180 A GREAT FIRE. [1695. 



means that might baffle his Malice. For this purpose we 

 forin'd a Design to build us a sort of Boat. Now having 

 gain'd mightily upon our Purveyors, and divers Inhabitants 

 of the Island, by sending them our Leaf-Hatts, we obtain'd 

 from tliem in exchange several Deer-Skins, and Ox-Hides, 

 under pretence that we wanted them to make Shooes of. 

 They sent us likewise several Poles that we desir'd of them ; 

 and we by other Pretences got at different times a good 

 quantity of I'itch from them. Having thus provided all that 

 was necessary for our Design, we cover'd the Carcass of our 

 Boat with Skins sew'd together ; and upon Tryal, found it 

 would do our business well enough ; and to the end that our 

 Purveyors miglit know nothing of the matter, we hid our new 

 Skiff carefully in the hole of a Piock. Now it happen'd one 

 Night that one of our Company being awake, and looking 

 towards the Island, he discover'd a great Fire ; he call'd to 

 us, and we presently judg'd it was the Fort that was on fire. 

 The Governors Appartment, the Magazine and Guard -House 

 were of Stone ; but the other Buildings, and even a little 

 Chapel,^ were compos'd of nothing but Branches and Leaves. 

 We presently concluded, that if the Authors of this Fire, 

 vvliich we look'd upon as done out of Malice, were not soon 

 known, the Governor would not fail to suspect us of it, or at 

 least pretend so to do, that he might treat us after a more 

 vigorous manner than he had hitlierto done if that were 

 possible. This made us think he would soon visit us, and if 

 he should find the Boat we had just made, there would be 

 no Mercy for us. To prevent this, we immediately pull'd 

 that Machine to pieces, and so dispos'd of the Materials that 

 'twas impossible they should occasion the least Suspicion. 

 A few days after Experience convinc'd us we were not in the 

 wrong in our Conjectures, for our I*urveyors acquainted us 

 tjiat we had been Suspected. They also related to us some 



1 In orig. : "le petit Temple." 



