A Dream Realised

           TheotherchestIfoundhadsomeclothesinit,butoflittlevalue; butbythecircumstances,itmusthavebelongedtothegunner’smate; thoughtherewasnopowderinit,butabouttwopoundsoffineglazedpowder,inthreesmallflasks,kept,Isuppose,forchargingtheirfowling-piecesonoccasion. Uponthewhole,Igotverylittlebythisvoyagethatwasofanyusetome; forastothemoney,Ihadnomannerofoccasionforit;Itwastomeasthedirtundermyfeet;andIwouldhavegivenitallforthreeorfourpairofEnglishshoesandstocking,whichwerethingsIgreatlywanted,buthadnothadonmyfeetnowformanyyears. Ihadindeedgottentwopairofshoesnow,whichItookoffofthefeetofthetwodrownedmenwhomIsawinthewreck,andIfoundtwopairmoreinoneofthechests,whichwereverywelcometome; buttheywerenotlikeourEnglishshoes,eitherforeaseorservice,beingratherwhatwecallpumpsthanshoes. Ifoundintheseaman’schestaboutfiftypiecesofeightinroyals,butnogold. Isupposethisbelongedtoapoorermanthantheother,whichseemedtobelongtosomeofficer. 

           Well,however,Iluggedthismoneyhometomycave,andlaiditup,asIhaddonethatbeforewhichIbroughtfromourownship; butitwasagreatpity,asIsaid,thattheotherpartofthisshiphadnotcometomyshare,forIamsatisfiedImighthaveloadedmycanoeseveraltimesoverwithmoney,which,ifIhadeverescapedtoEngland,wouldhavelainheresafeenoughtillImighthavecomeagainandfetchedit. 

           Havingnowbroughtallmythingsonshore,andsecuredthem,Iwentbacktomyboat,androwedorpaddledheralongtheshoretoheroldharbor,whereIlaidherup,andmadethebestofmywaytomyoldhabitation,whereIfoundeverythingsafeandquiet.