Upon this I prepared to go on board the ship, but told Burke that Friday and I would stay that night to prepare my things. When the captain was gone, I sent for the men up to me to my apartment, and enter’d seriously into discourse with them on their circumstances. I told them I thought they had made a right choice, tho' a dangerous one. If the captain had carry’d them away, they would be hanged. I showed them the false captain hanging at the yard-arm of the ship and told them they had nothing less to expect.
When they had all declared their willingness to stay, I then told them I would let them into the story of my living there, and put them into the way of making it easy to them, or as easy as could be. Accordingly, I gave them the history of the place, and of my coming to it. I warn'd them of the dark church and the dream lord Kathooloo, and to be cautious of all thoughts in that place, and of the very nature of the island. Also I showed them my fortifications, the way I made my bread, planted my corn, cured my grapes. In a word, all that was necessary to make them survive for as long a time as they would. I told them also the story of the seventeen Spaniards that were to be expected, for whom I left a letter, and made them promise to treat them in common with themselves. Here it may be noted, Burke had ink on board, and was greatly surprised I never hit upon a way of making ink of charcoal and water, as I had done things much more difficult.
I left them my fire-arms and three swords. I had above a barrel and a half of powder left. I gave them a description of the way I managed the goats and directions to milk and fatten them, and to make both butter and cheese. I gave them every part of my own story, and told them I should prevail with Burke to leave them two barrels of gunpowder more and some garden seeds, which I told them I would have been very glad of. I gave them the bag of peas which the captain had brought me to eat and bade them be sure to sow and increase them.
Having done all this, and warned yet again against the dark church, I left them the next day and went on board the ship. We prepared to sail, but did not weigh that night.
The next morning, two of the five men came swimming to the ship's side, and making a most lamentable complaint of the island, begged to be taken into the ship, for God's sake, for they should be taken by the dream lord Kathooloo, and begged Burke to take them on board e'en if he hanged them immediately.
Upon this, he pretended to have no power without me. After some difficulty, and after their solemn promises of amendment, they were taken on board, and were some time after whipped and pickled. After which they proved very honest and quiet fellows.
Some time after this, the long-boat was order'd on shore, the tyde being up, with the things promised to the men. Burke, at my intercession, caused their chests and cloathes to be added, which they took, and were very thankful for. I also encouraged them by telling them if it lay in my power to send any vessel to take them in, I would not forget them.
When I took leave of this island, I carried on board, for a relique, the great goat-skin cap I had made, and also I forgot not to take the money I formerly mention'd, which had lain by me so long useless it was grown rusty or tarnish'd. Also the money I found in the wreck of the Spanish ship. Friday brought naught but his great wooden sword, which he wore on his hip through his goat-skin belt.
And thus we left my sanctuary, my prison, the Island of Despair, the 19th of December, as I found by the ship's account, in the year 1686. I had been upon it seven and twenty years, two months, and nineteen days, deliver'd from this second captivity the same day of the month I first made my escape from among the Moors of Sallee.
My return, old friends,
my fortunes reverse
In this vessel, after a long voyage, I arrived in England the 11th of June, in the year 1687, having been thirty-five years absent. No less than five moons were spent on board, yet Burke did not see to question my sometimes solitary nature, nor would any cross Friday as he stood guard without my cabin with his great wooden sword.
When I came to England, I was as perfect a stranger to all the world as if I had never been known there. I went down afterwards into Yorkshire, but my father was dead and my mother and all the family extinct. I found two sisters and two nephews by the name of Marsh. As I had been long ago given over for dead, there had been no provision made for me. In a word, I found nothing to relieve or assist me, and the little money I had would not do much for me as to settling in the world.
I met with one piece of gratitude, indeed, which I did not expect. Burke, whom I had so happily deliver'd, and by the same means saved the ship and cargo, did give a very handsome account to the owners of the manner how I had saved the lives of the men and the ship. They invited me to meet them and some other merchants concerned, and all together made me a very handsome compliment upon the subject and a present of almost ￡200 sterling.