The Anne and Martha bore up, in company, as soon as these arrangements were completed, it being the plan now to go and look for the strangers.  Once in view, the governor determined not to lose sight of the pirates, again, but to remain so near them, as to make sure of knowing what they were about, In such cases, a close look-out should always be kept on the enemy, since an advantage in time is gained by so doing, as well as a great deal of uncertainty and indecision avoided.

For seven hours the Anne and Martha stood towards Rancocus Island, running off about two leagues from each other, thereby ’spreading a clew,’ as sailors call it, that would command the view of a good bit of water.  The tops of the mountains were soon seen, and by the end of the time mentioned, most of the lower land became visible.  Nevertheless, the strangers did not come in sight.  Greatly at a loss how to proceed, the governor now sent the Martha down for information, with orders for her to beat up to the Needle, as soon as she could, the Anne intending to rendezvous there, next morning, agreeably to previous arrangements.  As the Martha went off before the wind, the Anne hauled up sharp towards the Peak, under the impression that something might have been seen of the strangers from the high land there.  About four in the morning the Anne went into the cove, and the governor ascended to the plain to have an interview with Heaton.  He found everything tranquil in that quarter.  Nothing had been seen of the strange squadron, since it went out of sight, under the volcano; nor had even the Neshamony come in.  The governor’s arrival was soon known, early as it was, and he had visits from half the women on the island, to inquire after their absent husbands.  Each wife was told all the governor knew, and this short intercourse relieved the minds of a great many.

At eight, the Anne sailed again, and at ten she had the Needle in sight, with three boats off it, on the look-out.  Here, then, were tidings at last; but, the impatience of the governor was restrained, in order to make out the character of a sail that had been seen coming down through the straits, under a cloud of canvas.  In a short time, this vessel was made out to be the Abraham, and the Anne hauled up to get her news.  The two schooners spoke each other about twelve o’clock, but the Abraham had no intelligence to impart.  She had been sent, or rather carried by Bigelow, out by the eastern passage, and had stood along the whole of the weather-side of the group, to give notice to the whalers where to go; and she had notified the two brigs to go in to-windward, and to remain in Weather Bay, where all the rest of the dull crafts had been taken for safety; and then had come to-leeward to look for the governor.  As the Abraham was barely a respectable sailer, it was not deemed prudent to take her too near the strangers; but, she might see how matters were situated to the eastward.  By keeping on the weather-coast, and