298 A REASON FOR DELAY.

Tle answered, with a great deal of candour and ingenuity, that
their condition was so miserable, and they were so sensible of it,
that he believed they would abhor the thought of using any man
unkindly that should contribute to their deliverance; and that if I
pleased, he would go to them with the old man, and discourse
with them about it, and return again, and bring me their answer:
that he would make conditions with them upon their solemn oath,
that they should be absolutely under my leading as their com-
mander and captain; and that they should swear upon the holy
sacraments and the gospel to be true to me, and go to such Christian
country as that I should agree to, and no other; and to be directed
wholly and absolutely by my orders, till they were landed safely
in such country as I intended; and that he would bring a contract
from them under their hands for that purpose.

Then he told me he would first swear to me himself, that he
would never stir from me as longashe lived till I gave him orders ; and
that he would take my side to the last drop of his blood if there
should happen the least breach of faith among his countrymen.

He told me they were all of them very civil, honest men, and
they were under the greatest distress imaginable, having neither
weapons nor clothes nor any food, but at the mercy and discretion
of the savages; out of all hopes of ever returning to their own
country ; and that he was sure, if I would undertake their relief,
they would live and die by me.

Upon these assurances, I resolved to relieve them if possible, and
to send the old savage and the Spaniard over to them to treat; but
when we had gotten all things in a readiness to go, the Spaniard him-
self started an objection, which had so much prudence in it on one
hand, and so much sincerity on the other hand, that I could not but
be very well satisfied in it; and by his advice put off the deliver-
ance of his comrades for at least half a year. The case was thus:—

He had been with us now about a month, during which time I
had let him see in what manner I had provided, with the assist-
ance of Providence, for my support; and he saw evidently what
stock of corn and rice I had laid up, which, as it was more than
sufficient for myself, so it was not sufficient, at least without good
‘husbandry, for my family, now it was increased to number four.