I I - American Memory

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In this Fright every one ftiifted for himfelf, as fof
thofe who were upon Deck, fome got up into the Round
Tops, others got into Ae Ship's Head, refolving to
throw themfelves into the Sea, rather than to be man-
gled with Knives, and murd'red in cool Blood; as the
Captain and Mate, &c. had bfeen; thofe who were
below, not knowing what to do, or whofe Turn it
ftiould be next, lay ftill in their Hatnmocks, expefting
Death every Moment, and not daring to ftir, lead the
Villains ftiould think they did it in order to make Re •
fiflance, v/hich however they were no way capable of
doing, having no Concert one with another, nor know-
ing who was alive or who was dead; whereas had the
Captain, who was himfelf a bold and float Man, been
in his great Cabbin with three or four Men with him,
and his Fire Arms as he intended to have had, thofe
eight Fellows had never been able to have done their
Work ; but every Man was taken unprovided, and in
the utmoft Surprize, fo that the Murd'rers met with
no Refvftance; and as for thofe that were left, they
were in the utmoft Terror and Amazement, expefting
every Minute to be murd'red as the reft had been.
But the Villains had done, the Perfons who had any
Command were difpatch'd, fo they cool'd a little as to
Blood. The firft Thing they did afterwards was to call
up all the eight upon the Quarter-Deck, where they
congratulated one another, and fhook Hands together,
engaging to proceed by unanimous Confent in their re-
folved Defign, that is to fay, of turning Pyrates ; in
Order to which, they with an Nem. Con. chofe Goiv
to command the Ship, promifmg all Subjedlion and O-
bedience to his Orders j {fo that now we muft call him
Captain Gow) and he, by the fame Confent of the reft,
named IVUlianis to be his Lieutenant, other Officers-
they appointed afterwards.
The firft Order they ilTued, was to let all the reft of
the Men know, that if they continu'd quiet, andoffer'd
not to meddle with any of their Affairs, they fhould
receive no Hurt; but flriftly forbid any Mm among
theiri
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