The Naval History of the United States | Page 9

of the Colonies were directed.
Several cruisers were fitted out to rid the seas of these pests, but we
hear little of their success. But the name of one officer sent against the
pirates has become notorious as that of the worst villain of them all.
It was in January, 1665, that William III., King of England, issued "to
our true and well-beloved Capt. William Kidd, commander of the ship
'Adventure,'" a commission to proceed against "divers wicked persons
who commit many and great piracies, robberies, and depredations on
the seas." Kidd was a merchant of New York, and had commanded a
privateer during the last war with France. He was a man of great
courage, and, being provided with a stanch ship and brave crew, set out
with high hopes of winning great reputation and much prize money.
But fortune was against him. For months the "Adventure" ploughed the
blue waves of the ocean, yet not a sail appeared on the horizon. Once,
indeed, three ships were seen in the distance. The men of the
"Adventure" were overjoyed at the prospect of a rich prize. The ship
was prepared for action. The men, stripped to the waist, stood at their
quarters, talking of the coming battle. Kidd stood in the rigging with a
spy-glass, eagerly examining the distant vessels. But only
disappointment was in store; for, as the ships drew nearer, Kidd shut
his spy-glass with an oath, saying,--
"They are only three English men-o'-war."
Continued disappointment bred discontent and mutiny among the crew.
They had been enlisted with lavish promises of prize money, but saw

before them nothing but a profitless cruise. The spirit of discontent
spread rapidly. Three or four ships that were sighted proved to be
neither pirates nor French, and were therefore beyond the powers of
capture granted Kidd by the king. Kidd fought against the growing
piratical sentiment for a long time; but temptation at last overcame him,
and he yielded. Near the Straits of Babelmandeb, at the entrance to the
Red Sea, he landed a party, plundered the adjoining country for
provisions, and, turning his ship's prow toward the straits, mustered his
crew on deck, and thus addressed them:--
"We have been unsuccessful hitherto, my boys," he said, "but take
courage. Fortune is now about to smile upon us. The fleet of the 'Great
Mogul,' freighted with the richest treasures, is soon to come out of the
Red Sea. From the capture of those heavily laden ships, we will all
grow rich."
The crew, ready enough to become pirates, cheered lustily: and, turning
his back upon all hopes of an honorable career, Kidd set out in search
of the treasure fleet. After cruising for four days, the "Adventure" fell
in with the squadron, which proved to be under convoy of an English
and a Dutch man-of-war. The squadron was a large one, and the ships
greatly scattered. By skilful seamanship, Kidd dashed down upon an
outlying vessel, hoping to capture and plunder it before the convoying
men-of-war could come to its rescue. But his first shot attracted the
attention of the watchful guardians; and, though several miles away,
they packed on all sail, and bore down to the rescue with such spirit
that the disappointed pirate was forced to sheer off. Kidd was now
desperate. He had failed as a reputable privateer, and his first attempt at
piracy had failed. Thenceforward, he cast aside all scruples, and
captured large ships and small, tortured their crews, and for a time
seemed resolved to lead a piratical life. But there are evidences that at
times this strange man relented, and strove to return to the path of duty
and right. On one occasion, a Dutch ship crossed the path of the
"Adventure," and the crew clamorously demanded her capture. Kidd
firmly refused. A tumult arose. The captain drew his sabre and pistols,
and gathering about him those still faithful, addressed the mutineers,
saying,--

"You may take the boats and go. But those who thus leave this ship will
never ascend its sides again."
The mutineers murmured loudly. One man, a gunner, named William
Moore, stepped forward, saying,--
"You are ruining us all. You are keeping us in beggary and starvation.
But for your whims, we might all be prosperous and rich."
At this outspoken mutiny, Kidd flew into a passion. Seizing a heavy
bucket that stood near, he dealt Moore a terrible blow on the head. The
unhappy man fell to the deck with a fractured skull, and the other
mutineers sullenly yielded to the captain's will. Moore died the next
day; and months after, when Kidd, after roving the seas, and robbing
ships of every nationality, was brought to trial at London, it was for the
murder of William Moore that he was condemned to die.