In this, the American captain, whose name was Green, most heartily concurred.  Indeed, ever since this poor man had been received into the boat, he had been a very different character to what I had at first supposed him; he constantly refused his allowance of spirits, giving it among the sailors; he was silent and meditative; I often found him in prayer, and on these occasions I never interrupted him.  At other times, he studied how he might make himself most useful.  He would patch and mend the people’s clothes and shoes, or show them how to do it for themselves.  Whenever any hard work was to be done, he was always the first to begin, and the last to leave off; and to such a degree did he carry his attention and kindness, that we all began to love him, and to treat him with great respect.  He took charge of a watch when we were at sea, and never closed his eyes during his hour of duty.

Nor was this the effect of fear, or the dread of ill-usage among so many Englishmen, whom his errors had led into so much misfortune.  He very soon had an opportunity of proving that his altered conduct was the effect of sorrow and repentance.  The next morning I sent a party round by the sea-shore, with directions to walk up the valley and bury the bodies of our unfortunate companions.  The two men who had accompanied me were of the number sent on this service; when they returned, I pointed out to them how disastrous our residence had been on this fatal island, and how much better it had been for us if we had continued our course to Rio Janeiro, which, being only two hundred and fifty or two hundred and sixty leagues distant, we should by that time nearly have reached:  that we were now expending the most valuable part of our provisions, namely—­our spirits and tobacco; while our boat, our only hope and resource, was not even in safety, since a gale of wind might destroy her.  I therefore proposed to make immediate preparations for our departure, to which all unanimously agreed.

We divided the various occupations; some went to fetch a sea stock of young birds, which were killed and dressed to save our salt provisions; others filled all our water-casks.  Captain Green superintended the rigging, sails, and oars of the boat, and saw that every thing was complete in that department.  The spirits remaining were getting low, and Captain Green, the midshipman, and myself, agreed to drink none, but reserve it for pressing emergencies.  In three days after beginning our preparations, and the seventh after our landing, we embarked, and after being nearly swamped by the surf, once more hoisted our sail on the wide waters of the Atlantic Ocean.