Buccaneers and Pirates of Our Coast
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Conditions and Terms of Use TABLE OF CONTENTS Copyright © Heritage History 2010 THE BOLD BUCCANEERS .............................................................. 3 Some rights reserved SOME MASTERS IN PIRACY .......................................................... 5 This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an PUPILS IN PIRACY ......................................................................... 8 organization dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history PETER THE GREAT ..................................................................... 10 books, and to the promotion of the works of traditional history authors. THE STORY OF A PEARL PIRATE................................................ 12 The books which Heritage History republishes are in the ADVENTURES OF BARTHOLEMY PORTUGUEZ .......................... 15 public domain and are no longer protected by the original copyright. THE PIRATE WHO COULD NOT SWIM ........................................ 18 They may therefore be reproduced within the United States without paying a royalty to the author. HOW BARTHOLEMY RESTED HIMSELF ..................................... 22 A PIRATE AUTHOR ..................................................................... 24 The text and pictures used to produce this version of the work, however, are the property of Heritage History and are subject to certain THE STORY OF ROC, THE BRAZILIAN ........................................ 26 restrictions. These restrictions are imposed for the purpose of protecting A BUCCANEER BOOM ................................................................. 32 the integrity of the work, for preventing plagiarism, and for helping to THE STORY OF L'OLONNOIS THE CRUEL .................................. 34 assure that compromised versions of the work are not widely A RESURRECTED PIRATE ........................................................... 36 disseminated. VILLANY ON A GRAND SCALE .................................................... 39 In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this A JUST REWARD ......................................................................... 42 text, a copyright by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date A PIRATE POTENTATE................................................................ 46 are included at the foot of every page of text. We require all electronic HOW MORGAN USED SOME RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ...................... 50 and printed versions of this text include these markings and that users adhere to the following restrictions. A PIRATICAL AFTERMATH ......................................................... 53 A TIGHT PLACE FOR MORGAN .................................................. 55 1. You may reproduce this text for personal or educational purposes as THE STORY OF A HIGH-MINDED PIRATE .................................. 59 long as the copyright and Heritage History version are included. EXIT BUCCANEER; ENTER PIRATE ............................................ 66 THE GREAT BLACKBEARD COMES UPON THE STAGE ............... 68 2. You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as A TRUE-HEARTED SAILOR DRAWS HIS SWORD ........................ 72 your own work. A GREENHORN UNDER THE BLACK FLAG ................................. 74 3. You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes. BONNET AGAIN TO THE FRONT ................................................. 76 THE BATTLE OF THE SAND BARS ............................................... 79 4. This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original A SIX WEEKS' PIRATE ............................................................... 83 document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have THE STORY OF TWO WOMEN PIRATES ..................................... 86 occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a perfectly reliable reproduction. A PIRATE FROM BOYHOOD ........................................................ 89 THE PIRATE OF THE GULF ......................................................... 94 Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for THE PIRATE OF THE BURIED TREASURE ................................... 99 commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of THE REAL CAPTAIN KIDD ........................................................ 106 traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] Original Copyright 1910 by Frank R. Stockton. 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2009 CHAPTER I my conscience to have a great deal more to do in the way of approval of my actions, than it had found necessary in the course of my ordinary school-boy life. THE BOLD BUCCANEERS I mention these early impressions because I have a When I was a boy I strongly desired to be a pirate, and notion that a great many people—and not only young people— the reason for this was the absolute independence of that sort have an idea of piracy not altogether different from that of my of life. Restrictions of all sorts had become onerous to me, and boyhood. They know that pirates are wicked men, that, in fact, in my reading of the adventures of the bold sea-rovers of the they are sea-robbers or maritime murderers, but their bold and main, I had unconsciously selected those portions of a pirate's adventurous method of life, their bravery, daring, and the life which were attractive to me, and had totally disregarded all exciting character of their expeditions, give them something of the rest. the same charm and interest which belong to the robber knights of the middle ages. The one mounts his mailed steed In fact, I had a great desire to become what might be and clanks his long sword against his iron stirrup, riding forth called a marine Robin Hood. I would take from the rich and into the world with a feeling that he can do anything that give to the poor; I would run my long, low, black craft by the pleases him, if he finds himself strong enough. The other side of the merchantman, and when I had loaded my vessel springs into his rakish craft, spreads his sails to the wind, and with the rich stuffs and golden ingots which composed her dashes over the sparkling main with a feeling that he can do cargo, I would sail away to some poor village, and make its anything he pleases, provided he be strong enough. inhabitants prosperous and happy for the rest of their lives by a judicious distribution of my booty. The first pirates who made themselves known in American waters were the famous buccaneers; these began I would always be as free as a sea-bird. My men would their career in a very commonplace and unobjectionable be devoted to me, and my word would be their law. I would manner, and the name by which they were known had decide for myself whether this or that proceeding would be originally no piratical significance. It was derived from the proper, generous, and worthy of my unlimited power; when French word boucanier, signifying "a drier of beef." tired of sailing, I would retire to my island,—the position of which, in a beautiful semi-tropic ocean, would be known only Some of the West India islands, especially San to myself and to my crew,—and there I would pass happy days Domingo, were almost overrun with wild cattle of various in the company of my books, my works of art, and all the kinds, and this was owing to the fact that the Spaniards had various treasures I had taken from the mercenary vessels killed off nearly all the natives, and so had left the interior of which I had overhauled. the islands to the herds of cattle which had increased rapidly. There were a few settlements on the seacoast, but the Such was my notion of a pirate's life. I would kill Spaniards did not allow the inhabitants of these to trade with nobody; the very sight of my black flag would be sufficient to any nation but their own, and consequently the people were put an end to all thought of resistance on the part of my badly supplied with the necessaries of life. victims, who would no more think of fighting me, than a fat bishop would have thought of lifting his hand against Robin But the trading vessels which sailed from Europe to Hood and his merry men; and I truly believe that I expected that part of the Caribbean Sea were manned by bold and daring sailors, and when they knew that San Domingo contained an abundance of beef cattle, they did not hesitate to stop at the was any chance of success, at first only upon the sea, but little seaports to replenish their stores. The natives of the island afterwards on land. The cruelty and ferocity of Spanish rule were skilled in the art of preparing beef by smoking and drying had brought them into existence, and it was against Spain and it,—very much in the same way in which our Indians prepare her possessions that the cruelty and ferocity which she had "jerked meat" for winter use. taught them were now directed. But so many vessels came to San Domingo for beef When the buccaneers had begun to understand each that there were not enough people on the island to do all the other and to effect organizations among themselves, they hunting and drying that was necessary, so these trading vessels adopted a general name,—"The Brethren of the Coast." The frequently anchored in some quiet cove, and the crews went on outside world, especially the Spanish world, called them shore and devoted themselves to securing a cargo of beef,— pirates, sea-robbers, buccaneers,—any title which would not only enough for their own use, but for trading purposes;