CHAPTER XV.
Attacked by a second privateer—Out-houses-fired—Breech in the wall—Wounded—Surrender—Carried off to the vessel—Expostulation with Captain—Ransom—Peter left as a hostage.
With a constant apprehension of attack before us, we lived on the "qui vive" from the first day of June, 1704, until the eighth day of October, 1708, when, with all our precautions, we were actually taken by surprise.
A company of soldiers was quartered among the Irish in the Half Barony, and the Captain, who commanded them, lodged and boarded at my house, but unfortunately, both he and the Lieutenant happened to be absent at that time, they had gone to Bantry, and the Ensign was left in command of the company. He was an imprudent inexperienced youth, without any sort of judgment.
A French privateer entered the harbor during the night, and anchored off Bear Haven, about five miles from my house, and entirely out of our sight. She hoisted English colors by way of deception, and she succeeded to her wish, for the Ensign no sooner discovered her, than, concluding she was a vessel just arrived from America, he went down with two or three soldiers of his company, in great haste to be the first to board her, in order to regale himself with rum punch, a beverage of which he was unhappily much too fond. He was made a
