WHAT NEXT, AND NEXT? 839

IT showed him all that was sent to me; I told him that next to the
providence of Heaven, which disposes all things, it was owing to
him ; and that it now lay on me to reward him, which I would do.
a hundredfold. So I first returned to him the 100 moidores
Thad received of him, then I sent for a notary, and caused him to
draw up a general release or discharge for the 470 moidores which
he had acknowledged he owed me, in the fullest and firmest manner
possible: after which I caused a procuration to be drawn empower-
ing him to be my receiver of the annual profits of my plantation,
and appointing my partner to account to him, and make the
returns by the usual fleets to him in my name; and a clause in
the end, being a grant of 100 moidores a year to him during his
life out of the effects, and 50 moidores a year to his son after him
for his life. And thus I requited my old man.

I was now to consider which way to steer my course next, and
what to do with the estate that Providence had thus put into my
hands: and indeed I had more care upon my head now than I had
in my silent state of life in the island, where I wanted nothing but
what I had, and had nothing but what I wanted; whereas I had
now a great charge upon me, and my business was how to secure
it. I had never a cave now to hide my money in, nor a place
where it might lie without lock or key until it grew mouldy and
tarnished before anybody would meddle with it. On the contrary,
I knew not where to put it, or whom to trust with it. My old
patron the captain, indeed, was honest, and that was the only
refuge I had.

In the next place, my interest in the Brazils seemed to summon '
me thither; but now I could not tell how to think of going
thither until I had settled my affairs, and left my effects in some
safe hands behind me. At first I thought of my old friend the
widow, who I knew was honest, and would be just to me; but
then she was in years, and but poor, and for aught I knew might
be in debt. So that, in a word, I had no way but to go back to -
England myself, and take my effects with me.

It was some months, however, before I resolved upon this; and
therefore, as I had rewarded the old captain fully and to his satis-
faction, who had been my former benefactor, so I began to think