All I shew'd them，all I Said to them，was perfectly amazing；but above all，the Captain admir'd my Fortification，and how perfectly I had conceal'd my Retreat with a Grove of Trees，which having been now planted near twenty Years，and the Trees growing much faster than in England，was become a little Wood，and so thick，that it was unpassable in any Part of it，but at that one Side，where I had reserv'd my little winding Passage into it：I told him，this was my Castle，and my Residence；but that I had a Seat in the Country，as most Princes have，whither I could retreat upon Occasion，and I would shew him that too another Time；but at present，our Business was to consider how to recover the Ship：He agreed with me as to that；but told me，he was perfectly at a Loss what Measures to take；for that there were still six and twenty Hands on board，who having entred into a cursed Conspiracy，by which they had all forfeited their Lives to the Law，would be harden'd in it now by Desperation；and would carry it on，knowing that if they were reduc'd，they should be brought to the Gallows，as soon as they came to England，or to any of the English Colonies；and that therefore there would be no attacking them，with so small a Number as we were.
I mus'd for some Time upon what he had said；and found it was a very rational Conclusion；and that therefore something was to be resolv'd on very speedily，as well to draw the Men on board into some Snare for their Surprize，as to prevent their Landing upon us，and destroying us；upon this it presently occurr'd to me，that in a little while the Ship's Crew wondring what was become of their Comrades，and of the Boat，would certainly come on Shore in their other Boat，to see for them，and that then perhaps they might come arm'd，and be too strong for us；this he allow'd was rational.
Upon this，I told him the first Thing we had to do，was to stave the Boat，which lay upon the Beach，so that they might not carry her off；and taking every Thing out of her，leave her so far useless as not to be fit to swim；accordingly we went on board，took the Arms which were left on board，out of her，and whatever else we found there，which was a Bottle of Brandy，and another of Rum，a few Bisket Cakes，a Horn of Powder，and a great Lump of Sugar，in a Piece of Canvas；the Sugar was five or six Pounds；all which was very welcome to me，especially the Brandy，and Sugar，of which I had had none left for many Years.