or his death, made haste to escape, with the slaves
above-mentioned, and came safe to Tortuga, the common refuge of all
sorts of wickedness, and the seminary, as it were, of pirates and
thieves. Though now his fortune was low, yet he got another ship with
craft and subtlety, and in it twenty-one men. Being well provided with
arms and necessaries, he set forth for Cuba, on the south whereof is a
small village, called De los Cayos. The inhabitants drive a great trade
in tobacco, sugar, and hides, and all in boats, not being able to use
ships, by reason of the little depth of that sea.

Lolonois was persuaded he should get here some considerable prey; but by
the good fortune of some fishermen who saw him, and the mercy of God,
they escaped him: for the inhabitants of the town dispatched immediately
a vessel overland to the Havannah, complaining that Lolonois was come to
destroy them with two canoes. The governor could hardly believe this,
having received letters from Campechy that he was dead: but, at their
importunity, he sent a ship for their relief, with ten guns and ninety
men, well armed; giving them this express command, "that they should not
return into his presence without having totally destroyed those
pirates." To this effect he gave them a negro to serve for a hangman,
and orders, "that they should immediately hang every one of the pirates,
excepting Lolonois, their captain, whom they should bring alive to the
Havannah." This ship arrived at Cayos, of whose coming the pirates were
advertised beforehand, and instead of flying, went to seek it in the
river Estera, where she rode at anchor. The pirates seized some
fishermen, and forced them by night to show them the entry of the port,
hoping soon to obtain a greater vessel than their two canoes, and
thereby to mend their fortune. They arrived, after two in the morning,
very nigh the ship; and the watch on board the ship asking them, whence
they came, and if they had seen any pirates abroad. They caused one of
the prisoners to answer, they had seen no pirates, nor anything else.
Which answer made them believe that they were fled upon hearing of their
coming.

But they soon found the contrary, for about break of day the pirates
assaulted the vessel on both sides, with their two canoes, with such
vigor, that though the Spaniards behaved themselves as they ought, and
made as good defense as they could, making some use of their great guns,
yet they were forced to surre