tion, privately draws out a small pair
of pistols, and cocks them under the table, which being perceived by the
man, he withdrew and went upon deck, leaving Hands, the pilot, and the
captain together. When the pistols were ready he blew out the candle,
and, crossing his hands, discharged them at his company; Hands, the
master, was shot through the knee and lamed for life, the other pistol
did no execution. Being asked the meaning of this, he only answered by
damning them, that "if he did not now and then kill one of them, they
would forget who he was."

Hands being taken, was tried and condemned, but just as he was about to
be executed a ship arrived at Virginia with a proclamation for
prolonging the time of his Majesty's pardon to such of the pirates as
should surrender by a limited time therein expressed. Notwithstanding
the sentence, Hands pleaded the pardon, and was allowed the benefit of
it, and was alive some time ago in London, begging his bread.

Now that we have given some account of Teach's life and actions, it
will not be amiss that we speak of his beard, since it did not a little
contribute towards making his name so terrible in those parts.

Plutarch and other grave historians have taken notice that several great
men amongst the Romans took their surnames from certain odd marks in
their countenances--as Cicero, from a mark, or vetch, on his nose--so
our hero, Captain Teach, assumed the cognomen of Black-beard, from that
large quantity of hair which, like a frightful meteor, covered his whole
face, and frightened America more than any comet that has appeared there
a long time.

This beard was black, which he suffered to grow of an extravagant
length; as to breadth, it came up to his eyes. He was accustomed to
twist it with ribbons, in small tails, after the manner of our Ramilie
wigs, and turn them about his ears. In time of action he wore a sling
over his shoulders, with three brace of pistols hanging in holsters like
bandoliers, and stuck lighted matches under his hat, which, appearing on
each side of his face, his eyes naturally looking fierce and wild, made
him altogether such a figure that imagination cannot form an idea of a
fury from hell to look more frightful.

If he had the look of a fury, his humors and passions were suitable to
it.

In the commonwealth of pirates, he who goes the greatest length of
wickedness is looked upon with a kind of envy amongst them as a person
of a more extraordina