be one of the company of adventurers, because of such labor as it
might be possible for me to perform, and had refused to listen to
my comrade, Nathaniel, without acquainting me with the fact, had made
up his mind that he also would go into the new world of Virginia.

Fearing lest I would believe it my duty to tell Captain Smith of his
purpose, he kept far from me, doing whatsoever he might in London
town to earn as much as would provide him with food during a certain
time.

In this he succeeded so far as then seemed necessary, and when it
was known that the fleet was nearly ready to make sail, he came to
Blackwall with all his belongings tied in his doublet.

To get on board the Susan Constant without attracting much attention
while she was being visited by so many curious people, was not
a hard task for Nathaniel Peacock, and three days before the fleet
was got under way, my comrade had hidden himself in the very foremost
part of the ship, where were stored the ropes and chains.

There he had remained until thirst, or hunger, drove him out, on
this night of which I am telling you, and he begged that I go on
deck, where were the scuttle butts, to get him a pannikin of water.

For those of you who may not know what a scuttle butt is, I will
explain that it is a large cask in which fresh water is kept on
shipboard. When Nathaniel's burning thirst had been soothed, he
began to fear that I might give information to Captain John Smith
concerning him; but after all that had been done in the way of
hiding himself, and remembering his suffering, I had not the heart