The officer then approached Roger Ball, who was seated in a private corner, with a look as sullen as winter, and asked him, how he came blown up in that frightful manner.—Why, says he, John Morris fired a pistol into the powder, and if he had not done it, I would, (bearing his pain without the least complaint.) The officer gave him to understand he was surgeon, and if he desired it, he would dress him; but he swore it should not be done, and that if anything was applied to him, he would tear it off.—nevertheless the surgeon had good nature enough to dress him, though with much trouble: at night he was in a kind of delirium, and raved on the bravery of Roberts, saying, he should shortly be released, as soon as they should meet him, which procured him a lashing down upon the forecastle, which he resisting with all his force, caused him to be used with the more violence, so that he was tied down with so much severity, that his flesh being sore and tender with the blowing up, he died next day of a mortification.
They secured the prisoners with pinions, and shackles, but the ship was so much disabled in the engagement, that they had once thoughts to set her on fire; but this would have given them the trouble of taking the pirates’ wounded men on board themselves, and that they were certain the Royal Fortune would wait for their consort’s return, they lay by her two days, repaired her rigging and other damages, and sent her into Prince’s, with the Frenchmen, and four of their own hands.
On the 9th in the evening, the Swallow gained the cape again, and saw the Royal Fortune standing into the bay with the Neptune, Captain Hill, of London: a good presage of the next day’s success, for they did not doubt but the temptation of liquor, and plunder, they might find in this their new prize, would make the pirates very confused; and so it happened.
On the 10th, in the morning, the man-of-war bore away to round the cape. Roberts’ crew discerning their masts over the land, went down into the cabin, to acquaint him of it, he being then at breakfast with his new guest, Captain Hill, on a savory dish of Solomon Gundy, and some of his own beer. He took no notice of it, and his men almost as little, some saying she was a Portuguese ship, others a French slave ship, but the major part swore it was the French Ranger returning, and were merrily debating for some time, on the manner of reception, whether they should salute, or not; but as the Swallow approached nigher, things appeared plainer, and though they were stigmatiz’d with the name of cowards, who showed any apprehension of danger, yet some of them, now undeceived, declared it to Roberts, especially one Armstrong, who had deserted from that ship, and knew her well: those Roberts swore at as cowards, who meant to dishearten the men, asking them if it were so, whether they were afraid to fight, or no? And hardly refrained from blows. What his own apprehensions were, till she hawled up her ports, and hoisted their proper colours, is uncertain; but then being perfectly convinced, he slipped his cable, got under sail, and ordered his men to arms, without any show of timidity, dropping a first rate oath, that it was a bite, but, at the same time, resolved, like a gallant rogue, to get clear, or die.
There was one Armstrong, as I just mention’d, a deserter from the Swallow, whom they enquired of concerning the trim and sailing of that ship; he told them she sail’d best upon a wind, and therefore, if they designed to leave her, they should go before it.
The danger was imminent, and time very short, to consult of means to extricate himself; his resolution in this strait, was as follows: to pass close to the Swallow, with all their sails, and receive her broadside, before they returned a shot; if disabled by this, or that they could not depend on sailing, then to run onshore at the point, (which is steep to) and everyone to shift for himself among the Negroes; or failing in these, to board, and blow up together, for he saw that the greatest part of his men were drunk, passively courageous, unfit for service.
Roberts himself made a gallant figure, at the time of the engagement, being dressed in a rich crimson damask waistcoat and breeches, a red feather in his hat, a gold chain round his neck, with a diamond cross hanging to it, a sword in his hand, and two pair of pistols hanging at the end of a silk
