way to touch at, some that there were no islands at all. For my own part, I
knew nothing of this matter one way or another, but heard it all without
concern, whether it was near or far off; however, this we learned from an
old man who was blind and led about by a boy, that if we stayed till the
end of August, we should be sure of the wind to be fair and the sea smooth
all the voyage.

This was some encouragement; but staying again was very unwelcome news to
us, because that then the sun would be returning again to the south, which
was what our men were very unwilling to. At last we called a council of our
whole body; their debates were too tedious to take notice of, only to note,
that when it came to Captain Bob (for so they called me ever since I had
taken state upon me before one of their great princes), truly I was on no
side; it was not one farthing matter to me, I told them, whether we went or
stayed; I had no home, and all the world was alike to me; so I left it
entirely to them to determine.

In a word, they saw plainly there was nothing to be done where we were
without shipping; that if our business indeed was only to eat and drink, we
could not find a better place in the world; but if our business was to get
away, and get home into our country, we could not find a worse.

I confess I liked the country wonderfully, and even then had strange
notions of coming again to live there; and I used to say to them very often
that if I had but a ship of twenty guns, and a sloop, and both well manned,
I would not desire a better place in the world to make myself as rich as a
king.

But to return to the consultations they were in about going. Upon the
whole, it was resolved to venture over for the main; and venture we did,