S8 Porter's Voyage 



such times, after an absence from his hut of several days^ he 

 wouid be found in a state of perfect insensibiUty, rolUng among 

 the rocks of the mountains. He appeared to be reduced to the 

 lowest grade of which human nature is capable, and seemed to 

 have no desire beyond the tortoises and other animals of the 

 islands, except that of getting drunk. But this man, wretched 

 and miserable as he may have appeared, was neither destitute of 

 ambition, nor incapable of undertaking an enterprise that would 

 have appalled the heart of any other man ; nor was he devoid of 

 the talent of rousing others to second his hardihood. 



He by some means became possessed of an old musket, and a 

 few charges of powder and ball; and the possession of this 

 weapon probably first stimulated his ambition. He felt himself 

 strong as the sovereign of the island, and was desirous of proving 

 his strength on the first human being that fell in his way, which 

 happened to be a negro, who was left in charge of a boat belong- 

 ing to an American ship that had touched there for refreshments. 

 Patricli came down to the beach where the boat lay, armed with 

 his musket, now become his constant companion, directed the 

 negro, in an authoritative manner, to follow him, and on his re- 

 fusing, snapped his musket at him twice, which luckily missed 

 fire. The negro, however, became intimidated, and followed 

 him. Patrick now shouldered his musket, marched off before, 

 and on his way up the mountains exultingly informed the negro 

 he was henceforth to work for him, and become his slave, and 

 that his good or bad treatment would depend on his future con- 

 duct. On arriving at a narrov/ defile, and perceiving Patrick off 

 his guard, the negro seized the moment, grasped him in his arms, 

 threw him down, tied his hands behind him, shouldered him, and 

 carried him to his boat, and when the crew had arrived he was 

 taken on board the ship. An English smuggler was lying in the 

 harbour at the same time, the captain of which sentenced Patrick 

 to be severely whipped on board both vessels, which was put in 

 execution, and he was afterwards taken on shore handcuffed by 

 the Englishmen, who compelled him to make known where he 

 had concealed the few dollars he had been enabled to accumulate 

 from the sale of his potatoes and pumpkins, which they took from 

 him. But while they were busy in destroying his hut and gar- 

 den, the wretched being made his escape, and concealed himself 

 among the rocks in the interior of the island, until the ship had 

 sailed, when he ventured from his hiding place, and by means of 

 an old file, which he drove into a tree, freed himself from the 

 handcuffs. He now meditated a severe revenge, but concealed 

 his intentions. Vessels continued to touch there, and Patrick, as 

 usual, to furnish them with vegetables ; but from time to time he 

 was enabled, by administering potent draughts of his darling 



