Sometimeafterthis, theboatwasorderedonshore, thetidebeingup, withthethingspromisedtothemen; towhichthecaptain, atmyintercession, causedtheirchestsandclothestobeadded, whichtheytook, andwereverythankfulfor. I alsoencouragedthem, bytellingthemthatifitlayinmypowertosendanyvesseltotakethemin, I wouldnotforgetthem.
2
When I tookleaveofthisisland, I carriedonboard, forrelics, thegreatgoat-skincap I hadmade, myumbrella, andoneofmyparrots; also, I forgotnottotakethemoney I formerlymentioned, whichhadlainbymesolonguselessthatitwasgrownrustyortarnished, andcouldhardlypassforsilvertillithadbeen a littlerubbedandhandled, asalsothemoney I foundinthewreckoftheSpanishship. Andthus I lefttheisland, the 19thofDecember, as I foundbytheship’s account, intheyear 1686, after I hadbeenuponiteight-and-twentyyears, twomonths, andnineteendays; beingdeliveredfromthissecondcaptivitythesamedayofthemonththat I firstmademyescapeinthelong-boatfromamongtheMoorsofSallee. Inthisvessel, after a longvoyage, I arrivedinEnglandthe 11thofJune, intheyear 1687, havingbeenthirty-fiveyearsabsent.
3
When I cametoEngland I wasasperfect a strangertoalltheworldasif I hadneverbeenknownthere. Mybenefactorandfaithfulsteward, whom I hadleftmymoneyintrustwith, wasalive, buthadhadgreatmisfortunesintheworld; wasbecome a widowthesecondtime, andverylowintheworld. I madeherveryeasyastowhatsheowedme, assuringher I wouldgivehernotrouble; but, onthecontrary, ingratitudeforherformercareandfaithfulnesstome, I relievedherasmylittlestockwouldafford; whichatthattimewould, indeed, allowmetodobutlittleforher; but I assuredher I wouldneverforgetherformerkindnesstome; nordid I forgetherwhen I hadsufficienttohelpher, asshallbeobservedinitsproperplace. I wentdownafterwardsintoYorkshire; butmyfatherwasdead, andmymotherandallthefamilyextinct, exceptthat I foundtwosisters, andtwoofthechildrenofoneofmybrothers; andas I hadbeenlongagogivenoverfordead, therehadbeennoprovisionmadeforme; sothat, in a word, I foundnothingtorelieveorassistme; andthatthelittlemoney I hadwouldnotdomuchformeastosettlingintheworld.
4
I metwithonepieceofgratitudeindeed, which I didnotexpect; andthiswas, thatthemasteroftheship, whom I hadsohappilydelivered, andbythesamemeanssavedtheshipandcargo, havinggiven a veryhandsomeaccounttotheownersofthemannerhow I hadsavedthelivesofthemenandtheship, theyinvitedmetomeetthemandsomeothermerchantsconcerned, andalltogethermademe a veryhandsomecomplimentuponthesubject, and a presentofalmost £200 sterling.
5
Butaftermakingseveralreflectionsuponthecircumstancesofmylife, andhowlittlewaythiswouldgotowardssettlingmeintheworld, I resolvedtogotoLisbon, andseeif I mightnotcomeatsomeinformationofthestateofmyplantationintheBrazils, andofwhatwasbecomeofmypartner, who, I hadreasontosuppose, hadsomeyearspastgivenmeoverfordead. Withthisview I tookshippingforLisbon, where I arrivedinAprilfollowing, mymanFridayaccompanyingmeveryhonestlyinalltheseramblings, andproving a mostfaithfulservantuponalloccasions. When I cametoLisbon, I foundout, byinquiry, andtomyparticularsatisfaction, myoldfriend, thecaptainoftheshipwhofirsttookmeupatseaofftheshoreofAfrica. Hewasnowgrownold, andhadleftoffgoingtosea, havingputhisson, whowasfarfrom a youngman, intohisship, andwhostillusedtheBraziltrade. Theoldmandidnotknowme, andindeed I hardlyknewhim. But I soonbroughthimtomyremembrance, andassoonbroughtmyselftohisremembrance, when I toldhimwho I was.
6
Aftersomepassionateexpressionsoftheoldacquaintancebetweenus, I inquired, youmaybesure, aftermyplantationandmypartner. TheoldmantoldmehehadnotbeenintheBrazilsforaboutnineyears; butthathecouldassuremethatwhenhecameawaymypartnerwasliving, butthetrusteeswhom I hadjoinedwithhimtotakecognisanceofmypartwerebothdead: that, however, hebelieved I wouldhave a verygoodaccountoftheimprovementoftheplantation; forthat, uponthegeneralbeliefofmybeingcastawayanddrowned, mytrusteeshadgivenintheaccountoftheproduceofmypartoftheplantationtotheprocurator-fiscal, whohadappropriatedit, incase I nevercametoclaimit, one-thirdtotheking, andtwo-thirdstothemonasteryofSt. Augustine, tobeexpendedforthebenefitofthepoor, andfortheconversionoftheIndianstotheCatholicfaith: butthat, if I appeared, oranyoneforme, toclaimtheinheritance, itwouldberestored; onlythattheimprovement, orannualproduction, beingdistributedtocharitableuses, couldnotberestored: butheassuredmethatthestewardoftheking’s revenuefromlands, andtheprovidore, orstewardofthemonastery, hadtakengreatcareallalongthattheincumbent, thatistosaymypartner, gaveeveryyear a faithfulaccountoftheproduce, ofwhichtheyhaddulyreceivedmymoiety. I askedhimifheknewtowhatheightofimprovementhehadbroughttheplantation, andwhetherhethoughtitmightbeworthlookingafter; orwhether, onmygoingthither, I shouldmeetwithanyobstructiontomypossessingmyjustrightinthemoiety. Hetoldmehecouldnottellexactlytowhatdegreetheplantationwasimproved; butthisheknew, thatmypartnerwasgrownexceedingrichupontheenjoyinghispartofit; andthat, tothebestofhisremembrance, hehadheardthattheking’s thirdofmypart, whichwas, itseems, grantedawaytosomeothermonasteryorreligioushouse, amountedtoabovetwohundredmoidores a year: thatastomybeingrestoredto a quietpossessionofit, therewasnoquestiontobemadeofthat, mypartnerbeingalivetowitnessmytitle, andmynamebeingalsoenrolledintheregisterofthecountry; alsohetoldmethatthesurvivorsofmytwotrusteeswereveryfair, honestpeople, andverywealthy; andhebelieved I wouldnotonlyhavetheirassistanceforputtingmeinpossession, butwouldfind a veryconsiderablesumofmoneyintheirhandsformyaccount, beingtheproduceofthefarmwhiletheirfathersheldthetrust, andbeforeitwasgivenup, asabove; which, asheremembered, wasforabouttwelveyears.
7
I showedmyself a littleconcernedanduneasyatthisaccount, andinquiredoftheoldcaptainhowitcametopassthatthetrusteesshouldthusdisposeofmyeffects, whenheknewthat I hadmademywill, andhadmadehim, thePortuguesecaptain, myuniversalheir, &c.
8
Hetoldmethatwastrue; butthatastherewasnoproofofmybeingdead, hecouldnotactasexecutoruntilsomecertainaccountshouldcomeofmydeath; and, besides, hewasnotwillingtointermeddlewith a thingsoremote: thatitwastruehehadregisteredmywill, andputinhisclaim; andcouldhehavegivenanyaccountofmybeingdeadoralive, hewouldhaveactedbyprocuration, andtakenpossessionoftheingenio (sotheycallthesugar-house), andhavegivenhisson, whowasnowattheBrazils, orderstodoit. “But,” saystheoldman, “I haveonepieceofnewstotellyou, whichperhapsmaynotbesoacceptabletoyouastherest; andthatis, believingyouwerelost, andalltheworldbelievingsoalso, yourpartnerandtrusteesdidoffertoaccountwithme, inyourname, forthefirstsixoreightyears’ profits, which I received. Therebeingatthattimegreatdisbursementsforincreasingtheworks, buildinganingenio, andbuyingslaves, itdidnotamounttonearsomuchasafterwardsitproduced; however,” saystheoldman, “I shallgiveyou a trueaccountofwhat I havereceivedinall, andhow I havedisposedofit.”
9
After a fewdays’ furtherconferencewiththisancientfriend, hebroughtmeanaccountofthefirstsixyears’ incomeofmyplantation, signedbymypartnerandthemerchant-trustees, beingalwaysdeliveredingoods, viz. tobaccoinroll, andsugarinchests, besidesrum, molasses, &c., whichistheconsequenceof a sugar-work; and I foundbythisaccount, thateveryyeartheincomeconsiderablyincreased; but, asabove, thedisbursementsbeinglarge, thesumatfirstwassmall: however, theoldmanletmeseethathewasdebtortomefourhundredandseventymoidoresofgold, besidessixtychestsofsugarandfifteendoublerollsoftobacco, whichwerelostinhisship; hehavingbeenshipwreckedcominghometoLisbon, aboutelevenyearsaftermyhavingtheplace. Thegoodmanthenbegantocomplainofhismisfortunes, andhowhehadbeenobligedtomakeuseofmymoneytorecoverhislosses, andbuyhim a sharein a newship. “However, myoldfriend,” sayshe, “youshallnotwant a supplyinyournecessity; andassoonasmysonreturnsyoushallbefullysatisfied.” Uponthishepullsoutanoldpouch, andgivesmeonehundredandsixtyPortugalmoidoresingold; andgivingthewritingsofhistitletotheship, whichhissonwasgonetotheBrazilsin, ofwhichhewasquarter-partowner, andhissonanother, heputsthembothintomyhandsforsecurityoftherest.
10
I wastoomuchmovedwiththehonestyandkindnessofthepoormantobeabletobearthis; andrememberingwhathehaddoneforme, howhehadtakenmeupatsea, andhowgenerouslyhehadusedmeonalloccasions, andparticularlyhowsincere a friendhewasnowtome, I couldhardlyrefrainweepingatwhathehadsaidtome; therefore I askedhimifhiscircumstancesadmittedhimtosparesomuchmoneyatthattime, andifitwouldnotstraitenhim? Hetoldmehecouldnotsaybutitmightstraitenhim a little; but, however, itwasmymoney, and I mightwantitmorethanhe.
11
Everythingthegoodmansaidwasfullofaffection, and I couldhardlyrefrainfromtearswhilehespoke; inshort, I tookonehundredofthemoidores, andcalledfor a penandinktogivehim a receiptforthem: then I returnedhimtherest, andtoldhimifever I hadpossessionoftheplantation I wouldreturntheothertohimalso (as, indeed, I afterwardsdid); andthatastothebillofsaleofhispartinhisson’s ship, I wouldnottakeitbyanymeans; butthatif I wantedthemoney, I foundhewashonestenoughtopayme; andif I didnot, butcametoreceivewhathegavemereasontoexpect, I wouldneverhave a pennymorefromhim.
12
Whenthiswaspast, theoldmanaskedmeifheshouldputmeinto a methodtomakemyclaimtomyplantation. I toldhim I thoughttogoovertoitmyself. Hesaid I mightdosoif I pleased, butthatif I didnot, therewerewaysenoughtosecuremyright, andimmediatelytoappropriatetheprofitstomyuse: andastherewereshipsintheriverofLisbonjustreadytogoawaytoBrazil, hemademeentermynamein a publicregister, withhisaffidavit, affirming, uponoath, that I wasalive, andthat I wasthesamepersonwhotookupthelandfortheplantingthesaidplantationatfirst. Thisbeingregularlyattestedby a notary, and a procurationaffixed, hedirectedmetosendit, with a letterofhiswriting, to a merchantofhisacquaintanceattheplace; andthenproposedmystayingwithhimtillanaccountcameofthereturn.
13
Neverwasanythingmorehonourablethantheproceedingsuponthisprocuration; forinlessthansevenmonths I received a largepacketfromthesurvivorsofmytrustees, themerchants, forwhoseaccount I wenttosea, inwhichwerethefollowing, particularlettersandpapersenclosed:—
Therewas a letterofmypartner’s, congratulatingmeveryaffectionatelyuponmybeingalive, givingmeanaccounthowtheestatewasimproved, andwhatitproduced a year; withtheparticularsofthenumberofsquares, oracresthatitcontained, howplanted, howmanyslavestherewereuponit: andmakingtwo-and-twentycrossesforblessings, toldmehehadsaidsomanyAveMariastothanktheBlessedVirginthat I wasalive; invitingmeverypassionatelytocomeoverandtakepossessionofmyown, andinthemeantimetogivehimorderstowhomheshoulddelivermyeffectsif I didnotcomemyself; concludingwith a heartytenderofhisfriendship, andthatofhisfamily; andsentmeas a presentsevenfineleopards’ skins, whichhehad, itseems, receivedfromAfrica, bysomeothershipthathehadsentthither, andwhich, itseems, hadmade a bettervoyagethan I. Hesentmealsofivechestsofexcellentsweetmeats, and a hundredpiecesofgolduncoined, notquitesolargeasmoidores. Bythesamefleetmytwomerchant-trusteesshippedmeonethousandtwohundredchestsofsugar, eighthundredrollsoftobacco, andtherestofthewholeaccountingold.
18
I mightwellsaynow, indeed, thatthelatterendofJobwasbetterthanthebeginning. Itisimpossibletoexpresstheflutteringsofmyveryheartwhen I foundallmywealthaboutme; forastheBrazilshipscomeallinfleets, thesameshipswhichbroughtmylettersbroughtmygoods: andtheeffectsweresafeintheriverbeforetheletterscametomyhand. In a word, I turnedpale, andgrewsick; and, hadnottheoldmanrunandfetchedme a cordial, I believethesuddensurpriseofjoyhadoversetnature, and I haddieduponthespot: nay, afterthat I continuedveryill, andwassosomehours, till a physicianbeingsentfor, andsomethingoftherealcauseofmyillnessbeingknown, heorderedmetobeletblood; afterwhich I hadrelief, andgrewwell: but I verilybelieve, if I hadnotbeeneasedby a ventgiveninthatmannertothespirits, I shouldhavedied.
19
I wasnowmaster, allon a sudden, ofabovefivethousandpoundssterlinginmoney, andhadanestate, as I mightwellcallit, intheBrazils, ofabove a thousandpounds a year, assureasanestateoflandsinEngland: and, in a word, I wasin a conditionwhich I scarceknewhowtounderstand, orhowtocomposemyselffortheenjoymentofit. Thefirstthing I didwastorecompensemyoriginalbenefactor, mygoodoldcaptain, whohadbeenfirstcharitabletomeinmydistress, kindtomeinmybeginning, andhonesttomeattheend. I showedhimallthatwassenttome; I toldhimthat, nexttotheprovidenceofHeaven, whichdisposedallthings, itwasowingtohim; andthatitnowlayonmetorewardhim, which I woulddo a hundred-fold: so I firstreturnedtohimthehundredmoidores I hadreceivedofhim; then I sentfor a notary, andcausedhimtodrawup a generalreleaseordischargefromthefourhundredandseventymoidores, whichhehadacknowledgedheowedme, inthefullestandfirmestmannerpossible. Afterwhich I caused a procurationtobedrawn, empoweringhimtobethereceiveroftheannualprofitsofmyplantation: andappointingmypartnertoaccountwithhim, andmakethereturns, bytheusualfleets, tohiminmyname; andby a clauseintheend, made a grantofonehundredmoidores a yeartohimduringhislife, outoftheeffects, andfiftymoidores a yeartohissonafterhim, forhislife: andthus I requitedmyoldman.
20
I hadnowtoconsiderwhichwaytosteermycoursenext, andwhattodowiththeestatethatProvidencehadthusputintomyhands; and, indeed, I hadmorecareuponmyheadnowthan I hadinmystateoflifeintheislandwhere I wantednothingbutwhat I had, andhadnothingbutwhat I wanted; whereas I hadnow a greatchargeuponme, andmybusinesswashowtosecureit. I hadnot a cavenowtohidemymoneyin, or a placewhereitmightliewithoutlockorkey, tillitgrewmouldyandtarnishedbeforeanybodywouldmeddlewithit; onthecontrary, I knewnotwheretoputit, orwhomtotrustwithit. Myoldpatron, thecaptain, indeed, washonest, andthatwastheonlyrefuge I had. Inthenextplace, myinterestintheBrazilsseemedtosummonmethither; butnow I couldnottellhowtothinkofgoingthithertill I hadsettledmyaffairs, andleftmyeffectsinsomesafehandsbehindme. Atfirst I thoughtofmyoldfriendthewidow, who I knewwashonest, andwouldbejusttome; butthenshewasinyears, andbutpoor, and, foraught I knew, mightbeindebt: sothat, in a word, I hadnowaybuttogobacktoEnglandmyselfandtakemyeffectswithme.
21
Itwassomemonths, however, before I resolveduponthis; and, therefore, as I hadrewardedtheoldcaptainfully, andtohissatisfaction, whohadbeenmyformerbenefactor, so I begantothinkofthepoorwidow, whosehusbandhadbeenmyfirstbenefactor, andshe, whileitwasinherpower, myfaithfulstewardandinstructor. So, thefirstthing I did, I got a merchantinLisbontowritetohiscorrespondentinLondon, notonlytopay a bill, buttogofindherout, andcarryher, inmoney, a hundredpoundsfromme, andtotalkwithher, andcomfortherinherpoverty, bytellinghersheshould, if I lived, have a furthersupply: atthesametime I sentmytwosistersinthecountry a hundredpoundseach, theybeing, thoughnotinwant, yetnotinverygoodcircumstances; onehavingbeenmarriedandleft a widow; andtheotherhaving a husbandnotsokindtoherasheshouldbe. Butamongallmyrelationsoracquaintances I couldnotyetpitchupononetowhom I durstcommitthegrossofmystock, that I mightgoawaytotheBrazils, andleavethingssafebehindme; andthisgreatlyperplexedme.
22
I hadonce a mindtohavegonetotheBrazilsandhavesettledmyselfthere, for I was, asitwere, naturalisedtotheplace; but I hadsomelittlescrupleinmymindaboutreligion, whichinsensiblydrewmeback. However, itwasnotreligionthatkeptmefromgoingthereforthepresent; andas I hadmadenoscrupleofbeingopenlyofthereligionofthecountryallthewhile I wasamongthem, soneitherdid I yet; onlythat, nowandthen, havingoflatethoughtmoreofitthanformerly, when I begantothinkoflivinganddyingamongthem, I begantoregrethavingprofessedmyself a Papist, andthoughtitmightnotbethebestreligiontodiewith.
23
But, as I havesaid, thiswasnotthemainthingthatkeptmefromgoingtotheBrazils, butthatreally I didnotknowwithwhomtoleavemyeffectsbehindme; so I resolvedatlasttogotoEngland, where, if I arrived, I concludedthat I shouldmakesomeacquaintance, orfindsomerelations, thatwouldbefaithfultome; and, accordingly, I preparedtogotoEnglandwithallmywealth.
24
Inordertopreparethingsformygoinghome, I first (theBrazilfleetbeingjustgoingaway) resolvedtogiveanswerssuitabletothejustandfaithfulaccountofthings I hadfromthence; and, first, tothePriorofSt. Augustine I wrote a letterfullofthanksforhisjustdealings, andtheofferoftheeighthundredandseventy-twomoidoreswhichwereundisposedof, which I desiredmightbegiven, fivehundredtothemonastery, andthreehundredandseventy-twotothepoor, asthepriorshoulddirect; desiringthegoodpadre’s prayersforme, andthelike. I wrotenext a letterofthankstomytwotrustees, withalltheacknowledgmentthatsomuchjusticeandhonestycalledfor: asforsendingthemanypresent, theywerefarabovehavinganyoccasionofit. Lastly, I wrotetomypartner, acknowledginghisindustryintheimprovingtheplantation, andhisintegrityinincreasingthestockoftheworks; givinghiminstructionsforhisfuturegovernmentofmypart, accordingtothepowers I hadleftwithmyoldpatron, towhom I desiredhimtosendwhateverbecameduetome, tillheshouldhearfrommemoreparticularly; assuringhimthatitwasmyintentionnotonlytocometohim, buttosettlemyselftherefortheremainderofmylife. Tothis I added a veryhandsomepresentofsomeItaliansilksforhiswifeandtwodaughters, forsuchthecaptain’s soninformedmehehad; withtwopiecesoffineEnglishbroadcloth, thebest I couldgetinLisbon, fivepiecesofblackbaize, andsomeFlanderslaceof a goodvalue.
25
Havingthussettledmyaffairs, soldmycargo, andturnedallmyeffectsintogoodbillsofexchange, mynextdifficultywaswhichwaytogotoEngland: I hadbeenaccustomedenoughtothesea, andyet I had a strangeaversiontogotoEnglandbytheseaatthattime, andyet I couldgivenoreasonforit, yetthedifficultyincreaseduponmesomuch, thatthough I hadonceshippedmybaggageinordertogo, yet I alteredmymind, andthatnotoncebuttwoorthreetimes.
26
Itistrue I hadbeenveryunfortunatebysea, andthismightbeoneofthereasons; butletnomanslightthestrongimpulsesofhisownthoughtsincasesofsuchmoment: twooftheshipswhich I hadsingledouttogoin, I meanmoreparticularlysingledoutthananyother, havingputmythingsonboardoneofthem, andintheotherhavingagreedwiththecaptain; I saytwooftheseshipsmiscarried. OnewastakenbytheAlgerines, andtheotherwaslostontheStart, nearTorbay, andallthepeopledrownedexceptthree; sothatineitherofthosevessels I hadbeenmademiserable.
27
Havingbeenthusharassedinmythoughts, myoldpilot, towhom I communicatedeverything, pressedmeearnestlynottogobysea, buteithertogobylandtotheGroyne, andcrossovertheBayofBiscaytoRochelle, fromwhenceitwasbutaneasyandsafejourneybylandtoParis, andsotoCalaisandDover; ortogouptoMadrid, andsoallthewaybylandthroughFrance. In a word, I wassoprepossessedagainstmygoingbyseaatall, exceptfromCalaistoDover, that I resolvedtotravelallthewaybyland; which, as I wasnotinhaste, anddidnotvaluethecharge, wasbymuchthepleasanterway: andtomakeitmoreso, myoldcaptainbroughtanEnglishgentleman, thesonof a merchantinLisbon, whowaswillingtotravelwithme; afterwhichwepickeduptwomoreEnglishmerchantsalso, andtwoyoungPortuguesegentlemen, thelastgoingtoParisonly; sothatinallthereweresixofusandfiveservants; thetwomerchantsandthetwoPortuguese, contentingthemselveswithoneservantbetweentwo, tosavethecharge; andasforme, I gotanEnglishsailortotravelwithmeas a servant, besidesmymanFriday, whowastoomuch a strangertobecapableofsupplyingtheplaceof a servantontheroad.
28
Inthismanner I setoutfromLisbon; andourcompanybeingverywellmountedandarmed, wemade a littletroop, whereoftheydidmethehonourtocallmecaptain, aswellbecause I wastheoldestman, asbecause I hadtwoservants, and, indeed, wastheoriginofthewholejourney.
29
As I havetroubledyouwithnoneofmyseajournals, so I shalltroubleyounowwithnoneofmylandjournals; butsomeadventuresthathappenedtousinthistediousanddifficultjourney I mustnotomit.
WhenwecametoPampelunaitself, wefounditsoindeed; andtome, thathadbeenalwaysusedto a hotclimate, andtocountrieswhere I couldscarcebearanyclotheson, thecoldwasinsufferable; nor, indeed, wasitmorepainfulthansurprisingtocomebuttendaysbeforeoutofOldCastile, wheretheweatherwasnotonlywarmbutveryhot, andimmediatelytofeel a windfromthePyreneanMountainssoverykeen, soseverelycold, astobeintolerableandtoendangerbenumbingandperishingofourfingersandtoes.
32
PoorFridaywasreallyfrightenedwhenhesawthemountainsallcoveredwithsnow, andfeltcoldweather, whichhehadneverseenorfeltbeforeinhislife. Tomendthematter, whenwecametoPampelunaitcontinuedsnowingwithsomuchviolenceandsolong, thatthepeoplesaidwinterwascomebeforeitstime; andtheroads, whichweredifficultbefore, werenowquiteimpassable; for, in a word, thesnowlayinsomeplacestoothickforustotravel, andbeingnothardfrozen, asisthecaseinthenortherncountries, therewasnogoingwithoutbeingindangerofbeingburiedaliveeverystep. WestayednolessthantwentydaysatPampeluna; when (seeingthewintercomingon, andnolikelihoodofitsbeingbetter, foritwastheseverestwinteralloverEuropethathadbeenknowninthememoryofman) I proposedthatweshouldgoawaytoFontarabia, andtheretakeshippingforBordeaux, whichwas a verylittlevoyage. But, while I wasconsideringthis, therecameinfourFrenchgentlemen, who, havingbeenstoppedontheFrenchsideofthepasses, aswewereontheSpanish, hadfoundout a guide, who, traversingthecountryneartheheadofLanguedoc, hadbroughtthemoverthemountainsbysuchwaysthattheywerenotmuchincommodedwiththesnow; forwheretheymetwithsnowinanyquantity, theysaiditwasfrozenhardenoughtobearthemandtheirhorses. Wesentforthisguide, whotoldushewouldundertaketocarryusthesameway, withnohazardfromthesnow, providedwewerearmedsufficientlytoprotectourselvesfromwildbeasts; for, hesaid, inthesegreatsnowsitwasfrequentforsomewolvestoshowthemselvesatthefootofthemountains, beingmaderavenousforwantoffood, thegroundbeingcoveredwithsnow. Wetoldhimwewerewellenoughpreparedforsuchcreaturesastheywere, ifhewouldinsureusfrom a kindoftwo-leggedwolves, whichweweretoldwewereinmostdangerfrom, especiallyontheFrenchsideofthemountains. Hesatisfiedusthattherewasnodangerofthatkindinthewaythatweweretogo; sowereadilyagreedtofollowhim, asdidalsotwelveothergentlemenwiththeirservants, someFrench, someSpanish, who, as I said, hadattemptedtogo, andwereobligedtocomebackagain.
33
Accordingly, wesetoutfromPampelunawithourguideonthe 15thofNovember; andindeed I wassurprisedwhen, insteadofgoingforward, hecamedirectlybackwithusonthesameroadthatwecamefromMadrid, abouttwentymiles; when, havingpassedtworivers, andcomeintotheplaincountry, wefoundourselvesin a warmclimateagain, wherethecountrywaspleasant, andnosnowtobeseen; but, on a sudden, turningtohisleft, heapproachedthemountainsanotherway; andthoughitistruethehillsandprecipiceslookeddreadful, yethemadesomanytours, suchmeanders, andledusbysuchwindingways, thatweinsensiblypassedtheheightofthemountainswithoutbeingmuchencumberedwiththesnow; andallon a suddenheshowedusthepleasantandfruitfulprovincesofLanguedocandGascony, allgreenandflourishing, thoughat a greatdistance, andwehadsomeroughwaytopassstill.
34
Wewere a littleuneasy, however, whenwefounditsnowedonewholedayand a nightsofastthatwecouldnottravel; buthebidusbeeasy; weshouldsoonbepastitall: wefound, indeed, thatwebegantodescendeveryday, andtocomemorenorththanbefore; andso, dependinguponourguide, wewenton.
35
Itwasabouttwohoursbeforenightwhen, ourguidebeingsomethingbeforeus, andnotjustinsight, outrushedthreemonstrouswolves, andafterthem a bear, from a hollowwayadjoiningto a thickwood; twoofthewolvesmadeattheguide, andhadhebeenfarbeforeus, hewouldhavebeendevouredbeforewecouldhavehelpedhim; oneofthemfasteneduponhishorse, andtheotherattackedthemanwithsuchviolence, thathehadnottime, orpresenceofmindenough, todrawhispistol, buthallooedandcriedouttousmostlustily. MymanFridaybeingnextme, I badehimrideupandseewhatwasthematter. AssoonasFridaycameinsightoftheman, hehallooedoutasloudastheother, “O master! O master!” butlike a boldfellow, rodedirectlyuptothepoorman, andwithhispistolshotthewolfintheheadthatattackedhim.
36
ItwashappyforthepoormanthatitwasmymanFriday; for, havingbeenusedtosuchcreaturesinhiscountry, hehadnofearuponhim, butwentcloseuptohimandshothim; whereas, anyotherofuswouldhavefiredat a fartherdistance, andhaveperhapseithermissedthewolforendangeredshootingtheman.
37
Butitwasenoughtohaveterrified a boldermanthan I; and, indeed, italarmedallourcompany, when, withthenoiseofFriday’s pistol, weheardonbothsidesthemostdismalhowlingofwolves; andthenoise, redoubledbytheechoofthemountains, appearedtousasiftherehadbeen a prodigiousnumberofthem; andperhapstherewasnotsuch a fewasthatwehadnocauseofapprehension: however, asFridayhadkilledthiswolf, theotherthathadfasteneduponthehorselefthimimmediately, andfled, withoutdoinghimanydamage, havinghappilyfasteneduponhishead, wherethebossesofthebridlehadstuckinhisteeth. Butthemanwasmosthurt; fortheragingcreaturehadbithimtwice, onceinthearm, andtheothertime a littleabovehisknee; andthoughhehadmadesomedefence, hewasjusttumblingdownbythedisorderofhishorse, whenFridaycameupandshotthewolf.