ced before him a hearty meal, to
which, however, he seemed scarcely able to do justice, so far gone was
he with sickness. Still the little he ate revived him, and he talked on
with my brother Gilbert here--a ready listener. At first he spoke only
of voyages made long ago, but at length he told him of one he had lately
performed across the Atlantic in a ship to obtain sassafras, and trade
with the natives of Virginia. The name immediately aroused Gilbert's
attention, who called me to listen to what the seaman was saying. He
had sailed in April from Milford Haven, on board the _Speedwell_,
Captain Martin Pring, a ship of about fifty tons, the year after our
present King James came to the throne, and in company with her went the
_Discoverer_, bark of the same size, commanded by Captain Brown. They
were victualled for eight months, and laden with all sorts of apparel,
gewgaws and baubles proper to trade with the inhabitants of the country
whither they were going. Arriving off the coast of Virginia in June,
they entered a great gulf, where they found people on both sides, with
whom they had much intercourse. Here they were engaged in loading their
bark with sassafras, much to their satisfaction.

"Batten, however, while searching for sassafras, having wandered away
from his companions, thinking to return, got yet farther from them, and
at length, overcome with fatigue, fell asleep. On awaking he found that
it was night. When daylight returned, clouds covered the sky, and,
still thinking to get back to the ship, he went on all day, but again
failed to see the great river in which she rode.

"Having his gun and ammunition, he was able to shoot some birds and
animals, and with the fruits he found growing on the trees he sustained
life. Thus for three days more he wandered up and down, till he at
length reached the river; when to his dismay, he could nowhere see the
ship. Having no doubt that she had sailed, he now set off along the
shore, hoping to overtake her in case she had brought up at any other
place. He was pushing on bravely, when he saw before him a large party
of Indians; to fight with them was useless--he held out his hand, which
the chief took, and showed by signs that he would be his friend. He
tried to inquire for the ship, but the Indians made him understand that
she had gone away and that it was best for him to remain with them. He
thought so likewise, and agreed to live with them, and to hunt and