crament; and for his, part he would
not only do the same, but stand to the last drop of his blood should
there be occasion.

These solemn assurances made me resolve to grant them relief, and to
send these two over for that purpose; but when every thing was ready,
the Spaniard raised an objection, which carried a great deal of weight
in it: _You know, Sir, said he, that having been some time with you, I
cannot but be sensible of your stock of rice and corn, sufficient,
perhaps for us at present, but not for them, should they come over
presently; much less to victual a vessel for an intended voyage. Want
might be as great an occasion for them to disagree and rebel, as the
children of Israel did against God himself, when they wanted to break
bread in the wilderness. And therefore, my advice is to await another
harvest and in the mean time cultivate and improve more land, whereby we
may have plenty of provisions in order to execute our design_.

This advice of the Spaniard's I approved extremely; and so satisfied was
I of his fidelity that I esteemed him ever after. And thus we all four
went to work upon some more land, and against seed time we had gotten so
much cured and trimmed up sufficient to sow twenty-two bushels of barley
on, and sixteen jars of rice, which was in short all the feed we had to
spare. As we were four in number and by this time all in good health, we
feared not a hundred Indians should they venture to attack us; and while
the corn was growing, I pitched upon some trees, fit to build us a large
vessel in case the Spaniards came over; which being marked, I ordered
Friday and his father to cut them down, appointing the Spaniard, who was
now my privy counsellor, to oversee and direct the work. I likewise
increased my flocks of goats by shooting the wild dams and bringing home
their kids to my inclosure. Nor did I neglect the grape season, but
cured them as usual, though I had such a quantity now as would have
filled eighty barrels with raisins. And thus all of us being employed,
they in working, and I in providing for them till harvest came, God
Almighty blessed the increase of it so much, that from twenty-two
barrels of barley we thrashed out two hundred and twenty, and the like
quantity of rice; sufficient to victual a ship fit to carry me and all
the Spaniards to any part of America.

Thus the principal objection being answered, by a sufficient stock of
provisions, I sent my two ambassadors over to th