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they spoke of was not, to appearance, above five years old, and I believe we were near a mile from the houses: the Lord knows best how it was; but they were loosed, and they got me loose with a great deal of trouble, they being so weak. We crawled on our hands and knees to get as far from that place as we could, for fear they should come and throw us quite in. It was a long time before we could get on our feet, and when we did, we could not stoop even to wash the blood off each other for fear of falling. They had taken all that we had from us, even our shoes and hats, leaving us nothing but a shirt and trowsers. In this distressed state we begged, but none relieved us, for they could not understand us, nor we them; but through God's protecting hand, we got to Rosseau in that condition, but thought nothing about God at that time, though in such distress, for our hearts were hardened. Now there was a rendezvous opened there for privateers, an open house for all sailors, and a joe advance to go out for two months; so, having no clothes, we wanted money, accordingly entered and went on board, and I believe that was a hell upon the sea, for they were like devils, without any order, and would not mind cutting you down with their swords if they were angry; captain and men all alike. We had been out about a month or five weeks, and taken one prize. I was then seized with the bloody-flux, and very ill I was, having no hopes of recovery; but soon after we put into Montserrat to sell our prize, and the captain, knowing I was ill, desired

me to go on shore with him to a doctor, which I I did; but, as he stopped at one place and another, I went by myself, and having found a doctor, asked him to bleed me: he asked what was the matter with me? I told him it was no matter, if he would bleed me I would pay him for it; it came in my mind to be blooded, so he bled me. I then told him what was the matter with me; he replied, it was the worst thing I could have done; but he would let me have some stuff which would settle the matter (he meant kill or cure), which I agreed to take, for in those places they don't care much about a man's life. I got the stuff, gave him all the money I had, and went on board and took some of it, which operated in so violent a manner that my shipmate was obliged to hold me, and in a few hours put me in bed; though I had not slept for some nights before, I now fell into a dose. They that were sitting under my hammock drinking grog felt something drop on them, which on looking at they found to be blood, which proceeded from my arm, that, through violent straining, now bled afresh through bed and all, with the loss of which I was just gone: but from that time I recovered. This is the second time the Lord, in his infinite mercy, saved me from death, not cutting me off in my sins: and now for the third time.

Before we left this place, one of my companions, Tom Jones, ran away, and I never saw him afterwards; so that I and John Moor were the only two deserters from the Portland that

returned to Rosseau at the expiration of our cruise. Having got the better of my illness, and the merchant ships being ready to sail for various parts of England, John and I were not settled in our minds which to choose, for they all wanted men; so having staid on shore a few days, I went on board a ship which I intended in my mind to come home in, and going the next morning to seek for my companion at his lodgings, they told me a man of war had come into the bay the day before, and they feared he was pressed; at the same time in came the press-gang and took hold of me and several more: I begged hard to get from them, but in vain; I strove to run from them, but they knocked me down, and took me on board the frigate. As soon as I got on board, to my great surprise an officer, who belonged to the Portland when I left her, saluted me with a 'How do you do, Mr. S. T--?''informing the captain that I ran away from the Portland a few months ago. I thought I should have dropped at the salutation; but I could not deny it. The orders were, Put him in irons along with John Moor; which was a greater surprise. When I got alone I could not help weeping; thought I, hard is my lot! I had strange views of God, though my mind went after him when in trouble, but no hope that he would deliver me; and my conclusion was this, I have brought all on myself, and suffer I must. The next day we sailed, when John Moor and I were sent for on the quarter deck to the captain, who

said it would be some months before they went to Antigua, where the ship was from which we deserted; and asked whether we would do our duty on deck, or be kept in irons till we went there? we made choice of the former, and I, being young and somewhat expert, got in favour with the captain; he sent for me, and asked if I would sail with him? I answered, Yes, if he would save me from being flogged when I came to the ship from which I deserted, for I was as sure of it as I was born: he told me he would do what he could, but I was persuaded he could not get me off; nevertheless he would often cheer me up, and bid me not fear; but I was sure of it, in my own mind, if ever I went there.

In our passage to Barbadoes we took a prize, brought her in with us, sold her, and shared the money. We lay in the midst of a number of merchant ships bound for England, and I began to contrive how to escape the flogging, knowing we were going to Antigua from hence. Thought I, I will get a gallon of rum, and make the senti❤ nels drunk in the night when all are gone to bed, and make a rope fast to an empty arm-chest that lay there, let it go to the ship's stern, then get down the stern into it, drift down to the merchantmen, and so get away. The thought had no sooner struck my mind than I began to provide. At night I put it in force, and all things seemed to bid fair; but, just as I had completed the affair, the wind began to blow, it rained very heavy,

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and such a sea arose that I was afraid to venture, so cut the rope and let the chest go by itself; I tried the same scheme the next night, but without effect, and I believe the next day we sailed for Antigua. Then I began to fear, having no God to trust in, and believing I should die under it; I wished that God would forgive my sins, and take me out of my misery; this was only for fear of the scourge. At length we arrived in English Harbour, Antigua, where the Portland lay; then my fears began to come on, and I was quite cast down. To explain my feelings is impossible.

A boat was sent to fetch us, when, after a few compliments from the captain, we were ordered to be put in irons, and, a day or two after, ordered to prepare for a court-martial; which shortly took place, when we were sentenced to receive one hundred and fifty lashes each. When I had heard my sentence, I asked them to grant me a favour; upon being asked what that was? I replied, To hang nie. On which I was ordered to be put with both legs in irons, and a sentinel placed over me with a drawn cutlass, and that I should drink. nothing but water till I was punished. The day arrived; John Moor, my old companion, was taken ill, and sent to the hospital for recovery, when he was to receive his punishment; my shipmates had provided a dose for me enough to kill a horse; it was rum and gunpowder mixed together, which they tell you is to deaden the flesh, but I felt it sharp enough; I drank some of it,

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