My first contrivance was to make a pretence to speak to this Moor,to get something for our subsistence on board;for I told him we must not presume to eat of our patron's bread.He said that was true;so he brought a large basket of rusk or biscuit of their kind,and three jars with fresh water,into the boat.I knew where my patron's case of bottles stood,which it was evident by the make were taken out of some English prize;and I conveyed them into the boat while the Moor was on shore,as if they had been there before for our master.I conveyed also a great lump of beeswax into the boat,which weighed above half a hundredweight,with a parcel of twine or thread,a hatchet,a saw,and a hammer,all which were great use to us afterwards,especially the wax to make candles.Another trick I tried upon him,which he innocently came into also.His name was Ismael,who they call Muly,or Moely;so I called to him,‘Moely,’said I,‘our patron's guns are on board the boat;can you not get a little powder and shot?It may be we may kill some alcamies (a fowl like our curlews)for ourselves,for I know he keeps the gunner's stores in the ship.’‘Yes,’says he,‘I'll bring some’;and accordingly he brought a great leather pouch which held about a pound and a half of powder,or rather more;and another with shot,that had five or six pounds,with some bullets,and put all into the boat.At the same time I had found some powder of my master's in the great cabin,with which I filled one of the large bottles in the case,which was almost empty,pouring what was in it into another;and thus furnished with everything needful,we sailed out of the port to fish.The castle,which is at the entrance of the port,knew who we were,and took no notice of us;and we were not above a mile out of the port before we hauled in our sail,and set us down to fish.The wind blew from the N.N.E.,which was contrary to my desire;for had it blown southerly I had been sure to have made the coast of Spain,and at least reached to the bay of Cadiz;but my resolutions were,blow which way it would,I would be gone from the horrid place where I was,and leave the rest to Fate.
After we had fished some time and catched nothing,for when I had fish on my hook I would not pull them up,that he might not see them,I said to the Moor,‘This will not do;our master will not be thus served;we must stand farther off.’He,thinking no harm,agreed,and being in the head of the boat set the sails;and as I had the helm I run the boat out near a league farther,and then brought her to as if I would fish;when giving the boy the helm,I stepped forward to where the Moor was,and making as if I stooped for something behind him,I took him by surprise with my arm under his twist,and tossed him clear overboard into the sea.He rose immediately,for he swam like a cork,and called to me,begged to be taken in,told me he would go all the world over with me.He swam so strong after the boat,that he would have reached me very quickly,there being but little wind;upon which I stepped into the cabin,and fetching one of the fowling pieces,I presented it at him,and told him I had done him no hurt,and if he would be quiet I would do him none.‘But,’said I,‘you swim well enough to reach to the shore,and the sea is calm;make the best of your way to shore,and I will do you no harm;but if you come near the boat I'll shoot you through the head,for I am resolved to have my liberty.’So he turned himself about,and swam for the shore,and I make no doubt but he reached it with ease,for he was an excellent swimmer.
I could have been content to have taken this Moor with me,and have drowned the boy,but there was no venturing to trust him.When he was gone I turned to the boy,whom they called Xury,and said to him,‘Xury,if you will be faithful to me I'll make you a great man;but if you will not stroke your face to be true to me,’that is,swear by Mahomet and his father's beard,‘I must throw you into the sea too.’The boy smiled in my face,and spoke so innocently,that I could not mistrust him,and swore to be faithful to me,and go all over the world with me.
While I was in view of the Moor that was swimming,I stood out directly to sea with the boat,rather stretching to windward,that they might think me gone towards the straits’mouth (as indeed anyone that had been in their wits must have been supposed to do);for who would have supposed we were sailed on to the southward to the truly barbarian coast,where whole nations of negroes were sure to surround us with their canoes,and destroy us;where we could neer once go on shore but we should be devoured by savage beasts,or more merciless savages of human kind?
But as soon as it grew dusk in the evening,I changed my course,and steered directly south and by east,bending my course a little toward the east,that I might keep in with the shore;and having a fair,fresh gale of wind,and a smooth,quiet sea,I made such sail that I believe by the next day,at three o'clock in the afternoon,when I first made the land,I could not be less than 150miles south of Sallee;quite beyond the Emperor of Morocco's dominions,or indeed of any other king thereabouts,for we saw no people.
