plot.

I begged him to understand that I knew right well he would do no manner
of wrong to any man, and asked the privilege of being with him all the
time, to serve him when he could not serve himself because of the irons
that fettered his legs.

And so it was that I had opportunity to do that which made my master as
true a friend as ever lad had, for in the later days when we were
come to Virginia and beset by savages more cruel than wild beasts,
he ventured his own life again and again to save mine, which was so
worthless as compared with his.

Only that I might tell how the voyage progressed, did I go on deck, or
have speech with Nathaniel Peacock, and only through me did my master
know when we were come to this island or that, together with what was to
be seen in such places.

SEVERAL ISLANDS VISITED

Therefore it was that when, on the next day after he was made a
prisoner, we were come to anchor off that island which the savages
called Gaudaloupe, and Nathaniel had been permitted to go on shore in
one of the boats, I could tell my master of the wondrous waters which
were found there.

Nathaniel told me that water spouted up out of the earth so hot, that
when Captain Newport threw into it a piece of pork tied to a rope, the
meat was cooked in half an hour, even as if it had been over a roaring
hot fire.

After that we passed many islands, the names of which I could not
discover, until we came to anchor within half a musket shot from the
shore of that land which is known as Nevis. Here we lay six days, and
the chief men of the company went on shore for sport and to hunt, save
always either Captain Martin or Captain Kendall, who remained on board
to watch the poor prisoner, while he, my master, lay in his narrow bed
sweltering under the great heat.

During all this while, the seamen and our gentlemen got much profit and
sport from hunting and fishing, adding in no small degree to our store
of food. Had Captain Smith not been kept from going on shore by the
wickedness of those who were jealous because of his great fame as a
soldier, I dare venture to say our stay at this island of Nevis would
have been far more to our advantage.

From this place we went to what Master Hunt told me were the Virgin
islands, and here the men went ashore again to hunt; but my master,
speaking no harsh words against those who were wronging him, lay in the
small, stinging hot room, unable to get for himself even a cup of