And really never could any be more dexterous in rowing than my faithful servant, making the boat go as fast again as I could.  “Well now, Friday”, said I, “shall we now go to your so much admired nation.”  But instead of meeting with that cheerfulness I expected, he looked very dull and melancholy at my saying so; which indeed at first surprised me, till he made me sensible, that his concern was about the boat’s being too small to go so far a voyage.  Upon which I let him understand I had a much bigger; and accordingly, the next day went to the place where the first boat lay, which I had made, when all the strength I had or art I could use failed me in my attempt to get it into the water:  but now it having lain in the sun two and twenty years, and no care being taken of it all that while, it became in a manner rotten.  My man told me, that such a boat would do very well for the purpose, sufficient to carry enough vittle, drink, bread, for that was his manner of talking.  In short, my mind being strongly fixed upon my design of going over with him to the Continent, I very plainly told him that we would both go and make a boat full as big, and more proportionable than that, wherein he might safely return to his own nation.

These words made Friday look so very pensive that I thought he would have fallen at my feet.  It was some time before he could speak a word, which made me ask him, what was the matter with him?  He replied in a very soft and moving tone, What has poor Friday done? why are you angry mad with poor servant?  What me done, O what me done? “Friday,” said I, “you never yet have offended me, what makes you think I am angry with you, when I am not angry at all.” You no angry, no angry, said he several times, if you be no angry, why den send Friday over great water to my own nation? “Why from a mountain you beheld the place where you was born, and is it not to satisfy your desires that I am willing to give you leave to return thither?” Yes, yes, said Friday, me wish to be there sure enough, but then me with master there too:  no wish Friday there, no master there. In short, he could not endure the thoughts of going there without me.  “I go there!  Friday,” said I, “what shall I do there?” He answered very quickly, O master you do great deal much good, you teach all de wild mans to be good tame mans:  you learn dem to be sober, life good live, to know God, and pray God. “Alas! poor Friday,” said I, “what can I do against their priests of Benamuckee, or indeed what good can I make your nation sensible of, when I myself am but a poor ignorant man?” No, no, master, said he, you be no ignorant, you teachee me good, you teachee dem good. “You shall go without me, Friday,” said I, “for I don’t care to accompany you thither; I would rather live in this solitude than venture among such inhuman savages. Go your way since you desire it, and leave me alone by myself as I was before I saved your life.”