We hoisted the
flag that sees an enemy in every other flag, and for three years the
Storm scourged these seas from Cape Horn to Sands' Head. When ships,
sent in pursuit of us, were searching along the west coast, we were
making war on commerce on the coast of China. We had a name for every
sea we entered, so as to make our pursuers think there was more than one
vessel, and so divide their attention.
"Yes, for three years we scourged these seas, and made war on land as
well as sea--capturing, plundering, murdering--yes, committing crimes
that shame manhood, and make me fear the vengeance of a just God. And
all for gold, gold, gold. And what good can gold do a man with a
conscience haunted by crimes committed in getting it? Gold can do me no
good; but man is a mean animal at best; and you can so teach him in
crime that he will commit the most revolting out of sheer wantonness.
"We soon had more gold and jewels than we knew what to do with. Some of
our men left us and went home with enough to make them rich for the rest
of their lives.
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