He agreed with me as to that, but told me he was perfectly at a loss what measures to take, for that there were still six-and-twenty hands on board, who, having entered into a cursed conspiracy, by which they had all forfeited their lives to the law, would be hardened in it now by desperation, and would carry it on, knowing that if they were subdued they would be brought to the gallows as soon as they came to England, or to any of the English colonies, and that, therefore, there would be no attacking them with so small a number as we were.
Il en convint avec moi, mais il m'avoua, qu'il ne savait vraiment quelles mesures prendre.--«Il y a encore à bord, dit-il, vingt-six hommes qui, ayant trempé dans une abominable conspiration, compromettant leur vie vis-à-vis de la loi, s'y opiniâtreront par désespoir et voudront pousser les choses à bout; car ils n'ignorent pas que s'ils étaient réduits ils seraient pendus en arrivant en Angleterre ou dans quelqu'une de ses colonies. Nous sommes en trop petit nombre pour nous permettre de les attaquer.»