INTRO D U C T I O N. xxxv 
he would laili him to the main-maft, and ex- 
pofe him to deftrudion from the fhot of thofe 
very cannon which were fired in obedience to 
his orders. This brave man was not to be 
intimidated ; and loftead of bafely complying 
with the propoial, he repeated his fignal, 
which brought a fecond difcharge from the 
battery. When the crew faw this, they be- 
came almoft frantic with rage, fell upon the 
obje£t of their vengeance, beat him feverely, 
and adlually tied him to the maft : but Staar- 
ing, though furraunded by danger, derided 
his tormentors. " You know not what you 
do," faid he with a fmile, Perceive you 
" not that thefe bullets are fent by my com- 
" mand; that they know me; and will, there-* 
" fore, do me no harm ?" 
What he thus faid in pleafantry, w^onderful 
as it may appear, was eventually realifed. 
The fhot fell in (howers on every fide, with- 
aut one of them touching . him ; but the vef-% 
% id 
