Captain of the ship; nay, you must turn out, for this is my
cabin, and I am bound for _Madagascar_, to make my own fortune as well
as my companions."

The Captain, being more terrified than ever, did not know what to say,
which _Avery_ perceiving, bid him take heart. "For," saith he, "if you
will join me and these brave fellows, my companions, in time you may
get some post under me. If not, step into the longboat and get about
your business."

This the Captain was glad to hear, but yet began to expostulate with
them upon the injustice of such doings. Saith _Avery_: "What do I
care? Every man for himself. Come, come, Captain, if you will go, get
you gone; the longboat waits for you, and if there be any more cowards
in the ship, you may all go together." Which words so affrighted the
whole crew, that there was not above nine or ten of them that durst
venture, who made the best of their way to the shore as fast as they
could, and thought they were well off.

The Captain was no sooner gone, but they called a Council, which
agreed to own _Avery_ as their Captain; which he accepted of with all
humility imaginable, seeming to excuse himself on account of his
inexperience at sea. But he did it so artfully that it more confirmed
them in the good opinion of their choice. "Gentlemen," said he, "what
we have done we must live or die by; let us all be hearty and of one
mind, and I don't question but we shall make our fortune in a little
time. I propose that we sail first to _Madagascar_, where we may
settle a correspondence, in order to secure our retreats, whenever we
think fit to lie by."

To which they all agreed, "Nemine contradicente."

"But hold," saith _Avery_; "it is necessary that we make some order
among us, for the better governing of the ship's crew." Which were in
a few days drawn up by the clerk of the ship.

And _Avery_ promising them vast things, they all came into them at
last, although some things went very much against the grain of many of
them.

It took up all their spare time till they arrived at _Madagascar_,
where they saw a Ship lying at the N.E. part of the Island, with which
the men had run away from _New England_; and seeing _Avery_, they
supposed that he had been sent after them to take them, but _Avery_
soon undeceived them, and promised them protection; therefore they
resolved to sail together. In the whole company, there was not above
ten that pretended to any skill in navigation; for _Avery_