I I - American Memory

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I am the longer upon this particular Part becaufe it is
fo very remarkable, and the Circumftances of it are fo
imaccountable: That the Boatfwain ftiould come on
Shore with his Boat, and no more but four Men, think-
ing to fire and plunder Mr. Pea's Houfe with that little
Crew, aj if he could imagine Mr. Fea, who they knew
was alarm'd and had been acquainted with what they
were, (bould have no Body at all with him, or that he
could ftorm his Houfe with that little Force.
Then that he ftiould be wheedled into an Ale-houfe
by a fingle Gentleman, as if he would have ventur'd
himfelf into an Ale-houfe with them if he had not had
Help at Hand, to refcue him if any Thing had been
offered to him.
TJien which vj^s ftill worfe, that they Ihould be
taken with the old Bait of having the Gentleman cali'd
out of the Room when they were together, as if he
could have any Bufmefs to talk of there but to lay a
Trap for them, and which, if they had their Eyes
about them, or as we may fay, any Eyes in their Head,
they might have feen into it eafily enough.
And to conclude this Scene of Madnefs and Fqlly to-
gether, they came all away and left their Boat, with
no Body either in her to keep her afloat, or near her to
guard and defend her ; riothing but Men infatuated to
their own Deftruftion, and condemn'd by the vifible
Hand of Heaven to an immediate Surprize, could have
been fo ftupid.
In a Word, they were as void of Counfel as of
Courage, they were out-witted on every Occafion, they
could not fee in the open Day what any one elfe would
have felt in the Dark, but they dropped infenfibly into
Mr. Feas Hands, by one, and two, and three at a
Time, as if they had told him before hand, that if he
went on with his Stratagem, he (hould be fure to have
them all in his Cultody very quickly ; and tho' every •
one as faft as they went on Shore were made Prifo-
ners, and fecur'd, yet the other were made believe they
were at Liberty, and were fimple enough to come on
Shore to them. „,
Thus