Those of his crew who were taken alive, told a story which may appear a little incredible.  That once, upon a cruise, they found out that they had a man on board more than their crew; such a one was seen several days amongst them, sometimes below, and sometimes upon deck, yet no man in the ship could give any account who he was, or from whence he came; but that he disappeared a little before they were cast away in their great ship, and, it seems, they verily believed it was the devil.

One would think these things should have induced them to reform their lives; but being so many reprobates together, they encouraged and spirited one another up in their wickedness, to which a continual course of drinking did not a little contribute.  In Black Beard’s journal, which was taken, there were several memoranda of the following nature, all written with his own hand.—­“Such a day, rum all out;—­our company somewhat sober;—­a d—­d confusion amongst us!—­rogues a plotting;—­great talk of separation.  So I looked sharp for a prize;—­such a day took one, with a great deal of liquor on board; so kept the company hot, d—­d hot, then all things went well again.”

We shall close the narrative of this extraordinary man’s life by an account of the cause why he was denominated Black Beard.  He derived this name from his long black beard, which, like a frightful meteor, covered his whole face, and terrified all America more than any comet that had ever appeared.  He was accustomed to twist it with ribbon in small quantities, and turn them about his ears.  In time of action he wore a sling over his shoulders with three brace of pistols.  He stuck lighted matches under his hat, which appeared on both sides of his face and eyes, naturally fierce and wild, made him such a figure that the human imagination cannot form a conception of a fury more terrible and alarming; and if he had the appearance and look of a fury, his actions corresponded with that character.

THE EXPLOITS, ARREST, AND EXECUTION OF CAPTAIN CHARLES VANE.

Charles Vane was one of those who stole away the silver which the Spaniards had fished up from the wrecks of the galleons in the Gulf of Florida, and was at Providence when governor Rogers arrived there with two men-of-war.

All the pirates who were then found at this colony of rogues, submitted and received certificates of their pardon, except Captain Vane and his crew; who, as soon as they saw the men-of-war enter, slipped their cable, set fire to a prize they had in the harbor, sailed out with their piratical colors flying, and fired at one of the men-of-war, as they went off from the coast.

Two days after, they met with a sloop belonging to Barbadoes, which they took, and kept the vessel for their own use, putting aboard five and twenty hands, with one Yeates the commander.  In a day or two they fell in with a small interloping trader, with a quantity of Spanish pieces of eight aboard, bound for Providence, which they also took along with them.  With these two sloops, Vane went to a small island and cleaned; where he shared the booty, and spent some time in a riotous manner.