But my thoughts were a little suspended when I had a serious discourse with Olegario, and when I understood there were sixteen more of his countrymen and Portuguese, who, having been cast away, lived there at peace with the savages but were very sore put to it for necessaries and indeed for life.
I asked him all the particulars of their voyage and found they were a Spanish ship, bound from the Rio de la Plata to the Havana, being directed to leave their loading there and to bring back what European goods they could meet with there. They had five Portuguese seamen on board, whom they took out of another wreck. Five of their own men were drown'd when first the ship was lost, and these escaped through infinite dangers and hazards and arrived on the cannibal coast, where they expected to have been devour'd every moment. He told me they had some arms with them, but they were useless for they had neither powder nor ball.
I asked him what he thought would become of them there and if they had formed any design of making their escape. Olegario said they had many consultations about it, but having neither vessel, nor tools to build one, nor provisions of any kind, their councils always ended in tears and despair. I asked him how he thought they would receive a proposal from me which might tend towards an escape, and whether it might not be done. I feared mostly their treachery and ill usage of me if I put my life in their hands. Many is the sailor who would see a man of the beast, as myself, as less than a man and worth no debt or promise, or that they could be even more than hostile to me. Gratitude was no inherent virtue, nor did men always square their dealings by the obligations they had received so much as they did by the advantages they expected. These were my thoughts, altho' I did not explain them all to Olegario at this time. I told him it would be very hard that I should be the instrument of their deliverance and they should afterwards make me their prisoner in New Spain. I had rather be deliver'd up to the savages and be devoured alive than fall into the merciless claws of the priests and be carry’d into the Inquisition.
I added, that otherwise I was persuaded, if they were all here, we might with so many hands build a bark large enough to carry us all away, either to the Brasils, to the islands, or Spanish coast. But if they should carry me by force among their own people, I might be ill used for my kindness to them and make my case worse than it was before.
He answer'd, with a great deal of candour and ingenuousness, their condition was so miserable, and they were so sensible of it, he believed they would abhor the thought of using any man unkindly that should contribute to their deliverance. If I pleased, he would go to them with the old man (for the other savages might be displeased if he return'd alone) and discourse with them about it and return again and bring me their answer. He would make conditions with them upon their solemn oath that they should be absolutely under my leading, as their commander and captain. They should swear upon the holy sacraments and gospel to be true to me, and to be directed wholly and absolutely by my orders till they were landed in such country as I intended. He would bring a contract from them for that purpose. Then he told me he would first swear to me himself that he would never stir from me as long as he lived till I gave him orders. He would take my side to the last drop of his blood if there should happen the least breach of faith among his countrymen. He told me they were all of them very civil, honest men, and they were under the greatest distress imaginable, having neither weapons or cloathes, nor any food, but at the mercy and discretion of the savages. He was sure if I would undertake their relief they would live and die by me.
Upon these assurances, I resolv’d to relieve them, if possible, and to send the old savage and Olegario over to them to treat. But when we had got all things in readiness to go, Olegario himself started an objection, which had so much prudence in it on one hand, and so much sincerity on the other hand, I could not but be very well satisfy’d in it.