off with his ships without paying the usual parting compliment of a salute to his colleague, Middleton was greatly incensed at this conduct, and though he tried to put the best face on the situation he soon came to realize that the attempt to extract further monetary advantage out of the misfortunes of the past was illusory. With a heavy heart, he, about the middle of August, ordered his ships to follow in the wake of the Hector and the Clove to Bantam.
On arrival at Teco in Sumatra, Middleton heard of the safe arrival home of Captain David Middleton and his fleet of the eighth voyage, that of the four ships of the ninth voyage two had already reached Bantam, and that news had been received of the advent of fifteen Dutch ships as well as two vessels from France, The information was received with a feeling of depression by Middleton and his associates, reflecting as it did the failure of their own, "tried, crost and decayed voyage,"
When the Trade's Increase and her consorts reached Bantam the vessels were found to be in such a decayed condition, owing to their long and arduous service, that an extensive refitting was imperatively necessary. Having deliberated upon the position, Middleton decided to load the Peppercorn, after a partial overhaul, with spice and dispatch her to England with Downton, and to send the Darling to Patani, on the north-east coast of the Malay Peninsula. The Trade's Increase, it was discovered, could not be again used without extensive repairs, which would occupy several months. The Peppercorn's fortunes have already been traced in an earlier chapter. It may now be stated that an im toward end was reached by both the other vessels. The Darling, on arrival at Patani, was found to be too unseaworthy for further use and was broken up.
