Upon this he burst suddenly into a great loud laugh, and gave the table
a thump with his fist which made the glasses jingle. I sat regarding
him, not knowing what to make of it all; but his next words were a vast
relief to me.
"Why," says he, "I thought you were going to ask me for something of
some account. If that is all you want, it is yours, and welcome to it."
Finding all three of the pirates to be in such a complacent mood, I
asked them for some of my clothes, for those that I had hung in tatters
about me, and, as said before, I was in my bare feet. But this they
would not do, Master Burke asking me whether they had not granted enough
already, without giving me togs to cover my bloody carcass. Upon this I
perceived that I had gotten all that I was likely to obtain, and so had
to go without my clothes.
The pirates were for keeping me on board all night, that they might, as
they were pleased to say, entertain me in a decent fashion. But I,
having gained possession of the precious despatch-box, and trembling
with anxiety lest by some sudden shift of luck it should be taken away
from me again, was most eagerly anxious to take myself away. England
himself urged my departure. So about seven o'clock I was put ashore,
with the despatch-box in my possession, giving thanks that I had come
off from my adventure with such exceeding good fortune, for I felt that
I had not only recovered the most precious prize of all, but England had
promised to do his uttermost to hold the others to their written
agreement, saying that if he were successful he would depart in two
days, leaving the bales of goods behind upon the shore.