John halted at some little distance
from Hector's house until about midnight, when, calling his men
together, he feelingly addressed them thus: "Now, my good friends,
I perceive that you are indeed affectionate to me, and resolute
men, who have freely forsaken your country and relations to share
in my not very promising fortune but my design in seeking only
such as would voluntarily go along with me was that I might be
certain of your affection and resolution, and since you are they
whom I ought only to rely upon in my present circumstances and
danger, I shall now tell you that I was never so faint-hearted as
to quit my inheritance without attempting what is possible for
any man in my capacity. In order to this I feigned this design
for Ireland for three reasons; first, to put my uncle in security,
whom I have found ever hitherto very circumspect and well guarded;
next, to find out a select, faithful number to whom I might trust
and thirdly, that in case I fail, and that my uncle shall prevail
over my endeavours, that I might have this boat and these provisions
as a safe retreat, both for myself and you, whom I should be loath
to expose to so great a danger without some probability in the
attempt, and some security in the disappointment.
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