298 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES

 

I paused a while at his words, and, looking steadily at him, “ What
devil,” said I, “sent you of this unlucky errand?” My nephew stared,
.as if he had been frighted, at first; but perceiving I was not much
displeased with the proposal, he recovered himself. ‘I hope it may
not be an unlucky proposal, sir,” says he; “I dare say you would be
pleased to see your new colony there, where you once reigned with
more felicity than most of our brother monarchs in the world.”

In a word, the scheme hit so exactly with my temper, that is to say,
with the prepossession I was under, and of which I have said so much,
that I told him in a few words, if he agreed with the merchants, I
would go with him; but I told him I would not promise to go any far-
ther than my own island. “Why, sir,” says he, “you don’t want to
be left there again, I hope ?”—“ Why,” said I, ‘‘can you not take me
up again in your return ?’—He told me, it could not be possible that
the merchants would allow him to come that way with a loaden ship
of such value, it being a month’s sail out of his way, and might be
three or four: “besides, sir, if I should miscarry,” said he, “‘and not
return at all, then you would be just reduced to the condition you were
in before.”

This was very rational; but we both found out a remedy for it,
which was to carry a framed sloop on board the ship, which, being
taken in pieces and shipped on board the ship, might, by the help of
some carpenters, whom we agreed to carry with us, be set up again in
the island and finished, fit to go to sea in a few days.

I was not long resolving; for indeed the importunities of my
nephew joined in so effectually with my inclination, that nothing
could oppose me: on the other hand, my wife being dead, I had no-
body concerned themselves so much for me as to persuade me one way
or other, except my ancient good friend the widow, who earnestly
struggled with me to consider my years, my easy circumstances, and
the needless hazard of a long voyage, and, above all, my young chil-
dren: but it was all to no purpose; I had an irresistible desire to the.
‘voyage, and I told her, I thought there was something so uncommon
in the impressions I had upon my mind for the voyage, that it would
be a kind of resisting Providence if I should attempt to stay at home;
after which she ceased her expostulations, and joined with me, not
only in making provision for my voyage, but also in settling my family
affairs in my absence, and nroviding for the education of my children.

In order to this, I made my will, and settled the estate I had in
such a manner for my children, and placed in such hands that I was
perfectly easy and satisfied they would have justice done them what-
ever might befall me; and for their education, I left it wholly to my