gain with some small things, and let them go. When they
parted, they made signs they would come again, but they soon forgot
their benefactors, and were never heard of more; neither could any
notice afterwards be had of these Indians, nor any others in the whole
island, which made the pirates suspect that both those that were taken,
and all the rest of the islanders, swam away by night to some little
neighbouring islands, especially considering they could never set eyes
on any Indian more, nor any boat or other vessel. Meanwhile the pirates
were very desirous to see their long-boat finished out of the timber
that struck on the sands; yet considering their work would be long, they
began to cultivate some pieces of ground; here they sowed French beans,
which ripened in six weeks, and many other fruits. They had good
provision of Spanish wheat, bananas, racoven, and other things; with the
wheat they made bread, and baked it in portable ovens, brought with
them. Thus they feared not hunger in those desert places, employing
themselves thus for five or six months; which past, and the long-boat
finished, they resolved for the river of Nicaragua, to see if they
could take some canoes, and return to the said islands for their
companions that remained behind, by reason the boat could not hold so
many men together; hereupon, to avoid disputes, they cast lots,
determining who should go or stay.

[Illustration: "'LOLONOIS, WITH THOSE THAT REMAINED, HAD MUCH ADO TO
ESCAPE ABOARD THEIR BOATS'"--_Page 97_]

The lot fell on one half of the people of the lost vessel, who embarked
in the long-boat, and on the skiff which they had before, the other half
remaining ashore. Lolonois having set sail, arrived in a few days at the
river of Nicaragua: here that ill-fortune assailed him which of long
time had been reserved for him, as a punishment due to the multitude of
horrible crimes committed in his licentious and wicked life. Here he met
with both Spaniards and Indians, who jointly setting upon him and his
companions, the greatest part of the pirates were killed on the place.
Lolonois, with those that remained alive, had much ado to escape aboard
their boats: yet notwithstanding this great loss, he resolved not to
return to those he had left at the isle of Pertas, without taking some
boats, such as he looked for. To this effect he determined to go on to
the coasts of Carthagena; but God Almighty, the time of His Divine
justice being now come,