A CURIOUS DIALOGUE. 267

piece of land, and began the fence in the same manner as before; in
which Friday not only worked very willingly and very hard, but
did it very cheerfully. And I told him what it was for; that it was
for corn to make more bread, because he was now with me, and
that I might have enough for him and myself too. He appeared
very sensible of that part, and let me know that he thought I had
much more labour upon me on his account than I had for myself;
and that he would work the harder for me, if I would tell him
what to do.

This was the pleasantest year of all the life I led in this place.
Friday began to talk pretty well, and understand the names of
almost everything I had occasion to call for, and of every place I
had to send him to, and talk a great deal to me; so that, in short,
I began now to have some use for my tongue again, which indeed
I had very little occasion for before—that is to say, about speech.
Besides the pleasure of talking to him, I had a singular satisfaction
in the fellow himself. His simple unfeigned honesty appeared to
me more and more every day, and I began really to love the
creature; and, on his side, I believe he loved me more than it was
possible for him ever to love anything before.

I had a mind once to try if he had any hankering inclination to
his own country again; and having learned him English so well
that he could answer me almost any questions, I asked hitn whether
the nation that he belonged to never conquered in battle? At
which he smiled, and said, ‘Yes, yes; we always fight the better; ”
that is, he meant always get the better in fight; and so we began
the following discourse :—“ You always fight the better,” said I;
“how came you to be taken prisoner, then, Friday?”

Friday. My nation beat much, for all that.

Master. How beat; if your nation beat them, how came you to
be taken ?

Friday. They more many than my nation in the place where
me was; they take one, two, three, and me. My nation over beat
them in yonder place, where me no was; there my nation take one,
two, great thousand.

Master. But why did not your side recover you from the hands
of your enemies then ?