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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com. It's late October 1823 off the coast of Puerto Rico.

32-year-old Roberto Kofresi squints against the early morning sunlight that streams across the deck of his ship.

Roberto is a pirate captain, and today he's hoping for another rich prize.

He snaps open his telescope, sweeping it in an arc to the west, but all he sees is the coastline of a nearby island.

He thinks for a moment, then hands the telescope to one of his men, and sends him up to the crow's nest for a better look.

Roberto has a hunch, a feeling that there's something out there, and over the years he's learned to listen to his gut.

It pays off again now. The man in the crow's nest calls down to the deck excitedly.

There's a sail just beyond the island. It looks like a merchant ship.

Roberto grins and barks out in order. His men spring into action, turning their vessel on a

course to intercept. As the ship picks up speed, Roberto marches to the prow. Eyes fixed on the horizon,

his hand drifts to the trusty cutlass strapped to his side.

With any luck, he won't have to use it. If the merchant sailors know what's good for them,

they won't put up a fight, but either way, Roberto will be taking their cargo.

The merchant's ship doesn't offer much resistance to Roberto Kofrezi and his band of pirates,

and the tobacco, tar, and U.S. currency notes it was carrying is soon nestled in the bowels of Roberto's ship.

This brazen attack is no isolated incident, though.

Roberto has a growing reputation as one of the most audacious

and dangerous pirates in the Caribbean. But like most pirates, Roberto's luck will prove fleeting,

and he will eventually be captured after a thrilling chase on March 5, 1825.

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