avoid her. Soon after saw a brig on our weather
bow steering to the N.E. By this time the schooner was about three miles
from us and four points forward of the beam. Expecting that she would
keep on for the brig ahead of us, we tacked to the westward, keeping a
little off from the wind to make good way through the water, to get
clear of her if possible. She kept on to the eastward about ten or
fifteen minutes after we had tacked, then wore round, set square sail,
steering directly for us, came down upon us very fast, and was soon
within gun shot of us, fired a gun and hoisted patriot colors and backed
main topsail. She ran along to windward of us, hailed us to know where
we were from, where bound, &c. then ordered me to come on board in my
boat. Seeing that she was too powerful for us to resist, I accordingly
went, and soon as I got along-side of the schooner, five ruffians
instantly jumped into my boat, each of them being armed with a large
knife, and told me to go on board the brig again; when they got on board
they insisted that we had got money, and drew their knives, threatening
us with instant death and demanding to know where it was. As soon as
they found out where it was they obliged my crew to get it up out of the
run upon deck, beating and threatening them at the same time because
they did not do it quicker. When they had got it all upon deck, and
hailed the schooner, they got out their launch and came and took it on
board the schooner, viz: ten boxes containing twenty thousand dollars;
then returned to the brig again, drove all the crew into the forecastle,
ransacked the cabin, overhauling all the chests, trunks, &c. and rifled
my pockets, taking my watch, and three doubloons which I had previously
put there for safety; robbed the mate of his watch and two hundred
dollars in specie, still insisting that there was more money in the
hold. Being answered in the negative, they beat me severely over the
back, said they knew that there was more, that they should search for
it, and if they found any they would cut all our throats. They continued
searching about in every part of the vessel for some time longer, but
not finding any more specie, they took two coils of rigging, a side of
leather, and some other articles, and went on board the schooner,
probably to consult what to do with us; for, in eight or ten minutes
they came back, apparently in great haste, shut us all below, fastened
up the companion way, fore-scut