in order to prey upon their cattle and people.
The next morning we were obliged to take a new guide,
by reason the other fell very bad of his wounds, which
he had received as before mentioned. After we
had reached Tholouse, we came into a warm, pleasant,
and fruitful country, not infested with wolves, nor
any sort of ravenous creatures: and when we told
our story there, they much blamed our guide, for conducting
us through the forest at the foot of the mountains,
in such a severe season, when the snow obliged the
wolves to seek for shelter in the woods. When
we informed them in what manner we placed ourselves,
and the horses in the centre, they exceedingly reprehended
us, and told us, it was an hundred to one, but we
had been all destroyed; for that it was the very sight
of the horses, their so much desired prey, that made
the wolves more ragingly furious than they would have
been, which was evident, by their being at other times
really afraid of a gun; but then being exceedingly
hungry and furious upon that account, their eagerness
to come at the horses made them insensible of their
danger; and that, if we had not, by a continual fire,
and at last by the cunning stratagem of the train
of powder, got the better of them, it had been great
odds if their number had not overpowered us; besides,
it was a great mercy we alighted from our horses,
and fought them with that courage and conduct, which,
had we failed to do, every man of us, with our beasts,
had been devoured: and, indeed, this was nothing
but truth; for never in my life was I so sensible
of danger, as when three hundred, devils came roaring
upon us, to shun whose unwelcome company, if I was
sure to meet a storm every week; I would rather go
a thousand leagues by sea.
I think I have, nothing uncommon in my passage through
France to take notice of, since other travellers of
greater learning and ingenuity, have given more ample
account than my pen is able to set forth. From
Tholouse I travelled to Paris, from thence to Calais,
where I took shipping, and landed at Dover the 14th
of January, in a very cold season.
Thus come to the end of my travels, I soon discovered
my new found estate, and all the bills of exchange
I had were currently paid. The good ancient widow,
my only privy counsellor, thought no pains nor care
too great to procure my advantage, nor had I ever occasion
to blame her fidelity, which drew from me an ample
reward. I was for leaving my effects in her hands,
intending to set out for Lisbon, and so the Brazils;
but as in the Desolate Island I had some doubt about
the Romish religion, so I knew there was little encouragement
to settle there, unless I would apostatize from the
orthodox faith, or live in continual fear of the Inquisition.
Upon this account I resolved to sell my plantation;
and, for that intent, I wrote to my old friend at Lisbon,
who returned to me an answer to my great satisfaction;
which was, that he could sell it to good account;