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drawing up the anchor; both were finished at the same time; we

unfurled our sails and soon passed the Berry…head; which forms

the mouth of the bay。



We had not however sailed far when the wind; which; had though

with a slow pace; kept us company about six miles; suddenly

turned about; and offered to conduct us back again; a favor which;

though sorely against the grain; we were obliged to accept。



Nothing remarkable happened this day; for as to the firm

persuasion of the captain that he was under the spell of

witchcraft; I would not repeat it too often; though indeed he

repeated it an hundred times every day; in truth; he talked of

nothing else; and seemed not only to be satisfied in general of

his being bewitched; but actually to have fixed with good

certainty on the person of the witch; whom; had he lived in the

days of Sir Matthew Hale; he would have infallibly indicted; and

very possibly have hanged; for the detestable sin of witchcraft;

but that law; and the whole doctrine that supported it; are now

out of fashion; and witches; as a learned divine once chose to

express himself; are put down by act of parliament。  This witch;

in the captain's opinion; was no other than Mrs。 Francis of Ryde;

who; as he insinuated; out of anger to me for not spending more

money in her house than she could produce anything to exchange

for; or ally pretense to charge for; had laid this spell on his ship。



Though we were again got near our harbor by three in the

afternoon; yet it seemed to require a full hour or more before we

could come to our former place of anchoring; or berth; as the

captain called it。  On this occasion we exemplified one of the

few advantages which the travelers by water have over the

travelers by land。  What would the latter often give for the

sight of one of those hospitable mansions where he is assured

THAT THERE IS GOOD ENTERTAINMENT FOR MAN AND HORSE; and where

both may consequently promise themselves to assuage that hunger

which exercise is so sure to raise in a healthy constitution。



At their arrival at this mansion how much happier is the state of

the horse than that of the master!  The former is immediately led

to his repast; such as it is; and; whatever it is; he falls to it

with appetite。  But the latter is in a much worse situation。  His

hunger; however violent; is always in some degree delicate; and

his food must have some kind of ornament; or; as the more usual

phrase is; of dressing; to recommend it。  Now all dressing

requires time; and therefore; though perhaps the sheep might be

just killed before you came to the inn; yet in cutting him up;

fetching the joint; which the landlord by mistake said he had in

the house; from the butcher at two miles' distance; and

afterwards warming it a little by the fire; two hours at least

must be consumed; while hunger; for want of better food; preys

all the time on the vitals of the man。



How different was the case with us!  we carried our provision;

our kitchen; and our cook with us; and we were at one and the

same time traveling on our road; and sitting down to a repast of

fish; with which the greatest table in London can scarce at any

rate be supplied。



Friday。As we were disappointed of our wind; and obliged to

return back the preceding evening; we resolved to extract all the

good we could out of our misfortune; and to add considerably to

our fresh stores of meat and bread; with which we were very

indifferently provided when we hurried away yesterday。  By the

captain's advice we likewise laid in some stores of butter; which

we salted and potted ourselves; for our use at Lisbon; and we had

great reason afterwards to thank him for his advice。



In the afternoon I persuaded my wife whom it was no easy matter

for me to force from my side; to take a walk on shore; whither

the gallant captain declared he was ready to attend her。

Accordingly the ladies set out; and left me to enjoy a sweet and

comfortable nap after the operation of the preceding day。



Thus we enjoyed our separate pleasures full three hours; when we

met again; and my wife gave the foregoing account of the

gentleman whom I have before compared to Axylus; and of his

habitation; to both which she had been introduced by the captain;

in the style of an old friend and acquaintance; though this

foundation of intimacy seemed to her to be no deeper laid than in

an accidental dinner; eaten many years before; at this temple of

hospitality; when the captain lay wind…bound in the same bay。



Saturday。Early this morning the wind seemed inclined to change

in our favor。  Our alert captain snatched its very first motion;

and got under sail with so very gentle a breeze that; as the tide

was against him; he recommended to a fishing boy to bring after

him a vast salmon and some other provisions which lay ready for

him on shore。



Our anchor was up at six; and before nine in the morning we had

doubled the Berry…head; and were arrived off Dartmouth; having

gone full three miles in as many hours; in direct opposition to

the tide; which only befriended us out of our harbor; and though

the wind was perhaps our friend; it was so very silent; and

exerted itself so little in our favor; that; like some cool

partisans; it was difficult to say whether it was with us or

against us。  The captain; however; declared the former to be the

case during the whole three hours; but at last he perceived his

error; or rather; perhaps; this friend; which had hitherto

wavered in choosing his side; became now more determined。  The

captain then suddenly tacked about; and; asserting that he was

bewitched; submitted to return to the place from whence he came。

Now; though I am as free from superstition as any man breathing;

and never did believe in witches; notwithstanding all the

excellent arguments of my lord chief…justice Hale in their favor;

and long before they were put down by act of parliament; yet by

what power a ship of burden should sail three miles against both

wind and tide; I cannot conceive; unless there was some

supernatural interposition in the case; nay; could we admit that

the wind stood neuter; the difficulty would still remain。  So

that we must of necessity conclude that the ship was either

bewinded or bewitched。  The captain; perhaps; had another

meaning。  He imagined himself; I believe; bewitched; because the

wind; instead of persevering in its change in his favor; for

change it certainly did that morning; should suddenly return to

its favorite station; and blow him back towards the bay。  But; if

this was his opinion; he soon saw cause to alter; for he had not

measured half the way back when the wind again declared in his

favor; and so loudly; that there was no possibility of being

mistaken。  The orders for the second tack were given; and obeyed

with much more alacrity than those had been for the first。  We

were all of us indeed in high spirits on the occasion; though

some of us a little regretted the good things we were likely to

leave behind us by the fisherman's neglect; I might give it a

worse name; for he faithfully promised to execute the commission;

which he had had abundant opportunity to do; but nautica fides

deserves as much to be proverbial as ever Punica fides could

formerly have done。  Nay; when we consider that the Carthaginians

came from the Phenicians who are supposed to have produced the

first mariners; we may probably see the true reason of the adage;

and it may open a field of very curious discoveries to the antiquarian。



We were; however; too eager to pursue our voyage to suffer

anything we left behind us to interrupt our happiness; which;

indeed; many agreeable circumstances conspired to advance。  The

weather was inexpressibly pleasant; and we were all seated on the

deck; when our canvas began to swell with the wind。  We had

likewise in our view above thirty other sail around us; all in

the same situation。  Here an observation occurred to me; which;

perhaps; though extremely obvious; did not offer itself to every

individual in our little fleet:  when I perceived with what

different success we proceeded under the influence of a superior

power which; while we lay almost idle ourselves; pushed us

forward on our intended voyage; and compared this with the slow

progress which we had made in the morning; of ourselves; and

without any such assistance; I could not help reflecting how

often the greatest abilities lie wind…bound as it were in life;

or; if they venture out and attempt to beat the seas; they

struggle in vain against wind and tide; and; if they have not

sufficient prudence to put back; are most probably cast away on

the rocks and quicksands which are every day ready to devour them。



It was now our fortune to set out melioribus avibus。  The wind

freshened so briskly in our poop that the shore appeared to move

from us as fast as we did from the shore。  The captain declared

h

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