The horrible
black pennant was, in the present instance, nowhere to be seen; indeed,
why such an impolitic step as ever to have shown it at all was taken in
the first attack, I never could understand; for the force was too small
to have created any serious fear of being captured, (unless indeed it
had been taken for an advanced guard, supported by a stronger,) while it
must have appeared probable to Obediah, that the loss of the two boats
would in all likelihood lead to a more powerful attempt, when, if it
were successful, the damning fact of having fought under such an
infernal emblem must have ensured a pirate's death on the gibbet to
every soul who was taken, unless he had intended to have murdered all
the witnesses of it. But since proof in my person and the pilot's
existed, now, if ever, was the time for mortal resistance, and to have
hoisted it, for they knew that they all fought with halters about their
necks. They had all the Spanish flag flying except the Wave, which
showed American colours, and the felucca, which had a white flag
hoisted, from which last, whenever our gig appeared, a canoe shoved off,
and pulled towards us. The officer, if such he might be called, also
carried a white flag in his hand. He was a daring--looking fellow, and
dashed up along--side of me. The incomprehensible folly of trying at
this time of day to cloak the real character of the vessels, puzzled me,
and does so to this hour.
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