Not until I had passed my hands over the face could I believe it
was indeed my comrade, and it goes without saying that straightway
I insisted on knowing how he came there, when he should have been
in London town.
I cannot set the story down as Nathaniel Peacock told it to me on
that night, because his words were many; but the tale ran much like
this:
NATHANIEL'S STORY
When Captain John Smith had promised on Cheapside that I should
be one of the company of adventurers, because of such labor as it
might be possible for me to perform, and had refused to listen to
my comrade, Nathaniel, without acquainting me with the fact, had made
up his mind that he also would go into the new world of Virginia.
Fearing lest I would believe it my duty to tell Captain Smith of his
purpose, he kept far from me, doing whatsoever he might in London
town to earn as much as would provide him with food during a certain
time.
In this he succeeded so far as then seemed necessary, and when it
was known that the fleet was nearly ready to make sail, he came to
Blackwall with all his belongings tied in his doublet.
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