o the rope there, and remaining stuck in the gunwale
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