370 THE OLD RESTLESSNESS.

returned upon me, and I knew nothing of what he had in his
thoughts to say, when that very morning before he came to me I
had, in a great deal of confusion of thought, and revolving every
part of my circumstances in my mind, come to this resolution—
namely, that I would go to Lisbon, and consult with my old sea-
captain, and so, if it was rational and practicable, I would go and
see the island again, and see what was become of my people there.
I had pleased myself with the thoughts of peopling the place, and
carrying inhabitants from hence, getting a patent for the possession,
and I know not what; when in the middle of all this in comes my
nephew, as I have said, with his project of carrying me thither in
his way to the East Indies.

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

In a word, the scheme hit so exactly with my temper—that is
to say, the prepossession I was under, and of which I have said so
much—that I told him, in few words, if he agreed with the mer-
chants I would go with him. But I told him I would not promise
to go any further 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 loaded ship of such value, it being a month’s
sail out of his way, and might be three or four. “ Besides, sir, if
T 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.