This was at
once agreed to. Her colours were struck, and my own hoisted at the
mizzen. I then went on board to hold an enquiry, and decide what was to
be done, when I found that the ship had been stolen from a party of
Dutch navigators on a visit to this country. The object of stealing the
ship was for the purpose of conveying the settlers, who had been
marooned here for some years, to their homes. It was not difficult, in
the crowded state of the vessel, to find many who were prepared to
disclose the whole truth. Donna Isabel Barreto, who appeared to be a
queen among these people, then offered to make terms with me,
promising, if I would suffer her to continue the voyage, she would
send, as ransom, a large sum of money, of which she professed to have
command at Madrid; but, having some experience of Spanish promises, I
declined this offer, preferring to retain possession of the ship I had
captured, which appeared to be of good build and well found. I
undertook, however, to disembark Donna Isabel and her followers upon
the first land we sighted, which happened to be a desolate-looking
island by no means comparable with this fertile valley.
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