a
part of his victuals and drink, if they like it, without his offering to
find fault or contest it. Yet Roberts, by a better management than
usual, became the chief director in everything of moment; and it
happened thus:--The rank of captain being obtained by the suffrage of
the majority, it falls on one superior for knowledge and
boldness--pistol proof, as they call it--who can make those fear who do
not love him. Roberts is said to have exceeded his fellows in these
respects, and when advanced, enlarged the respect that followed it by
making a sort of privy council of half a dozen of the greatest bullies,
such as were his competitors, and had interest enough to make his
government easy; yet even those, in the latter part of his reign, he had
run counter to in every project that opposed his own opinion; for which,
and because he grew reserved and would not drink and roar at their rate,
a cabal was formed to take away his captainship, which death did more
effectually.

The captain's power is uncontrollable in chase or in battle, drubbing,
cutting, or even shooting any one who dares deny his command. The same
privilege he takes over prisoners, who receive good or ill usage mostly
as he approves of their behavior, for though the meanest would take upon
them to misuse a master of a ship, yet he would control herein when he
sees it, and merrily over a bottle give his prisoners this double reason
for it: first, that it preserved his precedence; and secondly, that it
took the punishment out of the hands of a much more rash and mad set of
fellows than himself. When he found that rigor was not expected from his
people (for he often practiced it to appease them), then he would give
strangers to understand that it was pure inclination that induced him to
a good treatment of them, and not any love or partiality to their
persons; for, says he, "there is none of you but will hang me, I know,
whenever you can clinch me within your power."

* * * * *

And now, seeing the disadvantages they were under for pursuing their
plans, viz., a small vessel ill repaired, and without provisions or
stores, they resolved, one and all, with the little supplies they could
get, to proceed for the West Indies, not doubting to find a remedy for
all these evils and to retrieve their loss.

In the latitude of Deseada, one of the islands, they took two sloops,
which supplied them with provisions and other necessaries, an