comrade.

After this I went more than once to the house where Captain Smith
lodged, and learned very much concerning what it was proposed to
do toward building a town in the new world.

Both Nathaniel and I had believed it was the king who counted to
send all these people overseas; but I learned from my new master
that a company of London merchants was in charge of the enterprise,
these merchants believing much profit might come to them in the
way of getting gold.

The whole business was to be under the control of Captain Bartholomew
Gosnold, who, it was said, had already made one voyage to the new
world, and had brought back word that it was a goodly place in which
to settle and to build up towns. The one chosen to act as admiral
of the fleet, for there were to be three ships instead of one, as
I had fancied, was Captain Christopher Newport, a man who had no
little fame as a seaman.

In due time, as the preparations for the voyage were being forwarded,
I was sent by my master into lodgings at Blackwall, just below
London town, for the fleet lay nearby, and because it was understood
by those in charge of the adventure that I was in Captain Smith's
service, no hindrance was made to my going on board the vessels.



THE VESSELS OF THE FLEET