door, and fastening the door, shut us both in, which he
did. The lady was young, and, I suppose, in their country esteem, very
handsome, but she was not very much so in my thoughts. At first, her
fright, and the danger she thought she was in of being killed, taught
her to do everything that she thought might interpose between her and
danger, and that was to take off her jewels as fast as she could, and
give them to me; and I, without any great compliment, took them as fast
as she gave them me, and put them into my pocket, taking no great notice
of them or of her, which frighted her worse than all the rest, and she
said something which I could not understand. However, two of the other
ladies came, all crying, and kneeled down to me with their hands lifted
up. What they meant, I knew not at first; but by their gestures and
pointings I found at last it was to beg the young queen's life, and that
I would not kill her.

When the three ladies kneeled down to me, and as soon as I understood
what it was for, I let them know I would not hurt the queen, nor let
any one else hurt her, but that she must give me all her jewels and
money. Upon this they acquainted her that I would save her life; and no
sooner had they assured her of that but she got up smiling, and went to
a fine Indian cabinet, and opened a private drawer, from whence she took
another little thing full of little square drawers and holes. This she
brings to me in her hand, and offered to kneel down to give it me. This
innocent usage began to rouse some good-nature in me (though I never had
much), and I would not let her kneel; but sitting down myself on the
side of her couch or bed, made a motion to her to sit down too. But here
she was frightened again, it seems, at what I had no thought of. But as
I did not offer anything of that kind, only made her sit down by me,
they began all to be easier after some time, and she gave me the little
box or casket, I know not what to call it, but it was full of invaluable
jewels. I have them still in my keeping, and wish they were safe in
England; for I doubt not but some of them are fit to be placed on the
king's crown.

Being master of this treasure, I was very willing to be good-humored to
the persons; so I went out of the cabin, and caused the women to be left
alone, causing the guard to be kept still, that they might receive no
more injury than I would do them myself.

After I had been out of the cabin some time, a slave