to confess where his frigate
and ships were. Therefore in this distress and perplexity, the company
misdoubting that all means of return to their country were cut off,
and that their treasure then served them to small purpose; our Captain
comforted and encouraged us all, saying, "We should venture no farther
than he did. It was no time now to fear: but rather to hasten to prevent
that which was feared! If the enemy have prevailed against our pinnaces,
which GOD forbid! Yet they must have time to search them, time to
examine the mariners, time to execute their resolution after it is
determined. Before all these times be taken, we may get to our ships,
if ye will! though not possibly by land, because of the hills, thickets,
and rivers, yet by water. Let us, therefore, make a raft with the trees
that are here in readiness, as offering themselves, being brought down
the river, happily this last storm, and put ourselves to sea! I will be
one, who will be the other?"

JOHN SMITH offered himself, and two Frenchmen that could swim very well,
desired they might accompany our Captain, as did the Cimaroons likewise
(who had been very earnest with our Captain to have marched by land,
though it were sixteen days' journey, and in case the ship had been
surprised, to have abode always with them), especially PEDRO, who yet
was fain to be left behind, because he could not row.

The raft was fitted and fast bound; a sail of a biscuit sack prepared;
an oar was shaped out of a young tree to serve instead of a rudder, to
direct their course before the wind.

At his departure he comforted the company, by promising, that "If it
pleased GOD, he should put his foot in safety aboard his frigate,
he would, GOD willing, by one means or other get them all aboard, in
despite of all the Spaniards in the Indies!"

In this manner pulling off to the sea, he sailed some three leagues,
sitting up to the waist continually in water, and at every surge of the
wave to the arm-pits, for the space of six hours, upon this raft: what
with the parching of the sun and what with the beating of the salt
water, they had all of them their skins much fretted away.

At length GOD gave them the sight of two pinnaces turning towards them
with much wind; but with far greater joy to them than could easily
conjecture, and did cheerfully declare to those three with him, that
"they were our pinnaces! and that all was safe, so that there was no
cause of fear!"

But see,