l^r The jDiJlrejfes and Adventures 



I told him what I had gone through 

 was not by Choice, but through abfolute 

 Neceffity, and that I hoped the Endeavours 

 I had ufed to preferve my Life were not 

 blameable ; that Avere I inclined, I well 

 knew it was not in my Power to im- 

 pofe idle Falfhoods upon the World, when 

 I was fenfible I might be detected with great 

 Eafe. He anfwer'd, that indeed he had no 

 Reafon to fufped the Veracity of what I 

 faid, tho* the Story I told feemed to him 

 very furprifing ; but that through the whole 

 Courfe of his Life, he had never beheld a 

 more pitiful Obje£l of Compaffion than rny 

 felf. Then he gave Orders for my Refrefh- 

 ment in a handfom Manner, and appointed me 

 an Apartment in his own Houfe to lodge 

 in. The next Morning, he fliewed me a 

 Gun he had bought of an Engltfb Gentleman 

 at Panama for one hundred Pieces of Eight, 

 which might coft about thirty Shillings in 

 England. This, he faid, he fhould be very 

 glad to have exercifed, and if I could in- 

 llruft him how to make Ufe of it, he would 

 reward me w r ell for fo doing, for he was in- 

 ifcly ignorant of the Management of Guns. 



