entleman was retired to a small island in the middle of the river,
where he had built a little fort, as well as he could, for his defence;
but hearing that Captain Morgan came in person with great forces to seek
him, he retired to the top of a mountain not far off, to which there was
no ascent but by a very narrow passage, so straight, that whosoever did
attempt to gain the ascent, must march his men one by one. Captain
Morgan spent two days before he arrived at this little island, whence he
designed to proceed to the mountain where the governor was posted, had
he not been told of the impossibility of ascent, not only for the
narrowness of the way, but because the governor was well provided with
all sorts of ammunition: beside, there was fallen a huge rain, whereby
all the pirates' baggage and powder was wet. By this rain, also, they
lost many men at the passage over a river that was overflown: here
perished, likewise, some women and children, and many mules laden with
plate and goods, which they had taken from the fugitive inhabitants; so
that things were in a very bad condition with Captain Morgan, and his
men much harassed, as may be inferred from this relation: whereby, if
the Spaniards, in that juncture, had had but fifty men well armed, they
might have entirely destroyed the pirates. But the fears the Spaniards
had at first conceived were so great, that the leaves stirring on the
trees they often fancied to be pirates. Finally, Captain Morgan and his
people, having upon this march sometimes waded up to their middles in
water for half, or whole miles together, they at last escaped, for the
greatest part; but the women and children for the major part died.

Thus twelve days after they set forth to seek the governor they returned
to Gibraltar, with many prisoners: two days after arrived also the two
settees that went to the river, bringing with them four boats, and some
prisoners; but the greatest part of the merchandise in the said boats
they found not, the Spaniards having unladed and secured it, having
intelligence of their coming; who designed also, when the merchandise
was taken out, to burn the boats: yet the Spaniards made not so much
haste to unlade these vessels, but that they left in the ship and boats
great parcels of goods, which the pirates seized, and brought a
considerable booty to Gibraltar. Thus, after they had been in possession
of the place five entire weeks, and committed an infinite number of
murd