about
Eleven at Night
One of the Men , who was acquainted with the _ West-Indies , _ told him , it was a _ Jamaica _ Privateer , and he should not wonder , if he clapp 'd him aboard . I am , said he , no Stranger to their Way of working , and this despicable Fellow , as those who do n't know a _ Jamaica _ Privateer may think him , it is ten to one will give you some Trouble . It now grows towards Evening , and you 'll find as soon as he has discovered your Force , he 'll keep out of the Reach of your Guns till the 12 a-Clock Watch is changed at Night , and he 'll then attempt to clap you aboard , with Hopes to carry you in the Hurry : Wherefore Captain , if you will give me Leave to advise you , let every Man have his small Arms ; and at twelve , let the Bell ring as usual ; and rather more Noise than ordinary be made , as if the one Watch was turning in , and the other out , in a Confusion and Hurry , and I 'll engage he will venture to enter his Men . The Fellow 's Advice was approved and resolved upon , and the Sloop work 'd , as he said she would , for upon coming near enough to make distinctly the Force of the _ Victoire _ , on her throwing out _ French _ Colours , she , the Sloop , clapp 'd upon a Wind , the _ Victoire _ gave Chace , but without Hopes of gaining upon her ; she went so well to Windward , that she cou 'd spare the Ship some Points in her Sheet , and yet wrong her : At Dusk of the Even , the _ French _ had lost Sight of her , but about Eleven at Night , they saw her hankering up their Windward Bow , which confirmed the Sailors Opinion , that she would attempt to board them , as she did at the pretended Change of the Watch ; there being little or no Wind , she lashed to the Bow-Sprit of the _ Victoire _ and enter 'd her Men , who were very quietly taken , as they enter 'd and tumbled down the Forehatch , where they were received by others , and bound without Noise , not one of the Privateers killed , few hurt , and only one _ Frenchman _ wounded . The _ Victoire _ the better Part of the Sloop 's Men secured , they boarded in their Turn , when the Privateer 's suspecting some Stratagem , were endeavouring to cut their Lashing and get off : Thus the Englishman caught a Tartar . The Prisoners being all secured , the Captain charged his Men not to discover , thro ' a Desire of augmenting their Number , the Account they were upon . The next Morning Monsieur _ Misson _ called for the Captain of the Privateer , he told him , he could not but allow him a brave Fellow , to venture upon a Ship of his Countenance , and for that Reason he should meet Treatment which Men of his Profession seldom afforded the Prisoners they made .