m to the land, where he fell down
dead. The men were in as much fear at the sound of my gun, as they had
been at the sight of the beasts. But when I made signs for them to come
to the shore, they took heart, and came.

They at once made for their prize; and by the help of a rope, which they
slung round him, they brought him safe on the beach.

We now left our wild men, and went on and on, for twelve days more. The
land in front of us ran out four or five miles, like a bill; and we had
to keep some way from the coast, to make this point, so that we lost
sight of the shore.

I gave the helm to Xury and sat down to think what would be my best
course to take: when all at once I heard the lad cry out "A ship with a
sail! A ship with a sail!" He did not show much joy at the sight, for
he thought that this ship had been sent out to take him back: but I knew
well, from the look of her, that she was not one of the Turk's.

I made all the sail I could to come in the ship's way, and told Xury to
fire a gun, in the hope that if those on deck could not hear the sound,
they might see the smoke. This they did see, and then let down their
sails so that we might come up to them, and in three hours time we were
at the ship's side. The men spoke to us in French, but I could not make
out what they meant. At last a Scot on board said in my own tongue, "Who
are you? Whence do you come?" I told him in a few words how I had got
free from the Moors.

Then the man who had charge of the ship bade me come on board, and took
me in with Xury and all my goods. I told him that he might take all I
had, but he said "You shall have your goods back when we come to land,
for I have but done for you what you would have done for me, had I been
in the same plight."

He gave me a good round sum for my boat, and said that I should have the
same sum for Xury, if I would part with him. But I told him that as it
was by the boy's help that I had got free, I was loath to sell him. He
said it was just and right in me to feel thus, but at the same time, if
I could make up my mind to part with him, he should be set free in two
years' time. So, as the poor slave had a wish to go with him, I did not
say "no." I got to All Saints' Bay in three weeks, and was now a free
man.

I had made a good sum by all my store, and with this I went on land. But
I did not at all know what to do next. At length I met with a man whose
case was much the same as my own, and we both t