] and
the pilot, and another man, without any pretense took a small pair of
pistols, and cocked them under the table. Which being perceived by the
man, he went on deck, leaving the captain, Hands, and the pilot
together. When his pistols were prepared, he extinguished the candle,
crossed his arms and fired at the company, under the table. The one
pistol did no execution, but the other wounded Hands in the knee.
Interrogated concerning the meaning of this, he answered with an
imprecation, 'That if he did not now and then kill one of them, they
would forget who he was.'"

"In Blackbeard's journal, which was taken, there were several memoranda
of the following nature, all written with his own hand.--'Such a day,
rum all out;--our company somewhat sober;--a damned confusion amongst
us! rogues a-plotting;--great talk of separation;--so I looked sharp
for a prize; such a day took one with a great deal of liquor on board;
so kept the company hot, damned hot, then all things went well again.'"

"Blackbeard derived his name from his long black beard, which, like a
frightful meteor, covered his whole face, and terrified all America
more than any comet that has ever appeared. He was accustomed to twist
it with ribbon in small quantities, and turn them about his ears. In
time of action he wore a sling over his shoulder with three braces of
pistols. He stuck lighted matches under his hat, which appearing on
both sides of his face and eyes, naturally fierce and wild, made him
such a figure that the human imagination cannot form a conception of a
fury more terrible and alarming."[5]

In the best account of his melodramatic exit from the life which he had
adorned with so much distinction, there is a reference to buried
treasure that must be set down as a classic of its kind.

"Upon the 17th of November, 1717, Lieutenant Maynard left James's River
in quest of Blackbeard, and on the evening of the 21st came in sight of
the pirate. This expedition was fitted out with all possible secrecy,
no boat being permitted to pass that might convey any intelligence,
while care was taken to discover where the pirates were lurking....
The hardened and infatuated pirate, having been often deceived by false
intelligence, was the less attentive, nor was he convinced of his
danger until he saw the sloops sent to apprehend him. Though he had
then only twenty men on board, he prepared to give battle. Lieutenant
Maynard arrived with his sloops i