this, came to my assistance, and did all he could to pacify me; but all to very little purpose, till I had seen the boat go off.  Soon afterwards we came to the Nore, where the Roebuck lay; and, to our great joy, my master came on board to us, and brought us to the ship.  When I went on board this large ship, I was amazed indeed to see the quantity of men and the guns.  However my surprise began to diminish as my knowledge increased; and I ceased to feel those apprehensions and alarms which had taken such strong possession of me when I first came among the Europeans, and for some time after.  I began now to pass to an opposite extreme; I was so far from being afraid of any thing new which I saw, that, after I had been some time in this ship, I even began to long for a battle.  My griefs too, which in young minds are not perpetual, were now wearing away; and I soon enjoyed myself pretty well, and felt tolerably easy in my present situation.  There was a number of boys on board, which still made it more agreeable; for we were always together, and a great part of our time was spent in play.  I remained in this ship a considerable time, during which we made several cruises, and visited a variety of places:  among others we were twice in Holland, and brought over several persons of distinction from it, whose names I do not now remember.  On the passage, one day, for the diversion of those gentlemen, all the boys were called on the quarter-deck, and were paired proportionably, and then made to fight; after which the gentleman gave the combatants from five to nine shillings each.  This was the first time I ever fought with a white boy; and I never knew what it was to have a bloody nose before.  This made me fight most desperately; I suppose considerably more than an hour:  and at last, both of us being weary, we were parted.  I had a great deal of this kind of sport afterwards, in which the captain and the ship’s company used very much to encourage me.  Sometime afterwards the ship went to Leith in Scotland, and from thence to the Orkneys, where I was surprised in seeing scarcely any night:  and from thence we sailed with a great fleet, full of soldiers, for England.  All this time we had never come to an engagement, though we were frequently cruising off the coast of France:  during which we chased many vessels, and took in all seventeen prizes.  I had been learning many of the manoeuvres of the ship during our cruise; and I was several times made to fire the guns.  One evening, off Havre de Grace, just as it was growing dark, we were standing off shore, and met with a fine large French-built frigate.  We got all things immediately ready for fighting; and I now expected I should be gratified in seeing an engagement, which I had so long wished for in vain.  But the very moment the word of command was given to fire we heard those on board the other ship cry ’Haul down the jib;’ and in that instant she hoisted English colours.  There was instantly with us an amazing cry of—­Avast!