lean, fit, and rig them, that, at the return
of their fellows, all things might be in a readiness to weigh anchor and
follow their designs.

CHAPTER XIV

_What happened in the river De la Hacha._

THESE four ships setting sail from Hispaniola, steered for the river De
la Hacha, where they were suddenly overtaken with a tedious calm. Being
within sight of land becalmed for some days, the Spaniards inhabiting
along the coast, who had perceived them to be enemies, had sufficient
time to prepare themselves, at least to hide the best of their goods,
that, without any care of preserving them, they might be ready to
retire, if they proved unable to resist the pirates, by whose frequent
attempts on those coasts they had already learned what to do in such
cases. There was then in the river a good ship, come from Carthagena to
lade with maize, and now almost ready to depart. The men of this ship
endeavoured to escape; but, not being able to do it, both they and the
vessel fell into their hands. This was a fit purchase for them, being
good part of what they came for. Next morning, about break of day, they
came with their ships ashore, and landed their men, though the Spaniards
made good resistance from a battery they had raised on that side, where,
of necessity, they were to land; but they were forced to retire to a
village, whither the pirates followed them. Here the Spaniards rallying,
fell upon them with great fury, and maintained a strong combat, which
lasted till night; but then, perceiving they had lost a great number of
men, which was no less on the pirates' side, they retired to secret
places in the woods.

Next day the pirates seeing them all fled, and the town left empty of
people, they pursued them as far as they could, and overtook a party of
Spaniards, whom they made prisoners, and exercised with most cruel
torments, to discover their goods. Some were forced, by intolerable
tortures, to confess; but others, who would not, were used more
barbarously. Thus, in fifteen days that they remained there, they took
many prisoners, much plate and movables, with which booty they resolved
to return to Hispaniola: yet, not content with what they had got, they
dispatched some prisoners into the woods to seek for the rest of the
inhabitants, and to demand a ransom for not burning the town. They
answered, they had no money nor plate; but if they would be satisfied
with a quantity of maize, they would give as much as they