thing occurring worth relating, except our having
captured four good prizes. We were returning to Jamaica, when we fell
in with a schooner, which gave us the intelligence of the capture of the
island of Curacao by four English frigates.

As we were near to the island and short of water, Captain Delmar
resolved to touch at it, and remained two or three days.

The reader will perhaps recollect that the old Dutch gentleman, whose
life I had saved in the pirate vessel, had stated that his name was
Vanderwelt, and that he lived at Curacao. The next evening we entered
the harbour, and it was astonishing to every one how so strong a place
could have been taken by so small a force. The commodore, who had
plenty of work on hand, requested, or rather ordered, our captain to
remain with him for ten days or a fortnight, to assist him.

On the third day after our arrival I obtained leave to go on shore, as I
wished to find out the old Dutch gentleman. As I was again in the
captain's gig, I had very often landed, but had not had an opportunity
of making inquiries, as I could not leave my boat and boat's crew.

This afternoon I landed in the gig, and went up through the gate into
the town, but I could not find anyone who spoke English. At last, by
asking for the house of Mynheer Vanderwelt, it was pointed out to me,
and I went up to the door; it was a very large house, with a verandah
all round it, painted bright green and while alternately. There were
several slaves sitting down at the entrance, and I asked for Mynheer
Vanderwelt; they stared at me, and wondered what I wanted, but as I was
in midshipman's uniform, they were of course very civil, and one of them
beckoned me to follow him, which I did, and was introduced to the old
gentleman, who was sitting in a cane arm-chair with his pipe in his
mouth, and fanned by two slave girls, about twelve years old.

As he had spoken to me in English on board of the pirate, I immediately
went up to him, and said, "How do you do, sir?"

"I am very well, sir," replied he, taking the pipe out of his mouth.
"What do you want? do you come from the English commodore? What is his
pleasure?"

"No, sir," replied I; "I do not come from the commodore; but I came up
to see you."

"Oh, that is all," replied the old gentleman, putting his pipe in his
mouth again, and resuming his smoking. I felt rather nettled at his
treatment, and then said--

"Don't you know me, sir?"

"No, sir," repl