nd prevailed upon them to go back to the wreck, which when we came near
the second time, and signified our intention, we received an answer of
"Avast, avast--what ship, brother?" Being satisfied in this particular,
he cried, "D--n the ship, I was in hopes it had been my own--where are
you bound?" We satisfied his curiosity in this particular too; upon
which he suffered himself to be taken on board, and, after having been
comforted with a dram, told us, he belonged to the Vesuvio man-of-war,
upon a cruise off the island of Hispaniola; that he had fallen overboard
four-and-twenty hours ago, and the ship being under sail, they did not
choose to bring to, but tossed a hencoop overboard for his convenience,
upon which he was in good hopes of reaching the Cape next morning:
howsomever, he was as well content to be aboard of us because he did
not doubt that we should meet his ship, and if he had gone ashore in
the bay, he might have been taken prisoner by the French. My uncle
and father were very much diverted with the account of this fellow's
unconcerned behaviour; and in two days, meeting with the Vesuvio, as he
expected, sent him on board of her, according to his desire.

Having beat up successfully the windward passage, we stretched to the
northward, and falling in with a westerly wind, in eight weeks arrived
in the soundings, and in two days after made for the Lizard. It is
impossible to express the joy I felt at the sight of English ground! Don
Rodrigo was not unmoved, and Strap shed tears of gladness. The sailors
profited by our satisfaction, the shoe that was nailed to the mast being
quite filled with our liberality. My uncle resolved to run up into the
Downs at once, but the wind shifting when we were abreast of the Isle of
Wight, he was obliged to turn into St. Helen's, and come to Spithead,
to the great mortification of the crew, thirty of whom were immediately
pressed on board a man-of-war.

My father and I went ashore immediately at Portsmouth, leaving Strap
with the captain to go round with the ship and take care of our effects;
and I discovered so much impatience to see my charming Narcissa, that my
father permitted me to ride across the country to her brother's house;
while he should hire a post-chaise for London, where he would wait for
me at a place to which I directed him.

Fired with all the eagerness of passion, I took post that very night,
and in the morning reached an inn about three miles from the squi