men at last. But while they were discoursing, the Captain, his mate and
the rest entered, and knocked down the second mate and carpenter,
secured those that were upon the deck, by putting them under hatches,
while the other boat's crew entered and secured the forecastle; they
then broke into the round-house, where the mate after some resistance,
shot the pirate captain through the head, upon which all the rest
yielded themselves prisoners. And thus the ship being recovered, the
joyful signal was fired, which I heard with the greatest joy imaginable:
nor was it long before he brought the ship to an anchor at the creek's
mouth, where, coming to me unawares, _There_, says he _my dearest friend
and deliverer, there is your ship, and we are your servants_: a comfort
so unspeakable, as made me swoon in his arms while, with gratitude to
Heaven, we were tenderly embracing each other.

Nothing now remaining, but to consult what we should do with the
prisoners, whom he thought it was not safe to take on board. Hereupon
concerting with the Captain, I dressed myself in one of his suits, and
sending for them, told them, that I was going to leave the island with
all my people, if they would tarry there, their lives should be spared;
if not, they should be hanged at the first port they came at. They
agreed to stay. Hereupon I told them my whole story, charging them to be
kind to the Spaniards that were expected, gave them, all my arms, and
informing them of every thing necessary for their subsistence, I and my
man Friday went on board. But the next morning two of the men came
swimming to the ship's side, desiring the Captain to take them on board,
though he hanged them afterwards, complaining mightily how barbarously
the others used them. Upon which I prevailed with the Captain to take
them in; and being severely whipt and pickled, they proved more honest
for the future, and so I bid farewell to this island, carrying along
with me my money, my parrot, umbrella, and goat-skin cap; setting sail
December 12, 1686, after twenty-eight years, two months, and nineteen
days residence, that same day and month that I escaped from Sallee;
landing in England, June 11, 1687, after five and thirty years absence
from my own country; which rendered me altogether a stranger there.

Here I found my first Captain's widow alive, who had buried a second
husband, but in very mean circumstances, and whom I made easy upon his
account. Soon after I went down