THE PIRATE VANE. 69 



her choice she would not have the punishment less than death, the fear of which kept 

 some dastardly rogues honest; that many of those who are now cheating the widows 

 and orphans, and oppressing their poor neighbours who have no money to obtain justice, 

 would then rob at sea, and the ocean would be as crowded with rogues as the land." 

 Curious argument ! Mary Read came near tasting the quality of hanging when at last 

 she was captured, but an illness, fortunately for herself, intervened, and she died a natural 

 death. Woman's mission in life rarely takes her to sea as a practical sailor. 



A prominent pirate of the seventeenth century was Captain Charles Vane, the details of 

 whose career would, however, read much like some already given in the lives of earlier 

 freebooters. One incident at the end of his life is presented, to show how much distrust 

 often existed among the pirates themselves. Vane was at last wrecked on a small unin- 

 habited island near the Bay of Honduras; his vessel was completely lost and most of his 

 men drowned. He resided there some weeks, being reduced to great straits. 



While Vane was upon this island a ship put in there from Jamaica for water, the 

 captain of which, one Holford, an old pirate, happened to be an acquaintance of Vane's. 

 He thought this a good opportunity to get off, and accordingly applied to his friend ; 

 but Holford absolutely refused him, saying to him, " Charles, I can't trust you on board 

 my ship unless I carry you as a prisoner, for I shall have you caballing with my men, 

 knocking me on the head, and running away with my ship pirating." Vane made all 

 the protestations of honour in the world to him; but it seems Captain Holford was too 

 intimately acquainted with him to place any confidence in his words or oaths. He told 

 him he might easily get off if he had a mind to it. " I am going down the bay/' 

 said he, "and shall return hither in about a month; and if I find you upon the island 

 when I come back, I will carry you to Jamaica and there hang you ! " " How can I get 

 away ? " answered Vane. " Are there not fishermen's dories upon the beach ? Can't you 

 take one of them ? " replied Holford. " What ! " replied Vane ; " would you have me steal 

 a dory, then ? " " Do you make it a matter of conscience ? " replied Holford, " to steal 

 a dory, when you have been a common robber and pirate, stealing ships and cargoes, 

 and plundering all mankind that fell in your way ? Stay here if you are so squeamish ; '* 

 and he left him to consider the matter. 



After Captain Holford's departure another ship put into the small island, on her way 

 home, for some water. None of the company knowing Vane, he easily passed his examina- 

 tion, and so was shipped for the voyage. One would be apt to think that Vane was now 

 pretty safe, and likely to escape the fate which his crimes had merited; but here a cross 

 accident happened which ruined all. Holford, returning from the bay, was met by this 

 ship, and the captains being very well acquainted with each other, Holford was invited 

 to dine aboard, which he did. As he passed along to the cabin he chanced to cast his 

 eye down in the hold, and there saw Charles Vane at work. He immediately spoke to 

 the captain, saying, "Do you know whom you have aboard there?" "Why," said he, "I 

 shipped the man the other day at an island where he had been cast away, and he 

 seems to be a brisk hand." " I tell you," replied Captain Holford, " it is Vane, the 

 notorious pirate." "If it be he," replied the other, "I won't keep him." "Why, then," 

 said Holford, " I'll send and take him aboard, and surrender him at Jamaica." This being 



