In shallow water were lying the remains of a fine Jeddah ship that had been taken, with thirteen lakhs of treasure on board, by a pirate named Conden, who commanded a ship called the _Flying Dragon_.

Matthews at once began to transfer the guns and such commodities as were least damaged to his own ships.

A flag of truce had been first sent ashore to communicate with England and the other pirates, but it was found that they had fled inland.

A week later, a white man, accompanied by a well-armed guard of natives, made his appearance.

He told them that he was a Jamaica man named John Plantain, that he had been a pirate, but was tired of the trade, and had settled down on the spot.