pinnaces, to know "whether they were
Captain DRAKE'S?" And upon answer received, continued entreating to be
taken aboard, though he had first three or four shot made at him, until
at length they fetched him; and learned by him, that, not past eight
days before our arrival, the King had sent thither some 150 soldiers to
guard the town against the Cimaroons, and the town at this time was full
of people beside: which all the rather believed, because it agreed with
the report of the Negroes, which we took before at the Isle of Pinos.
And therefore our Captain sent his brother and JOHN OXNAM to understand
the truth thereof.

They found our men which we left in our pinnaces much frightened, by
reason that they saw great troops and companies running up and down,
with matches lighted, some with other weapons, crying _Que gente? Que
gente?_ which not having been at the first conflict, but coming from the
utter ends of the town (being at least as big as Plymouth), came many
times near us; and understanding that we were English, discharged their
pieces and ran away.

Presently after this, a mighty shower of rain, with a terrible storm
of thunder and lightning, fell, which poured down so vehemently (as
it usually doth in those countries) that before we could recover the
shelter of a certain shade or penthouse at the western end of the King's
Treasure House, (which seemeth to have been built there of purpose to
avoid sun and rain) some of our bow-strings were wet, and some of our
match and powder hurt! Which while we were careful of, to refurnish and
supply; divers of our men harping on the reports lately brought us, were
muttering of the forces of the town, which our Captain perceiving, told
them, that "He had brought them to the mouth of the Treasure of the
World, if they would want it, they might henceforth blame nobody but
themselves!"

And therefore as soon as the storm began to assuage of his fury (which
was a long half hour) willing to give his men no longer leisure to
demur of those doubts, nor yet allow the enemy farther respite to gather
themselves together, he stept forward commanding his brother, with
JOHN OXNAM and the company appointed them, to break the King's Treasure
House: the rest to follow him to keep the strength of the Market Place,
till they had despatched the business for which they came.

But as he stepped forward, his strength and sight and speech failed him,
and he began to faint for want of blood, wh