244 



for some time past been infested by a pirate called 

 Captain Mitchell, who, by all accounts, seems to be 

 of the very worst description. It is not long ago, 

 since, in company with another vessel of his own 

 stamp, he landed on the small settlement of St. 

 Andrews, plundered it completely, and on his de- 

 parture carried off the governor, whom he kept on 

 board for more than fourteen days, and then hung 

 him at the yard-arm out of mere wanton devilry ; 

 and indeed he is said to show no more mercy to 

 any of his prisoners than he did to the poor gover- 

 nor. His companion has been captured and brought 

 into Kingston, and the conquering vessel is gone 

 in search of Captain Mitchell. If it does not fall 

 in with him, and we do, I fear that we shall stand 

 but a bad chance ; for he has one hundred men on 

 board according to report, while we have not above 

 thirty. However, the captain has harangued them, 

 represented the necessity of their righting if at- 

 tacked, as Captain Mitchell is known to spare no 

 one, high or low, and has engaged to give every 

 man five guineas apiece, if a gun should be fired. 

 The sailors promise bravery ; whether their pro- 

 mises will prove to be pie-crust, we must leave to 

 be decided by time and Captain Mitchell. In the 

 mean while, every sail that appears on the horizon 

 is concluded to be this terrible pirate, and every 

 thing is immediately put in readiness for action. 



