Having thus prepared all things as well as I was able, I set sail on the 24th day of September, 1701, at six in the morning; and when I had gone about four leagues to the northward, the wind being at southeast, at six in the evening I descried a small island, about half a league to the northwest.  I advanced forward, and cast anchor on the lee-side of the island, which seemed to be uninhabited.  I then took some refreshment, and went to my rest.  I slept well, and I conjecture at least six hours, for I found the day broke in two hours after I awaked.  It was a clear night.  I eat my breakfast before the sun was up; and, heaving anchor, the wind being favorable, I steered the same course that I had done the day before, wherein I was directed by my pocket compass.  My intention was to reach, if possible, one of those islands which I had reason to believe lay to the northeast of Van Diemen’s Land.[14]

[Footnote 14:  Australia is a short distance from Tasmania, or Van Diemen’s Land.  There are no islands to the northeast for a long distance.]

I discovered nothing all that day; but upon the next, about three in the afternoon, when I had, by my computation, made twenty-four leagues from Blefuscu, I described a sail steering to the southeast; my course was due east.  I hailed her, but could get no answer; yet I found I gained upon her, for the wind slackened.  I made all the sail I could, and in half an hour she spied me, then hung out her ancient,[15] and discharged a gun.  It is not easy to express the joy I was in, upon the unexpected hope of once more seeing my beloved country, and the dear pledges I left in it.  The ship slackened her sails, and I came up with her between five and six in the evening, September 26; but my heart leaped within me to see her English colors.  I put my cows and sheep into my coat pockets, and got on board with all my little cargo of provisions.

[Footnote 15:  Ancient is an old word for ensign.]

The vessel was an English merchantman, returning from Japan by the North and South Seas; the captain, Mr. John Biddel of Deptford, a very civil man and an excellent sailor.  We were now in the latitude of thirty degrees south; there were about fifty men in the ship; and I met an old comrade of mine, one Peter Williams, who gave me a good character to the captain.  This gentleman treated me with kindness, and desired I would let him know what place I came from last, and whither I was bound; which I did in few words, but he thought I was raving, and that the dangers I underwent had disturbed my head; whereupon I took my black cattle and sheep out of my pocket, which, after great astonishment, clearly convinced him of my veracity.  I then showed him the gold given me by the Emperor of Blefuscu, together with his majesty’s picture at full length, and some other rarities of that country.  I gave him two purses of two hundred sprugs each, and promised, when we arrived in England, to make him a present of a cow and a sheep.