However, they all put to Sea together, and spied a Sail under the Land, which had a Breeze while they lay becalmed; some said he was a Turtler, others, the Pyrate, and so it proved; for it was honest Captain _Lewis_, who putting out his Oars, got in among them. Some of the Sloops had four Guns, some two, some none. _Joseph Dill_ had two, which he brought on one Side, and fired smartly at the Pyrate, but unfortunately one of them split, and killed him three Men. _Tucker_ called to all the Sloops to send him Men, and he would fight _Lewis_, but to no Purpose; no Body came on board him. In the mean while a Breeze sprung up, and _Tucker_ trimming his Sails left them, who all fell a Prey to the Pyrate; into whom however he fired a Broadside at going off. One Sloop, whose Master I won't Name, was a very good Sailer, and was going off; but _Lewis_ firing a Shot at him, brought her to, and he lay by till all the Sloops were visited and secured. Then _Lewis_ sent on board him, and ordered the Master into his Sloop. As soon as he was aboard, he asked the Reason of his lying by, and betraying the Trust his Owners had reposed in him, which was doing like a Knave and Coward, and he would punish him accordingly; for, he said, you might have got off, being so much a better Sailer than my Vessel. After this Speech he fell upon him with a Rope's End, and then snatching up his Cane, drove him about the Decks without Mercy. The Master, thinking to pacify him, told him he had been out trading in that Sloop several Months, and had on board a good Quantity of Money, which was hid, and which, if he would send on board a Black belonging to the Owners, he would discover it to him. This had not the desired Effect, but one quite contrary; for _Lewis_ told him he was a Rascal and Villain for this Discovery, and, by G--d, he would pay him for betraying his Owners, and redoubled his Strokes. However, he sent and took the Money and Negroe, who was an able Sailor. He took out of his Prizes what he had occasion for, 40 able Negroe Sailors, and a white Carpenter; the largest Sloop, which was about 90 Tuns, he took for his own Use, and mounted her with 12 Guns; his Crew was now about 80 Men, Whites and Blacks. After these Captures he cruised in the Gulf of _Florida_, lying in wait for the _West-India_ homeward bound Ships which took the Leeward Passage, several of which falling into his Hands were plundered by him, and released; from hence he went to the Coast of _Carolina_, where he cleaned his Sloop, and a great many Men, whom he had forced, ran away from him; however, the Natives traded with him for Rum and Sugar, and brought him all he wanted, without the Government's having any Knowledge of him, for he had got into a very private Creek; tho' he was very much on his Guard, that he might not be surprized from the Shoar.