e) I was in disfavour, did so
pursue me with her Animosity as to prejudice one Sea Captain after
another against me; and it was long ere any would consent to treat with
me, even as a Passenger. To those of my own nation did she in particular
speak against me with such virulence, that in sheer despite I abandoned
for the time my intention of going to England, and determined upon
making for some other part of Europe, where I might push my fortune. And
there being in port early in the winter a Holland ship, named the
_Gebrueder_, which was bound for Ostend, I struck a bargain with the
skipper of her, a decent man, whose name was Van Ganderdrom, and
prepared to leave the colony in which I had passed over four years of my
Eventful Life. Some friends who took an interest in me,--the "bright
English lad," as they called me,--and who thought I had been treated by
Maum Buckey with some unnecessary degree of Harshness, made up a purse
of money for me, by which I was enabled to pay my Passage Money in
advance, and lay in a stock of Provisions for the voyage; for, save in
the way of Schnapps, Cheeses, and Herrings, the Holland ships were at
that time but indifferently well Found. When every thing was paid, I
found that I had indeed but a very small Surplus remaining; but there
was no other way, and I bade adieu to the island of Jamaica, as I
thought, for ever.

FOOTNOTES:

[C] Vide Stedman's _Surinam_.

[D] _Dean of Myddelton's_ Evidence, Clarkson's Committee.

CHAPTER THE THIRD.

OF WHAT BEFEL ME IN THE LOW COUNTRIES.

I LANDED, after a long and tedious voyage, at the town of Ostend, it
being the Spring time of the year 1729, with Youth, Health, a strong
Frame, and a comely Countenance (as they told me), indeed, but with just
two Guineas in my pouch for all my Fortune. Many a Lord Mayor of London
has begun the World, 'tis said, with a yet more slender Provision (I
wonder what Harpy Hopwood had to begin with?) and Eighteenpence would
seem to be the average of Capital Stock for an Adventurer that is to
heap up Riches. Still I seemed to have made my Start in Life's Voyage a
great many times, and to have been very near ending with it more than
once--witness the Aylesbury Assizes. Thus I felt rather Despondency
than Hope at being come almost to manhood, and but to a beggarly Estate
of Two-and-forty shillings. "But," said I, "courage, Jack Dangerous;
thou hast strong legs and a valorous Stomach; at least thou ne