ning. Rackam finding his Caſe deſperate, and hardly any Poſſibility of eſcaping, reſolved to attempt the following Enterprize: The Spaniſh Prize lying for better Security cloſe into the Land, between the little Iſland and the Main; Rackam takes his Crew into the Boat, with their Piſtols and Cutlaſhes, rounds the little Iſland, and falls aboard their Prize ſilently in the dead of the Night, without being diſcovered, telling the Spaniards that were aboard of her, that if they ſpoke a Word, or made the leaſt Noiſe, they were dead Men, and ſo became Maſter of her; when this was done, he ſlipt her Cable, and drove out to Sea: The Spaniſh Man of War, was ſo intent upon their expected Prize, that they minded nothing elſe, and aſſoon as Day broke, made a furious Fire upon the empty Sloop, but it was not long before they were rightly apprized of the Matter, and curſed themſelves for Fools, to be bit out of a good rich Prize, as ſhe prov’d to be, and to have nothing but an old crazy Hull in the room of her.
Rackam and his Crew had no Occaſion to be diſpleaſed at the Exchange, that enabled them to continue ſome Time longer in a Way of Life that ſuited their depraved Tempers: In Auguſt 1720, we find him at Sea again, ſcouring the Harbours and Inlets of the North and Weſt Parts of Jamaica, where he took ſeveral ſmall Craft, which proved no great Booty to the Rovers, but they had but few Men, and therefore they were obliged to run at low Game, till they could encreaſe their Company.
In the Beginning of September, they took ſeven or eight Fiſhing-Boats in Harbour Iſland, ſtole their Nets and other Tackle, and then went off the French Part of Hiſpaniola, and landed, and took Cattle away, with two or three French Men they found near the Water-Side, hunting of wild Hogs
