The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads and cast anchor.  Our troubles were not yet over, however, for a few days later the wind increased till it blew a terrible storm indeed.  I began to see terror in the faces even of the seamen themselves; and as the captain passed me, I could hear him softly to himself say, several times, “We shall be all lost!”

My horror of mind put me into such a condition that I can by no words describe it.  The storm increased, and the seamen every now and then cried out the ship would founder.  One of the men cried out that we had sprung a leak, and all hands were called to the pumps; but the water increasing in the hold, it was apparent that the ship would founder.  We fired guns for help, and a ship who had rid it out just ahead of us ventured a boat out.  It was with the utmost hazard the boat came near us, but at last we got all into it, and got into shore, though not without much difficulty, and walked afterwards on foot to Yarmouth.

Having some money in my pocket, I travelled to London, and there got acquainted with the master of a ship which traded on the coast of Guinea.  This captain, taking a fancy to my conversation, told me if I would make a voyage with him I might do some trading on my own account.  I embraced the offer, and went the voyage with him.  With the help of some of my relations I raised L40, which I laid out in toys, beads, and such trifles as my friend the captain said were most in demand on the Guinea Coast.  It was a prosperous voyage.  It made me both a sailor and a merchant, for my adventure yielded me on my return to London almost L300, and this filled me with those aspiring thoughts which have since so completed my ruin.

I was now set up as a Guinea trader, and made up my mind to go the same voyage again in the same ship; but this was the unhappiest voyage ever man made, for as we were off the African shore we were surprised by a Moorish rover of Salee, who gave chase with all sail.  About three in the afternoon he came up with us, and after a great fight we were forced to yield, and were carried all prisoners into the port of Salee, where we were sold as slaves.

I was fortunate enough to fall into the hands of a master who treated me with no little kindness.  He frequently went fishing, and as I was dexterous in catching fish, he never went without me.  One day he sent me out with a Moor to catch fish for him.  Then notions of deliverance darted into my thoughts, and I prepared not for fishing, but for a voyage.  When everything was ready, we sailed away to the fishing-grounds.  Purposely catching nothing, I said we had better go farther out.  The Moor agreed, and I ran the boat out near a league farther; then I brought to as if I would fish.  Instead of that, however, I stepped forward, and, stooping behind the Moor, took him by surprise and tossed him overboard.  He rose to the surface, and called on me to take him in.  For reply I presented a gun at him, and told him if he came nearer the boat I would shoot him, and that as the sea was calm, he might easily swim ashore.  So he turned about, and swam for the shore, and I make no doubt but he reached it with ease.