est of the company notice of their condition, and to order the
ship to them; but too soon--even the next day--their wants made them
sensible of their infatuation, for their water was all expended, and
they had taken no thought how they should be supplied till either the
ship came or the boat returned, which was not likely to be under five or
six days. Here, like Tantalus, they almost famished in sight of the
fresh streams and lakes, being drove to such extremity at last that they
were forced to tear up the floor of the cabin and patch up a sort of tub
or tray with rope-yarns to paddle ashore and fetch off immediate
supplies of water to preserve life.

After some days the long-wished-for boat came back, but with the most
unwelcome news in the world; for Kennedy, who was lieutenant, and left,
in absence of Roberts, to command the privateer and prize, was gone off
with both. This was mortification with a vengeance, and you may imagine
they did not depart without some hard speeches from those that were left
and had suffered by their treachery. And that there need be no further
mention of this Kennedy, I shall leave Captain Roberts to vent his wrath
in a few oaths and execrations, and follow the other, whom we may reckon
from that time as steering his course towards Execution Dock.

Kennedy was now chosen captain of the revolted crew, but could not bring
his company to any determined resolution. Some of them were for pursuing
the old game, but the greater part of them seemed to have inclinations
to turn from those evil courses, and get home privately, for there was
no act of pardon in force; therefore they agreed to break up, and every
man to shift for himself, as he should see occasion. The first thing
they did was to part with the great Portuguese prize, and having the
master of the sloop (whose name, I think, was Cane) aboard, who, they
said, was a very honest fellow--for he had humored them upon every
occasion--told them of the brigantine that Roberts went after; and when
the pirates first took him he complimented them at any odd rate, telling
them they were welcome to his sloop and cargo, and wished that the
vessel had been larger and the loading richer for their sakes. To this
good-natured man they gave the Portuguese ship, which was then above
half loaded, three or four negroes, and all his own men, who returned
thanks to his kind benefactors, and departed.

Captain Kennedy, in the _Rover_, sailed to Barbadoes, near