64 THE SEA. 



crossed hands fired on each side at his companions, one of whom received a shot that 

 maimed him for life." He was an early Mormon, for he had fourteen women whom he 

 called his wives. His chief security had been the fact that Charles Eden, the governor, and 

 Tobias Knight, the secretary of the province, shared in his plunder and protected him.' As 

 he was rich, and had been apprised of Rogers' operations at New Providence, he judged it 

 wise to accept the benefit of the king's proclamation, and, with twenty of his men, pretended 

 to surrender to Eden, who had been a receiver of goods or gold stolen by him. 



CAPE COD. 



This was, however, only a blind. He fitted out almost immediately afterwards a sloop, 

 which he entered at the Custom House as a regular trader. In a few weeks he returned 

 to North Carolina, bringing with him a French ship in a state of perfect soundness, and 

 with a valuable cargo on board, which he deposed on oath that he had found deserted at 

 sea, a statement which quite satisfied Eden and Knight. Nobody else believed him, and 

 some of the Carolinians who had suffered by his hands appealed to the Government of 

 Virginia for aid in hunting down this pest of humanity. Maynard, the lieutenant of a 

 ship of war, was dispatched after him, found him in Pamlico Sound, and, after a close 

 encounter, prevailed. " Foreboding defeat, Theach had posted one of his followers with a 

 lighted match over his powder magazine, that in the last extremity he might defraud 



