682 ON BOARD THE “‘ CINQUE PORTS,”

project also fail, he would descend upon such wealthy towns of the Pacific
as might seem worth plundering, and afterwards lie in wait, like Anson at
a later period, for the great Acapulco galleon, whose rich cargo was esti-
mated at a value of thirteen or fourteen millions of pieces of eight.

He found some merchants willing to subscribe the money requisite for
fitting out two ships: the St. George, of twenty-six guns, on board of which
he hoisted his own flag; and the Fame, also of twenty-six, commanded by
Captain Pulling. And having obtained commissions from the Lord High
Admiral to act as privateers against the Queen’s enemies, they sailed on
their bold errand.

At the outset, however, a quarrel arose between Dampier and Pulling,
which led to the latter embarking on a venture of his own, and sailing for
the Canary Islands. To supply his place, the Cinque Ports galley, of sixteen
guns, and carrying sixty-three men, was equipped, with one Charles Picker-
ing as captain, and Alexander Selkirk as sailing-master.

On the 80th of April 1703, the St. George sailed from the Downs ; and on
the 18th of May anchored at Kinsale, where she was soon afterwards joined
by the Cinque Ports galley.

A variety of circumstances detained the two ships at Kinsale until the
11th of September. They then made for the island of Madeira, which they
reached on the 25th. Here they had the mortification to learn that the
Plata galleons had escaped them through their long delay, and arrived in
safety at Teneriffe. Dampier then resolved to abandon all idea of sailing
for the river La Plata, and to stand away for the Spanish Main, a favourite
scene of the operations of the buccaneers. On the 30th of September they
passed the islands of Palmas and Ferro; and on the 6th of October reached
Mayo, one of the Cape de Verde group, where they hoped to take in a
supply of salt, but were prevented by the state of the sea. On the 7th they
anchored in Port Praya, in the island of Santiago, where they refreshed
themselves with a brief sojourn on shore, and laid in a stock of fresh water.

On the 2nd of November the two ships crossed the line. Fever now
broke out among the crews, prostrating some of the ablest seamen ; and at
La Granda (latitude 30° north), where they put in for water and fuel,
Captain Pickering died, to the great loss of the expedition. His death
awoke in Selkirk’s mind a resolution to remain on some lonely island,
rather than serve under Stradling, who had succeeded to the command of
the Cingue Ports, and who seems to have been a man of arbitrary and violent
disposition. It was at this time, we are told, while brooding over the
untoward appearances that were but too evident to every person of judgment,
that he had a remarkable dream, in which he was forewarned of the total
failure of the expedition and shipwreck of the Cinque Ports, From this,
moment he determined upon leaving her as soon as a favourable opportunity
occurred.