Two in the Afternoon
We should not , answer 'd his Wife , have disgraced our Families ; nor is our Tenderness for our Husbands inferior to hers whom you seem to admire . After their Recovery , _ Misson _ proposes a Cruize , on the Coast of _ Zangueber _ , which being agreed to , he and _ Caraccioli _ took Leave of the Queen and her Brother , and would have left their Wives on the Island , but they could by no Means be induced to the Separation ; it was in vain to urge the Shortness of the Time they were to Cruize ; they answer 'd it was farther than _ Mohila _ they intended to go , and if they were miserable in that short Absence , they could never support a longer ; and if they would not allow them to keep them Company the Voyage , they must not expect to see them at their Return , if they intended one . In a Word they were obliged to yield to them , but told them , if the Wives of their Men should insist as strongly on following their Example , their Tenderness , would be their Ruin , and make them a Prey to their Enemies ; they answer 'd the Queen should prevent that , by ordering no Woman should go on board , and if any were in the Ships , they should return on Shore : This Order was accordingly made , and they set Sail for the River of _ Mozembique _ . In about ten Days Cruize after they had left _ Johanna _ , and about 15 Leagues to the Eastward of this River , they fell in with a stout _ Portuguese _ Ship of 60 Guns , which engaged them from Break of Day till Two in the Afternoon , when the Captain being killed , and a great Number of Men lost , she struck : This proved a very rich Prize , for she had the Value of 250000 _ L _ . Sterling on Board , in Gold-Dust . The two Women never quitted the Decks all the Time of the Engagement , neither gave they the least Mark of Fear , except for their Husbands : This Engagement cost them thirty Men , and _ Caraccioli _ lost his right Leg ; the Slaughter fell mostly on the _ English _ , for of the above Number , twenty were of that Nation : The _ Portuguese _ lost double the Number . _ Caraccioli 's _ Wound made them resolve to make the best of their Way for _ Johanna _ where the greatest Care was taken of their wounded , not one of whom died , tho ' their Number amounted to Twenty seven .