The Life, Adventures & Piracies of the Famous Captain Singleton

gotten,that is not the question) as we all know what to do with?"

  "Why, truly, William," said I, "thou art pretty right; I think we havehad pretty good luck."

  "Well, then," says William, "I would ask whether, if thou hast gottenenough, thou hast any thought of leaving off this trade; for most peopleleave off trading when they are satisfied of getting, and are richenough; for nobody trades for the sake of trading; much less do men robfor the sake of thieving."

  "Well, William," says I, "now I perceive what it is thou art driving at.I warrant you," says I, "you begin to hanker after home."

  "Why, truly," says William, "thou hast said it, and so I hope thou dosttoo. It is natural for most men that are abroad to desire to come homeagain at last, especially when they are grown rich, and when they are(as thou ownest thyself to be) rich enough, and so rich as they know notwhat to do with more if they had it."

  "Well, William," said I, "but now you think you have laid yourpreliminary at first so home that I should have nothing to say; that is,that when I had got money enough, it would be natural to think of goinghome. But you have not explained what you mean by home, and there youand I shall differ. Why, man, I am at home; here is my habitation; Inever had any other in my lifetime; I was a kind of charity school boy;so that I can have no desire of going anywhere for being rich or poor,for I have nowhere to go."

  "Why," says William, looking a little confused, "art not thou anEnglishman?"

  "Yes," says I, "I think so: you see I speak English; but I came out ofEngland a child, and never was in it but once since I was a man; andthen I was cheated and imposed upon, and used so ill that I care not ifI never see it more."

  "Why, hast thou no relations or friends there?" says he; "noacquaintance--none that thou hast any kindness or any remains of respectfor?"

  "Not I, William," said I; "no more than I have in the court of the GeatMogul."

  "Nor any kindness for the country where thou wast born?" says William.

  "Not I, any more than for the island of Madagascar, nor so much neither;for that has been a fortunate island to me more than once, as thouknowest, William," said I.

  William was quite stunned at my discourse, and held his peace; and Isaid to him, "Go on, William; what hast thou to say farther? for I hearyou have some project in your head," says I; "come, let's have it out."

  "Nay," says William, "thou hast put me to silence, and all I had to sayis overthrown; all my projects are come to nothing, and gone."

  "Well, but, William," said I, "let me hear what they were; for thoughit is so that what I have to aim at does not look your way, and thoughI have no relation, no friend, no acquaintance in England, yet I do notsay I like this roving, cruising life so well as never to give it over.Let me hear if thou canst propose to me anything beyond it."

  "Certainly, friend," says William, very gravely, "there is somethingbeyond it;" and lifting up his hands, he seemed very much affected, andI thought I saw tears stand in his eyes; but I, that was too hardeneda wretch to be moved with these things, laughed at him. "What!" says I,"you mean death, I warrant you: don't you? That is beyond this trade.Why, when it comes, it comes; then we are all provided for."

  "Ay," says William, "that is true; but it would be better that somethings were thought on before that came."

  "Thought on!" says I; "what signifies thinking of it? To think of deathis to die, and to be always thinking of it is to be all one's life longa-dying. It is time enough to think of it when it comes."

  You will easily believe I was well qualified for a pirate that couldtalk thus. But let me leave it upon record, for the remark of otherhardened rogues like myself,--my conscience gave me a pang that I neverfelt before when I said, "What signifies thinking of it?" and told me Ishould one day think of these words with a sad heart; but the time of myreflection was not yet come; so I went on.

  Says William very seriously, "I must tell thee, friend, I am sorry tohear thee talk so. They that never think of dying, often die withoutthinking of it."

  I carried on the jesting way a while farther, and said, "Prithee, do nottalk of dying; how do we know we shall ever die?" and began to laugh.

  "I need not answer thee to that," says William; "it is not my place toreprove thee, who art commander over me here; but I would rather thouwouldst talk otherwise of death; it is a coarse thing."

  "Say anything to me, William," said I; "I will take it kindly." I begannow to be very much moved at his discourse.

  Says William (tears running down his face), "It is because men liveas if they were never to die, that so many die before they know howto live. But it was not death that I meant when I said that there wassomething to be thought of beyond this way of living."

  "Why, William," said I, "what was that?"

  "It was repentance," says he.

  "Why," says I, "did you ever know a pirate repent?"

  At this he startled a little, and returned, "At the gallows I have[known] one before, and I hope thou wilt be the second."

  He spoke this very affectionately, with an appearance of concern for me.

  "Well, William," says I, "I thank you; and I am not so senseless ofthese things, perhaps, as I make myself seem to be. But come, let mehear your proposal."

  "My proposal," says William, "is for thy good as well as my own. We mayput an end to this kind of life, and repent; and I think the fairestoccasion offers for both, at this very time, that ever did, or everwill, or, indeed, can happen again."

  "Look you, William," says I; "let me have your proposal for putting anend to our present way of living first, for that is the case beforeus, and you and I will talk of the other afterwards. I am not soinsensible," said I, "as you may think me to be. But let us get out ofthis hellish condition we are in first."

  "Nay," says William, "thou art in the right there; we must never talk ofrepenting while we continue pirates."

  "Well," says I, "William, that's what I meant; for if we must notreform, as well as be sorry for what is done, I have no notion whatrepentance means; indeed, at best I know little of the matter; but thenature of the thing seems to tell me that the first step we have to takeis to break off this wretched course; and I'll begin there with you,with all my heart."

  I could see by his countenance that William was thoroughly pleased withthe offer; and if he had tears in-his eyes before, he had more now; butit was from quite a different passion; for he was so swallowed up withjoy he could not speak.

  "Come, William," says I, "thou showest me plain enough thou hast anhonest meaning; dost thou think it practicable for us to put an end toour unhappy way of living here, and get off?"

  "Yes," says he, "I think it very practicable for me; whether it is forthee or no, that will depend upon thyself."

  "Well," says I, "I give you my word, that as I have commanded you allalong, from the time I first took you on board, so you shall command mefrom this hour, and everything you direct me I'll do."

  "Wilt thou leave it all to me? Dost thou say this freely?"

  "Yes, William," said I, "freely; and I'll perform it faithfully."

  "Why, then," says William, "my scheme is this: We are now at the mouthof the Gulf of Persia; we have sold so much of our cargo here at Surat,that we have money enough; send me away for Bassorah with the sloop,laden with the China goods we have on board, which will make anothergood cargo, and I'll warrant thee I'll find means, among the English andDutch merchants there, to lodge a quantity of goods and money also asa merchant, so as we will be able to have recourse to it again upon anyoccasion, and when I come home we will contrive the rest; and, in themeantime, do you bring the ship's crew to take a resolution to go toMadagascar as soon as I return."

  I told him I thought he need not go so far as Bassorah, but might runinto Gombroon, or to Ormuz, and pretend the same business.

  "No," says he, "I cannot act with the same freedom there, becausethe Company's factories are there, and I may be laid hold of there onpretence of interloping."

  "Well, but," said I, "you may go to
Ormuz, then; for I am loth topart with you so long as to go to the bottom of the Persian Gulf." Hereturned, that I should leave it to him to do as he should see cause.

  We had taken a large sum of money at Surat, so that we had near ahundred thousand pounds in money at our command, but on board the greatship we had still a great deal more.

  I ordered him publicly to keep the money on board which he had, and tobuy up