It was a long, hard journey.
We had to cross the mountains between Spain and France in winter and the snow was deep.
Poor Friday was very afraid of the snow. In his country it was always hot and he
did not like cold weather.
Back in England I found a house and began to live a quiet life.
My two nephews came to live with me. The younger one wanted to be a sailor and so
I fund him a place on a ship. After a while I married and I had three children two
sons and a daughter. Then my wife died and my nephew, who was now the captain of a
ship, came home to see me. He knew that I did not really like a quiet life.
‘I have a fine ship, uncle,’ he said.
‘I’m going to the East Indies – India, Malaya, the Philippines… Why don’t you
come with me?’
And so, in 1694 I went to sea again and had my more adventures. Perhaps one day
I’ll write another book about them.
