When the Governor heard this astonishing tale, it was almost impossible for him to believe it.  The good news of the death of L’Olonnois had come from Campeachy to Havana, and the people of the latter town also rejoiced greatly.  To be now told that this scourge of the West Indies was alive, and was about to fall upon a peaceful little village on the island over which he ruled, filled the Governor with rage as well as amazement, and he ordered a well-armed ship, with a large crew of fighting men, to sail immediately for de los Cayos, giving the captain express orders that he was not to come back until he had obliterated from the face of the earth the whole of the wretched gang with the exception of the leader.  This extraordinary villain was to be brought to Havana to be treated as the Governor should see fit.  In order that his commands should be executed promptly and effectually, the Governor sent a big negro slave in the ship, who was charged with the duty of hanging every one of the pirates except L’Olonnois.

By the time the war-vessel had arrived at de los Cayos, L’Olonnois had made his preparation to attack the place.  He had procured two large canoes, and in these he had intended to row up to the town and land with his men.  But now there was a change in the state of affairs, and he was obliged to alter his plans.  The ordinary person in command of two small boats, who should suddenly discover that a village which he supposed almost defenceless, was protected by a large man-of-war, with cannon and a well-armed crew, would have altered his plans so completely that he would have left that part of the coast of Cuba with all possible expedition.  But the pirates of that day seemed to pay very little attention to the element of odds; if they met an enemy who was weak, they would fall upon him, and if they met with one who was a good deal stronger than themselves, they would fall upon him all the same.  When the time came to fight they fought.

Of course L’Olonnois could not now row leisurely up to the town and begin to pillage it as he had intended, but no intention of giving up his project entered his mind.  As the Spanish vessel was in his way, he would attack her and get her out of his way if the thing could be done.

In this new state of affairs he was obliged to use stratagem, and he also needed a larger force than he had with him, and he therefore captured some men who were fishing along the coast and put them into his canoes to help work the oars.  Then by night he proceeded slowly in the direction of the Spanish vessel.  The man-of-war was anchored not very far from the town, and when about two o’clock in the morning the watch on deck saw some canoes approaching they supposed them to be boats from shore, for, as has been said, such vessels were continually plying about those shallow waters.  The canoes were hailed, and after having given an account of themselves they were asked if they knew anything about the pirate