And now he came up with a fine 400-ton Moorish merchantman named the _Queda_, whose master was an Englishman named Wright, for it was by no means rare for these Eastern owners to employ English or Dutch skippers, as the latter were such good seamen and navigators. Kidd as before chased her under French colours, and having got abreast of her compelled her to hoist out her boat and send it aboard. He then informed Wright he was to consider himself a prisoner, and he learnt that there were only three Europeans on board—two Dutch and one Frenchman—the rest being either Indians or Armenians. The last mentioned were also part-owners of the cargo. Kidd set the crew of this vessel ashore at different places along the coast, and soon sold about £10,000 worth of the captured cargo, so that each man had about £200, whilst Kidd got £8000. Putting part of his own crew into the _Queda_, Kidd took the _Adventure_ and the prize southwards to Madagascar, and when he had come to anchor a ludicrous incident occurred. For there came off to him a canoe containing several Englishmen who had previously known Kidd well. They now saluted him and said they understood that he had come to take them and hang them, “which would be a little unkind in such an old acquaintance.” But Kidd at once put them at their ease, swearing he had no such intention, and that he was now in every respect their brother, and just as bad as they; and calling for alcohol he drank their captain’s health. The men then returned on board their ship _Resolution_. But by now, after all her travels backwards and forwards over the ocean, the _Adventure_ had become very leaky and her two pumps had to be kept going continuously. So Kidd transferred all the tackle and guns from her to the _Queda_, and in future made her his home. He then divided up the spoil on the sharing principle as before. About a hundred of his men now deserted him, and, with his forty men and about £20,000 in his ship, he put to sea, bound at last for America again, for he was under orders to report to Bellomont at the end of the cruise.