I I - American Memory

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rf finking the Ship j tut this wants Confirmation, nor
is it probable they would venture to do fo in a Port
where they refolv'd to ftay any long Time, and where
they knew it was fo neceflary to be entirely conceal'd.
But now their Misfortunes began to come on, and
Things look'd but \vith an indifferent Afpeft upon
.them, for feveral of their Men, efpecially fuch of them
as had been forc'd or decoy'd into their Service, began
to think of making their Efcape from them, and to
cnft about for Means to bring it to pafs. The iirft was
a young Man, who was originally one of the Ship's
Company, but was forc'd by fear of being murd'red,^
(as has been obferv'd) to give a filent Affent to go with
them, he took an Opportunity to get away.
It was one Evening when the Boat went on Shore,
(for tJiey kept a civil Correfpondence with the People
of the Town) this young Fellow being one of the Ship's
Crew, and having been feveral Times on Shore before,
and therefore not fufpefted, gave them the Slip, and
got away to a Farm-houfe which lay under a Hill out
of Sight, and threre for two or three Pieces of Eight,
he got a Horfe, and foon by that Means efcap'd to
Kirk'wall, a Market Town, and the Chief of the Ork-
neys, about 12 Miles from the Place where the Ship
lay.
As foon as he came there he fnrrend'red himfelf to
the Government, defiring Protection, and inform'd
them who Gonv was, and what the Ship's Crew were,
and upon wh:, t Bufinefs they were abroad, with what
elfe he knew of their Defigns, as to plund'ring the
Gentlemen's Houfes, bfc. Upon which they immedi-
ately riifed the Country, and a Strength together to de-
fend themfelves.
E^i: cbe next Difafter that attended them was, (for
Mi^iortunes feldom come alone) more fatal than tliis,
for 10 of Gsw's Men, molt of them likewife Men
forced into their Service, went away with the long Boat,
WaV'mg the belt of their Way for the main Land of
Scotland,
N. B,