so to do.

During four days more he spent all the hours of sunshine, and the
greater portion of the night, in my bed, closely covered so that
the sailors might not see him, and then came the discovery, when he
was dragged out with many a blow and harsh word to give an account
of himself. I fear it would have gone harder still with Nathaniel,
if I had not happened to be there at that very moment.

As it was, I went directly to Captain John Smith, my master,
telling him all Nathaniel's story, and asking if the lad had not
shown himself made of the proper stuff to be counted on as one of
the adventurers.

Although hoping to succeed in my pleading, I was surprised when
the captain gave a quick consent to number the lad among those who
were to go into the new land of Virginia, and was even astonished
when his name was written down among others as if he had been
pledged to the voyage in due form.

But for the sickness of Master Hunt, and the fear we had lest he
should die, Nathaniel and I might have made exceeding merry while
we lay at anchor in the Downs, for food was plentiful; there was
little of work to be done, and we lads could have passed the time
skylarking with such of the sailors as were disposed to sport,
except orders had been given that no undue noise be made on deck.



WE MAKE SAIL AGAIN