them ashore at
Rio Francisco; finding his labour well employed both otherwise, and
also in saving one of those two Frenchmen that had remained willingly to
accompany their wounded captain.

For this gentleman, having escaped the rage of the Spaniards, was now
coming towards our pinnace, where he fell down on his knees, blessing
GOD for the time, "that ever our Captain was born; who now, beyond all
his hopes, was become his deliverer."

He being demanded, "What was become of his Captain and other fellow?"
shewed that within half an hour after our departure, the Spaniards had
overgotten them, and took his Captain and other fellow: he only escaped
by flight, having cast away all his carriage, and among the rest one
box of jewels, that he might fly the swifter from the pursuers: but his
fellow took it up and burdened himself so sore, that he could make no
speed; as easily as he might otherwise, if he would have cast down his
pillage, and laid aside his covetous mind. As for the silver, which we
had hidden thereabout in the earth and the sands, he thought that it was
all gone: for that he thought there had been near two thousand Spaniards
and Negroes there to dig and search for it.

This report notwithstanding, our purpose held, and our men were sent
to the said place, where they found that the earth, every way a mile
distant had been digged and turned up in every place of any likelihood,
to have anything hidden in it.

And yet nevertheless, for all that narrow search, all our men's labour
was not quite lost, but so considered, that the third day after their
departure, they all returned safe and cheerful, with as much silver as
they and all the Cimaroons could find (viz., thirteen bars of silver,
and some few quoits of gold), with which they were presently embarked,
without empeachment, repairing with no less speed than joy to our
frigate.

Now was it high time to think of homewards, having sped ourselves as
we desired; and therefore our Captain concluded to visit Rio Grande
[Magdalena] once again, to see if he could meet with any sufficient ship
or bark, to carry victuals enough to serve our turn homewards, in which
we might in safety and security embark ourselves.

The Frenchmen having formerly gone from us, as soon as they had their
shares, at our first return with the treasure; as being very desirous to
return home into their country, and our Captain as desirous to dismiss
them, as they were to be dismissed: for