ut their person in after-life. Sailors are superstitious in
many things, but particularly in this, and my caul was therefore as
much respected by them as it hung round my neck, as it was by the
Indians when they thought it was what they call "magic" or "medicine."

"Well," said the Jolly Rover, "as you had so much fire, so much water,
and so much running, I think you won't be sorry to have a biscuit and
glass of grog, and then turn in; to-morrow we will talk to you."

I went down below, very glad to accept the offer, and as I was
regaling myself, who should come up to me but two of the Portuguese
who had been wrecked in the xebeque, and put on shore with me in the
little boat by the captain of the Transcendant. I was very glad to see
them. They told me that, after great hardship and suffering, they had
arrived famished at the banks of this river, and had been taken on
board by the pirates, and had remained with them ever since; that they
were very anxious to get away, but never had an opportunity. I begged
them not to say who I was, but merely that I was once a shipmate of
theirs. They promised, and being very tired, I then lay down and fell
asleep. I was so worn out, that I did not wake till the next morning,
when I found that we were under all sail running down to the
southward. I saw the Jolly Rover, as I had termed him, on deck (his
real or assumed name, I don't know which, I found out to be Toplift),
sitting on a gun abaft. He called me to him. I said,

"Are you the captain?"

"Yes," he replied, "for want of a better. I told you months ago what
we were, so it's no use repeating it. Do you intend to join us?"

"Then," replied I, "I will be very candid with you. I have been driven
as it were on board of your vessel, but certainly without knowing
exactly what she was. Now, captain, I have to ask you one
question:--Would you, if you could go on shore in England, with plenty
of money at your command, and plenty of good friends,--would you be
here?"

"No; certainly not," replied he.

"Well; I am in that position. If once in England, I have money enough
to live upon, and plenty of friends; I therefore naturally want to get
back to England, and not to run the risk of my neck on board of this
vessel."

"That's very true," replied he, "but there are other considerations;
my men won't have a man on board who will not swear fidelity, and if
you will not, I cannot protect you,--they will throw you overboard. We
don't