Of Major ST;EDE BoNKET. 99 



of Carolina 5 the Letter was to this EffeO:^ njit.^ That 

 if the Sloop y which then appeared^ were fent out again ft 

 himy by the faid Govennry and he flwuld get clear off^ 

 that he would hum and deftroy all Ship or f^effcis gotng. 

 in or coming out (?/ South-Carolina. The next Mora* 

 ing they got under Sail, and came down the River, 

 deligning only a running Fight. Colonel Rhefs 

 Sloops got like wile under Sail, and ftood for him, 

 getting upon each Quarter of the Pyrate, v/ith In- 

 tent to board him-, which he perceiving, edged in 

 towards the Shore, and being warmly engaged, 

 their Sloop ran a-ground: The Carolina Sloops 

 being in the fame flioal Water, were in the fame 

 Circumftances ; the Henry^ in which Colonel Rhet 

 was, grounded within Piftol Ihot of the Pyrate, and 

 on his Bow ^ the other Sloop grounded right a-head 

 of him, and almoft out of Gun-Shot, which made 

 her of Mttle Service to the Colonel, while they 

 lay a-ground. 



At this Time the Pyrate had a confiderable Ad- 

 vantage 5 for their Sloop, after Ihe was a-ground, 

 lifted from Colonel J?kf's, by which Means they 

 were all covered, and the Colonel's Sloop lifting 

 the fame Way, his Men were much expofed ^ not- 

 withftanding which, they kept a brisk Fire the 

 whole Time they lay thus a-ground, which was 

 near five Hours. The Py rates made a Wifi in their 

 uloody Flag, and beckoned feveral Times with their 

 Hats in Derilion to the Colonel's Men, to come 

 on Board, which they anfwered with chearful Huz- 

 Za's, and laid, that they wot^d fpeak with them by and 

 by\ which accordingly happ^ied, for the Colonel's 

 Sloop being firft a float, he got into deeper Wa- 

 ter, and after mending the Sloop's Rigging, which 

 was much ihattered in the Engagement, they 

 ftood for the Pyrate, to give the finilhing Stroke, 

 and defigned to go direftly on Board him ; which 

 he prevented, by fending a Flag of Truce, and 



G 2 after 



