that he could never know his
benefactor.

While my father and I were caressed among the gentlemen on shore,
Captain Bowling had written to his owners, by the packet, which sailed
a few days after our arrival, signifying his prosperous voyage hitherto,
and desiring them to insure his ship and cargo homeward bound: after
which precaution he applied himself so heartily to the task of loading
his ship that, with the assistance of Mr. Thompson, she was full in less
than six weeks. This kind gentleman likewise procured for Don Rodrigo
bills upon London for the greatest part of his gold and silver, by which
means it was secured against the risk of the seas and the enemy; and,
before we sailed, supplied us with such large quantities of all kinds
of stock, that not only we, but the ship's company, fared sumptuously
during the voyage.

Everything being ready, we took our leave of our kind entertainers, and,
going on board at Port Royal, set sail for England on the first day
of June. We beat up to windward, with fine easy weather, and one night
believing ourselves near Cape Tiberon, lay to, with an intention to wood
and water next morning in the bay. While we remained in this situation,
a sailor, having drunk more new rum than he could carry, staggered over
board, and, notwithstanding all the means that could be used to preserve
him, went to the bottom, and disappeared. About two hours after
this melancholy accident happened, as I enjoyed the cool air on the
quarter-deck, I heard a voice rising, as it were, out of the sea
and calling, "Ho, the ship ahoy!" Upon which one of the men upon the
forecastle cried, "I'll be d--n'd if that an't Jack Marlinspike, who
went overboard!" Not a little surprised at this event, I jumped into the
boat that lay alongside, with the second mate and four men, and rowing
towards the place from whence the voice (which repeated the hail) seemed
to proceed, we perceived something floating upon the water. When we
had rowed a little further, we discerned it to be a man riding upon a
hencoop, who, seeing us approach, pronounced with a hoarse voice, "D--n
your bloods! why did you not answer when I hailed?" Our mate, who was
a veritable seaman, hearing his salute, said, "By G--, my lads, this is
none of our man. This is the devil--pull away for the ship." The fellows
obeyed his command without question, and were already some fathoms on
our return, when I when I insisted on their taking up the poor creature,
a