re you could explain your object, she
would be captured, and you and your crew would be carried into slavery."

For a long time we entreated him in vain to allow us to prosecute our
undertaking. At last he said--

"I will allow you to go, provided your people are ready to accompany you
after you have clearly explained to them the dangers of the enterprise;
but I again warn you of your certain fate. My advice is that you should
return to England, make known the sad condition of your own friends, and
numberless other Christian captives in Barbary, and I have little doubt
that as soon as we have thrashed the Dutch, Admiral Blake will be sent
out to compel the corsairs to give up their prisoners."

The only course open to us was to follow the commodore's advice. Bitter
was our disappointment when our crew declined further to prosecute the
undertaking.

In vain Martin and Dick urged them to fulfil their engagement, supported
by Mr Aylett.

They were ready to fight with a prospect of success, but they had no
desire to be made slaves, or to lose their lives in a hopeless cause,
they answered.

I cannot describe our feelings; we did not possess even the means of
communicating with the captives, and letting them know that we were
making efforts for their liberation. At last the signal was made to
weigh anchor, and the _Good Hope_, with several ships ordered home, set
sail for England.

Having met a Dutch fleet which we beat off, though they left us sorely
battered, and encountered a fearful storm which well-nigh sent the _Good
Hope_ to the bottom, we at length reached Plymouth in a sinking state.
There the shipwrights pronounced the _Good Hope_ unfit again to go to
sea.

This was the climax of our disappointments, for we had not the means of
obtaining another vessel.

"Cheer up, shipmates!" exclaimed Dick Harvey. "I'll try and induce my
father to help us. He will rejoice to see me back safe, and you too,
for he has a sincere regard for you, and is grateful for the service you
rendered him."

Finding that Mr Harvey had gone to London, we repaired thither, taking
Martin and Mr Aylett with us.

Mr Harvey was glad to see his son, and treated Lancelot and me with
great kindness; his means, however, would not allow him, he said, to
purchase a ship, but he advised us to repair to Queensborough, in the
island of Sheppey, where Admiral Blake was busily employed in fitting
out a fleet to attack the Dutch.

That we m