curious tale of the buccaneer, Captain Daniel, a tale
which has often been used by other writers, but which may bear
repetition. Daniel, in need of provisions, anchored one night off one of
the "Saintes," small islands near Dominica, and landing without
opposition, took possession of the house of the cure and of some other
inhabitants of the neighbourhood. He carried the cure and his people on
board his ship without offering them the least violence, and told them
that he merely wished to buy some wine, brandy and fowls. While these
were being gathered, Daniel requested the cure to celebrate Mass, which
the poor priest dared not refuse. So the necessary sacred vessels were
sent for and an altar improvised on the deck for the service, which they
chanted to the best of their ability. As at Martinique, the Mass was
begun by a discharge of artillery, and after the Exaudiat and prayer for
the King was closed by a loud "Vive le Roi!" from the throats of the
buccaneers. A single incident, however, somewhat disturbed the
devotions. One of the buccaneers, remaining in an indecent attitude
during the Elevation, was rebuked by the captain, and instead of heeding
the correction, replied with an impertinence and a fearful oath. Quick
as a flash Daniel whipped out his pistol and shot the buccaneer through
the head, adjuring God that he would do as much to the first who failed
in his respect to the Holy Sacrifice. The shot was fired close by the
priest, who, as we can readily imagine, was considerably agitated. "Do
not be troubled, my father," said Daniel; "he is a rascal lacking in his
duty and I have punished him to teach him better." A very efficacious
means, remarks Labat, of preventing his falling into another like
mistake. After the Mass the body of the dead man was thrown into the
sea, and the cure was recompensed for his pains by some goods out of
their stock and the present of a negro slave.[107]

The buccaneers preferred to sail in barques, vessels of one mast and
rigged with triangular sails. This type of boat, they found, could be
more easily man[oe]uvred, was faster and sailed closer to the wind. The
boats were built of cedar, and the best were reputed to come from
Bermuda. They carried very few guns, generally from six to twelve or
fourteen, the corsairs believing that four muskets did more execution
than one cannon.[108] The buccaneers sometimes used brigantines, vessels
with two masts, the fore or mizzenmast being square