Page 116
An.1684
A narrow Escape of 12 Men.
returned aboard, met no one to oppose us, and the next day we expected our Consorts that we left a- shore, but none came; therefore at 4 a Clock in the afternoon, 10 men went in our Canoa to see what was become of them: When they came to the Bay where we landed, to go to the Estantion, they found our men all on a small Rock, half a mile from the shore, standing in the Water up to their waistes. These men had slept ashore in the house, and turned out betimes in the morning to pen the Cattle: 2 or 3 went one way, and as many another way to get the Cattle to the Pen, and others stood at the Pen to drive them in. When they were thus scatter d, about 40 or 50 armed Spaniards came in among them: Our men immediately call'd to each other, and drew together in a body before the Spa- niards: could attack them; and marched to their Boat, which was hal d up dry on the Sand. But when they came to the Sandy Bay, they found their Boat all in flames. This was a very unpleasing fight, for they knew not how to get aboard, unless they marched by land to the place where Captain Cook was buried, which was near a league. The greatest part of the way was thick Woods, where the Spani- ards might easily lay an Ambush for them, at which they are very expert. On the other side, the Spani- ards now thought them secure; and therefore came to them, and asked them if they would be pleased to walk to their Plantations, with many other such flouts; but our men answered never a word. It was about half ebb, when one of our men took no- tice of a Rock a good distance from the shore, just appearing above Water; he shew'd it to his Con- sorts, and told them it would be a good Castle for them if they could get thither. They all wisht themselves there; for the Spaniards, who lay as yet at a good distance from them behind the Bushes, as secure of their prey, began to whistle now and then a shot