About three quarters of a Year after this Separation, a new Frolick took thefe Rogues, which together with the former Villany they had committed, brought Mischief enough upon them, and had very near been the Ruin of the whole Colony : The three new Sociates began it seems to be weary of the laborious Life they led, and that without Hope of bettering their Circumftances; and a Whim took them, that they would make a Voyage to the Continent from whence the Savages came, and would try if they could not feize upon fome Prifoners among the Natives there, and bring them Home, fo to make them do the laborious Part of their Work for them.

The Project was not fo prepofterous, if they had gone no further; but they did nothing, and propofed nothing, but had either Mifchief in the Defign, or Mischief in the Event: And if I may give my Opinion, they feem'd to be under a Blaft from Heaven; for if we will not allow a vilible Curfe to purfue vifible Crimes, how fhall we reconcile the Events of Things, with the Divine Juftice? It was certainly an apparent Vengeance on their Crime of Mutiny and Piracy, that brought them to the State they were in; and as they fhew'd not the leaft Remorse for the Crime, but added new Villanies to it, fuch as, particularly, the Piece of monftrous Cruelty, of wouding a poor Slave, because he did not, or perhaps could not, underftand to do what he was directed; and to wound him in fuch a Manne, as, no Queftion, made him a Cripple all his Life; and in a Place where no Surgeon or Medic/ne could be had for his Cure; and what was still vorfe, the murtherous Intent, or to do Juftice to the Crime, the intentional

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Murther, for fuch, to be fure it was, as was af terwards the form'd Defign they all laid, to mur ther the Spaniards in cold Blood, and in their Sleep.

But I leave obferving, and return to the Story: The three Fellows comes down to the Spaniards one Morning, and in very humble Terms defir'd to be admitted to speak with them: The Spani ards very readily heard what they had to fay, which was this, That they were tir'd of living in the Manner they did; that they were not handy enough to make the Neceflaries they wanted; and that having no Help, they found they should be ftarv'd: But if the Spaniards would give them Leave to take one of the Canoes which they came over in, and give them Arms and Ammunition, proportion'd for their Defence, they would go over to the Main, and feek their Fortune, and fo deliver them from the Trouble of fupplying them with any other Provifions.

The Spaniards were glad enough to be rid of them, but yet very honeftly reprefented to them the certain Deftruction they were running into; told them they had fuffer'd fuch Hardships upon that very Spot, that they could without any Spirit of Prophefy tell them, that they would be ftarv'd, or be murther'd, and bad them confider of it.

The Men reply'd audauciously, they should be ftarv'd if they ftay'd here, for they could not work, and would not work; and they could but be starv'd abroad, and if they were mur ther'd, there was an End of them, they had no Wives or Children to cry after them; and

in fhost, infifted importunately upon their Des mand, declaring, that they would go, whether they would give them any Arms or no.

The Spaniards told them, with great Kindnefs, that if they were refolv'd to go, they fhould not go like naked Men, and be in no Condition to defend themselves; and that tho': they could ill fpare their Fire-Arms, having not enough for themfelves, yet they would let them have two Muskets, a Piftol, and a Cutlafh, and each Man a Hatchet, which they thought was fufficient for them.

In a word, they accepted the Offer, and having baked them Bread enough to ferve them a Month, and given them as much Goats Flesh as they could Eat while it was fweet, and a great Basket full of dry'd Grapes, a Pot full of fresh Water, and a young Kid alive to kill, they boldly fet out in a Canoe for a Voyage over the Sea, where it was at least 40 Miles broad.

The Boat was indeed a large one, and would have very well carry'd fifteen or twetny Men; and therefore, was rather too big for them to manage; But as they had a fair Breeze, and the Flood-Tide with them, they did well enough : They had made a Maft of a long Pole, and a Sail of four large Goat Skins dry'd, which they had fow'd or lac'd together, and away they went merrily enough; the Spaniards call'd after them, Bon Veyajo; and no Man ever thought of feeing them any more.

The Spaniards were often faying to one another, and to the two honeft English Men,who remain'd behind,

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how quietly and comfortably they liv'd now thofe three turbulent Fellows were gone; as for their ever coming again, that was the remotest thing from their Thoughts that could be imagin'd; when behold, after two and twenty Days Abfence, one of the English Men being abroad upon his Planting-Work, fees three ftrange Men coming towards him at a Distance, with Guns upon their Shoulders.

Away run the English Man, as if he was bewitch'd, comes frighted and amazed to the Governour Spaniard, and tells him they were all undone; for there were Strangers landed upon the Ifland, they could not tell who: The Spaniard, paufing a while, fays to him, How do you mean, you cannot tell who? They are the Savages to be fure. No, no, fays the English Man, they are Men in Cloaths with Arms: Nay, then, fays the Spaniard, Why are you concern'd? If they are not Savages they must be Friends, for there is no Christian Nation upon Earth but will do us good rather than harm.

While they were debating thus, comes the three English Men, and ftanding without the Wood, which was new planted, hallo'd to them: They prefently knew their Voices, and fo all the Wonder of that kind ceafed. But now the Admiration was turn'd upon another Question, (viz.) what could be the matter, and what made them come back again?

It was not long before they brought the Men in, and enquiring where they had been, and what they had been doing; they gave them a full Account of their Voyage in a few Words, (viz.) That

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they reach'd the Land in two Days, or fomething lefs, but finding the People alarmed at their coming, and preparing with Bows and Arrows to fight them, they durft not go on Shore, but fail'd on to the Northward fix or seven Hours, till they came to a great Opening, by which they perceived, that the Land they faw from our Ifland was not the Main, but an Island; that entring that opening of the Sea, they faw another Ifland on the RightHand North, and feveral more Weft; and being refolv'd to land fomewhere, they put over to one of the Islands which lay Weft, and went boldy on Shore; that they found the People very courteous and friendly to them, and that they gave them fe veral Roots and some dried Fish, and appear'd very fociable; and the Women, as well as the Men, were very forward to fupply them with any thing they could get for them to eat, and brought it to them a great way upon their Heads.

They continued here four Days, and enquir'd,' as well as they could of them by Signs, what Na tions were this way and that way; and were told of feveral fierce and terrible People that lived almost every way, who, as they made Signs to them, us'd to eat Men. But as for themselves they faid, that they never eat Men or Women, except only fuch as they took in the Wars, and then they own'd that they made a great Feast, and eat their Prisoners.

The English Men enquir'd when they had a Feaft of that kind, and they told him about two Moons ago, pointing to the Moon, and then to two Fing ers; and that their great King had two hundred Prifoners now, which he had taken in his War; and they were feeding them to make them fat for

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