The Pirates Own Book (49 page)

These pirates in old times extended their depredations into the Atlantic
as far as the British Channel. They swarmed in the Mediterranean, not
only belonging to Algiers, but Tunis, and other ports on the coast of
Barbary. Their corsairs making descents on the coasts of those countries
which border on the Mediterranean, pillaging the villages and carrying
off the inhabitants into slavery. The corsairs were vessels of different
descriptions; some large armed ships, and latterly frigates; others were
row gallies and the various craft used by the nations which navigate
that sea, and had been taken by them and added to their marine. Upon the
slaves being landed at Algiers they were marched to the Dey's or
Bashaw's palace, when he selected the number which according to law
belonged to him; and the rest were sold in the slave market to the
highest bidder. A moiety of the plunder, cargoes and vessels taken also
belonged to the Dey. Occasionally, a person by pretending to renounce
his religion, and turning Mahometan would have his sufferings mitigated.

The most desperate attempts were sometimes made to effect an escape from
these ruthless monsters, which occasionally succeeded.

In 1644 William Oakley and four companions escaped from Algiers, in a
most miraculous manner, in a canvas boat. There was at this time an
English clergyman, Mr. Sprat, in captivity, and the wretched slaves had
the privilege of meeting in a cellar, where he would pray with them.
Oakley had got into the good graces of his master, and was allowed his
time by giving his master two dollars a month. He traded in tobacco and
a few trifling articles, so that a strict watch was not kept on his
movements. He conceived the project of making a canvas boat. He says I
now first opened my design to my comrades, informing them, that I had
contrived the model of a boat, which, being formed in pieces, and
afterwards put together, might be the means of our deliverance. They
greedily grasped at the prospect; but cooler reflection pointed out
difficulties innumerable: some of them started objections which they
thought insuperable, and these I endeavored to overrule.

We began our work in the cellar which had served for our devotions,
though it was not the sanctity of the place, but its privacy, that
induced us to this selection. We first provided a piece of wood, twelve
feet long, and, that it might escape observation, it was cut in two,
being jointed in the middle. Next we procured the timbers of ribs,
which, to avoid the same hazard, were in three pieces each, and jointed
in two places. The flat side of one of the two pieces was laid over the
other, and two holes bored in every joint to receive nails; so that when
united, each joint would make an obtuse angle, and approach towards a
semicircular figure, as we required. We had, in the formation of an
external covering, to avoid hammering and nailing, which would have made
such a noise in the cellar as to attract the notice of the Algerines,
who are insufferably suspicious about their wives and slaves. Therefore,
we provided as much canvas as would cover the boat twice over, and as
much pitch, tar and tallow, as would make it a kind of tarpaulin; as
also earthen pots in which to melt our materials. The two carpenters and
myself were appointed to this service in the cellar. We stopped up all
chinks and crevices, that the fumes of these substances might not betray
us. But we had not been long at work, when the smell of the melting
materials overcame me, and obligated me to go into the streets gasping
for breath, where meeting with the cool air, I swooned away, and broke
my face in the fall. My companions, finding me in this plight, carried
me back, extremely sick and unserviceable. Before long, I heard one of
them complain of sickness, and thus he could proceed no further;
therefore, I saw if we abandoned our project this night, it might not be
resumed, which made me resolve to set the cellar door wide open, while I
stood sentinel to give notice of approaching danger. In this way we
finished the whole, and then carried it to my shop, which was about a
furlong distant.

Every thing was fitted in the cellar, the timbers to the keel, the
canvas to the timbers, and the seats to the whole, and then all were
taken to pieces again. It was a matter of difficulty, however, to get
the pieces conveyed out of the city; but William Adams carried the keel,
and hid it at the bottom of a hedge: the rest was carried away with
similar precautions. As I was carrying a piece of canvas, which we had
bought for a sail, I looked back, and discovered the same spy, who had
formerly given us much trouble, following behind. This gave me no small
concern; but, observing an Englishman washing clothes by the sea side, I
desired his help in washing the canvas. Just as we were engaged with it,
the spy came up, and stood on a rock exactly over our heads, to watch
us. Therefore, to delude him, I took the canvas and spread it before his
face on the top of the rock to dry; he staid his own time, and then
marched off. Still I was jealous of his intentions, which induced me to
carry the canvas, when dry, straight back to the city, an incident that
greatly discouraged my comrades. We also procured a small quantity of
provisions, and two goat skins full of fresh water.

In the mean time, I paid my patron my wonted visits, kept up a fair
correspondence, and duly gave him his demands; while I secretly turned
all my goods to ready money as fast as I could, and putting it into a
trunk with a false bottom, I committed it to the charge of Mr. Sprat who
faithfully preserved it for me.

The place which we chose for joining the boat together was a hill about
half a mile from the city, thinking by that means the better to descry
the approach of danger. When the pieces were united, and the canvas
drawn on, four of our number carried the boat down to the sea, where,
stripping ourselves naked, and putting our clothes within, we carried it
as far as we could wade, lest it might be injured by the stones or rocks
near the shore. But we soon discovered that our calculations of lading
were erroneous; for no sooner had we embarked, than the water came in
over the sides, and she was like to sink; so that some new device became
necessary. At last, one whose heart most failed him was willing to be
excluded, and wished rather to hazard the uncertain torments of land,
than the certainty of being drowned at sea. However the boat was still
so deeply laden, that we all concluded that it was impossible to venture
to sea. At length another went ashore, and she held her head stoutly,
and seemed sufficiently capable of our voyage.

Taking a solemn farewell of our two companions left behind, and wishing
them as much happiness as could be hoped for in slavery, and they to us
as long life as could be expected by men going to their graves, we
launched out on the 30th of June 1644, a night ever to be remembered.
Our company consisted of John Anthony, William Adams, John Jephs, John
the carpenter and myself. We now put to sea, without helm, tackle, or
compass. Four of us continually labored at the oars; the employment of
the fifth was baling out the water that leaked through the canvas. We
struggled hard the first night to get out of the reach of our old
masters; but when the day broke, we were still within sight of their
ships in the haven and road-stead. Yet, out boat being small, and lying
close and snug upon the sea, either was not discovered at all, or else
seemed something that was not worth taking up.

On all occasions we found our want of foresight, for now the bread which
had lain soaking in the salt water, was quite spoiled, and the tanned
skins imparted a nauseous quality to the fresh water. So long as bread
was bread, we made no complaints; with careful economy it lasted three
days, but then pale famine, which is the most horrible shape in which
death can be painted, began to stare us in the face. The expedients on
which we fell to assuage our thirst rather inflamed it, and several
things added to our distress. For some time the wind was right against
us; our labour was incessant, for, although much rowing did not carry us
forward, still, cessation of it drove us back; and the season was raging
hot, which rendered our toil insupportable. One small alleviation we had
in the man whose province it was to bale the water out of the boat; he
threw it on our bodies to cool them. However, what with the scorching of
the sun and cooling of the water, our skin was blistered all over. By
day we were stark naked; by night we had on shirts or loose coats; for
we had left our clothing ashore, on purpose to lighten the boat.

One of our number had a pocket dial, which supplied the place of a
compass; and, to say the truth, was not ill befitting such a vessel and
such mariners. By its aid we steered our course by day, while the stars
served as a guide by night; and, if they were obscured, we guessed our
way by the motion of the clouds. In this woful plight we continued four
days and nights. On the fifth day we were at the brink of despair, and
abandoned all hopes of safety. Thence we ceased our labor, and laid
aside our oars; for, either we had no strength left to use them, or were
reluctant to waste the little we had to no purpose. Still we kept
emptying the boat, loth to drown, loth to die, yet knowing no means to
avoid death.

They that act least commonly wish the most; and, when we had forsaken
useful labor, we resorted to fruitless wishes—that we might be taken up
by some ship, if it were but a ship, no matter of what country.

While we lay hulling up and down, our hopes at so low an ebb, we
discovered a tortoise, not far from us, asleep in the sea. Had the great
Drake discovered the Spanish plate fleet, he could not have been more
rejoiced. Once again we bethought ourselves of our oars, and silently
rowing to our prey, took it into the boat in great triumph. Having cut
off its head, and let it bleed in a vessel, we drank the blood, ate the
liver, and sucked the flesh. Our strength and spirits were wonderfully
refreshed, and our work was vigorously renewed. Leaving our fears behind
us, we began to gather hope, and, about noon, discovered, or thought
that we discovered, land. It is impossible to describe our joy and
triumph on this occasion. It was new life to us; it brought fresh blood
into our veins, and fresh vigor into our pale cheeks: we looked like
persons raised from the dead. After further exertion, becoming more
confident, we were at last fully satisfied that it was land. Now, like
distracted persons, we all leapt into the sea, and, being good swimmers,
cooled our parched bodies, never considering that we might become a
ready prey to the sharks. But we presently returned to our boat, and
from being wearied with the exertion, and somewhat cooled by the sea,
lay down to sleep with as much security as if it had been in our beds.
It was fortunately of such short duration that the leaking of the boat
occasioned no danger.

Refreshed by sleep, we found new strength for our work, and tugged hard
at the oar, in hopes of reaching a more stable element before night. But
our progress was very slow. Towards evening an island was discovered,
which was Fromentere, having already seen Majorca; at least, some of our
company, who had navigated these seas, declared that it was so. We
debated long to which of the two our course should be directed; and,
because the last discovered was much infested with venomous serpents, we
all resolved to make for Majorca. The whole of that night we rowed very
hard, and also the next, being the sixth from our putting to sea. The
island was in sight all day, and about ten at night we came under the
land, but it consisted of rocks so steep and craggy that we could not
climb up.

Whilst under these rocks a vessel approached very near. Let the reader
conceive our apprehensions, after all our toil and labor, of being
seized by some Turkish privateer, such as are never off the seas. Thus
we were obliged to lie close; and, when the vessel had passed, we crept
gently along the coast, as near as we durst to the shore, until finding
a suitable place to receive our weather-beaten boat.

We were not insensible of our deliverance on reaching land; though, like
men just awakened from a dream, we could not duly appreciate the
greatness of it. Having had no food since we got the tortoise, John
Anthony and myself set out in search of fresh water, and three remained
with the boat. Before proceeding far, we found ourselves in a wood,
which created great embarrassment. My comrade wished to go one way, and
I wished to go another. How frail and impotent a being is man! That we,
whom common dangers by sea had united, should now fall out about our own
inclinations at land. Yet so we did. He gave me reproachful words; and
it is well that we did not come to blows, but I went my way, and he,
seeing me resolute, followed. The path led to one of those watchtowers
which the Spaniards keep on the coast to give timely notice of the
approach of privateers. Afraid of being fired on, we called to the
sentinel, informing him who we were, and earnestly requesting him to
direct us to fresh water, and to give us some bread. He very kindly
threw down an old mouldy cake, and directed us to a well close at hand.
We drank a little water, and ate a bit of the cake, which we had
difficulty in swallowing, and then hastened to return to our companions
in the boat, to acquaint them with our success.

Though now necessary to leave the boat, we did not do it without regret;
but this was lulled by the importunate cravings of hunger and thirst;
therefore, making her fast ashore, we departed. Advancing, or rather
crawling towards the well, another quarrel rose amongst us, the
remembrance of which is so ungrateful that I shall bury it in silence,
the best tomb for controversies. One of our company, William Adams, in
attempting to drink, was unable to swallow the water, and sunk to the
ground, faintly exclaiming, "I am a dead man!" After much straining and
forcing, he, at length, got a little over; and when we were all
refreshed with the cake and water, we lay down by the side of the well
to wait for morning.