At which the _Duchess_, as the other ship was named, put off her longboat; which the conspirators hailing were answered by the men in the boat, "Is your drunken Boatswain on board?" This being the word agreed upon, Avery answered, "All is safe;" upon which twenty lusty fellows came aboard and joined them, which they had no sooner done but they secured the hatches and went to work, putting to sea without any disorder, although there were several ships in the bay, amongst whom was a frigate of forty-four guns. The Captain, by this time being awaked by the noise of the conspirators working the ship, rung the bell, inquiring what was the matter, to whom _Avery_ and some of the crew replied, "Nothing. Are you mutinous in your cups? Can't you lie down, sleep, and be quiet?" "No," saith the Captain. "I am sure something's the matter with the ship. Does she drive? What weather is it? Is it a storm?" Saith _Avery_: "Cannot you lie quiet while you are quiet? I tell you all's well; we are at sea in a fair wind and good weather." "At sea," saith the Captain; "that can't be." "Be not frightened," saith Avery, "and I'll tell you. You must note, I am now the Captain of the ship; nay, you must turn out, for this is my cabin, and I am bound for _Madagascar_, to make my own fortune as well as my companions." The Captain, being more terrified than ever, did not know what to say, which _Avery_ perceiving, bid him take heart. "For," saith he, "if you will join me and these brave fellows, my companions, in time you may get some post under me. If not, step into the longboat and get about your business." This the Captain was glad to hear, but yet began to expostulate with them upon the injustice of such doings. Saith _Avery_: "What do I care? Every man for himself. Come, come, Captain, if you will go, get you gone; the longboat waits for you, and if there be any more cowards in the ship, you may all go together." Which words so affrighted the whole crew, that there was not above nine or ten of them that durst venture, who made the best of their way to the shore as fast as they could, and thought they were well off. The Captain was no sooner gone, but they called a Council, which agreed to own _Avery_ as their Captain; which he accepted of with all humility imaginable, seeming to excuse himself on account of his inexperience at sea. But he did it so artfully that it more confirmed them in the good opinion of their choice. "Gentlemen," said he, "what we have done we must live or die by; let us all be hearty and of one mind, and I don't question but we shall make our fortune in a little time. I propose that we sail first to _Madagascar_, where we may settle a correspondence, in order to secure our retreats, whenever we think fit to lie by." To which they all agreed, "Nemine contradicente."