This was indeed an article which gave the Commodore much trouble
and disquietude, for they were above double the number of his own people,
and some of them, when they were brought on board the Centurion and had
observed how slenderly she was manned, and the large proportion which the
striplings bore to the rest, could not help expressing themselves with
great indignation to be thus beaten by a handful of boys.
THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PRISONERS.
The method which was taken to hinder them from rising was by placing all
but the officers and the wounded in the hold, where to give them as much
air as possible, two hatchways were left open; but then (to avoid all
danger whilst the Centurion's people should be employed upon the deck)
there was a square partition of thick planks, made in the shape of a
funnel, which enclosed each hatchway on the lower deck and reached to
that directly over it on the upper deck. These funnels served to
communicate the air to the hold better than could have been done without
them, and at the same time added greatly to the security of the ship, for
they being seven or eight feet high, it would have been extremely
difficult for the Spaniards to have clambered up, and, still to augment
that difficulty, four swivel-guns loaded with musket bullets were planted
at the mouth of each funnel, and a sentinel with lighted match constantly
attended, prepared to fire into the hold amongst them in case of any
disturbance. Their officers, who amounted to seventeen or eighteen, were
all lodged in the first lieutenant's cabin, under a constant guard of six
men, and the General, as he was wounded, lay in the Commodore's cabin
with a sentinel always with him, and they were all informed that any
violence or disturbance would be punished with instant death; and that
the Centurion's people might be at all times prepared, if notwithstanding
these regulations any tumult should arise, the small arms were constantly
kept loaded in a proper place, whilst all the men went armed with
cutlasses and pistols, and no officer ever pulled off his clothes, and
when he slept had always his arms lying ready by him.
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