24 THE SEA. 



better cheer, but not for the best reasons." Of the prisoners, many also died under the 

 tortures sustained to make them give up their money or jewels; many died, accordingly, 

 who possessed neither, or would not admit the facts. 



After having- been in possession of the town four entire weeks, they sent four of 

 their prisoners to the Spaniards that were fled to the woods, demanding of them a ransom 

 of 10,000 pieces; they threatened to reduce it to ashes. The Spaniards were unable or 

 indisposed to bring in a sum so considerable in the stipulated time namely, only two 

 days and the pirates fired the town in several places, whereupon the inhabitants begged them 

 to help extinguish the fire, and the ransom should be readily paid. The pirates agreed, 

 but in spite of all their best endeavours one part of the town was ruined. The church 

 belonging to the monastery was burned down. After they had received the sum fixed they 

 carried on board all the riches they had gathered, with a great number of slaves which 

 had not paid the ransom. Thence they returned to Maracaibo, where they found a 

 general consternation in the city, which was not quieted when they demanded 50,000 pieces 

 of eight to be brought on board, or the inhabitants' houses should be sacked anew. 

 Meantime the pirates stripped the great church of all its valuables. At last a compromise was 

 effected, that on payment of 20,000 pieces of eight, and 500 cows, the pirates would depai-t 

 peaceably. Both these demands being paid, the fleet set sail. But three days afterwards, 

 the townspeople's fears were renewed at seeing the pirates appear again, and re-enter the 

 port with all their ships. Their alarm subsided when they found that the pirates only 

 required a pilot to take them over the bar and banks at the entrance of the Lake 

 of Maracaibo. 



At Hispaniola the freebooters made a division of their gains, according to the order and 

 rank of every one. They found that they had considerably over a quarter of a million 

 pieces of eight to share, besides any quantity of rich spoils. Those who had been 

 wounded received their proportion for the loss of their limbs after the first general division. 

 Then they weighed the plate, allowing ten pieces of eight (ten dollars) to a pound. The 

 jewels were frequently, no doubt, either greatly over-valued or under-valued by reason of 

 their ignorance. This done, every one was put to his oath again that he had not concealed 

 anything from the rest or smuggled anything from the common stock. The shares of 

 those who had died in battle or otherwise were carefully given to the proper relatives 

 or friends honour among thieves with a vengeance ! The dividends having been arranged, 

 they started for Tortuga, where these nouveaux riches were received with great rejoicings. 

 Two French ships, laden with wine and brandy, &c., had arrived shortly before, and these 

 liquors were comparatively cheap when the pirates sailed into harbour ; a week or two 

 afterwards prices had increased wonderfully, and the larger part of the bucaniers had not 

 a dollar to bless themselves wherewith. The governor of the island purchased a ship-load of 

 cocoa from them for about a twentieth part of its worth; and in a week or two the 

 tavern-keepers, gamblers, and loafers, had acquired a good proportion of the riches, so hardly 

 and bravely, albeit so dishonestly, earned. 



Lolonois was now the great man of Tortuga, as he brought wealth to the town, 

 and all men flocked to his standard ; he had no difficulty in obtaining all the volunteers 

 he desired. He resolved, therefore, on another voyage to Nicaragua, that country, as 



