_D_. I am not to be your adviser. _W_. Thou art perhaps afraid to speak thy mind, because thou art in their power. Pray, do any of them understand what thou and I say? Can they speak Dutch? _D_. No, not one of them; I have no apprehensions upon that account at all. _W_. Why, then, answer me plainly, if thou art a Christian: Is it safe for us to venture upon their words, to put ourselves into their hands, and come on shore? _D_. You put it very home to me. Pray let me ask you another question: Are you in any likelihood of getting your ship off, if you refuse it? _W_. Yes, yes, we shall get off the ship; now the storm is over we don't fear it. _D_. Then I cannot say it is best for you to trust them. _W_. Well, it is honestly said. _D_. But what shall I say to them? _W_. Give them good words, as they give us. _D_. What good words? _W_. Why, let them tell the king that we are strangers, who were driven on his coast by a great storm; that we thank him very kindly for his offer of civility to us, which, if we are further distressed, we will accept thankfully; but that at present we have no occasion to come on shore; and besides, that we cannot safely leave the ship in the present condition she is in; but that we are obliged to take care of her, in order to get her off; and expect, in a tide or two more, to get her quite clear, and at an anchor. _D_. But he will expect you to come on shore, then, to visit him, and make him some present for his civility. _W_. When we have got our ship clear, and stopped the leaks, we will pay our respects to him. _D_. Nay, you may as well come to him now as then. _W_. Nay, hold, friend; I did not say we would come to him then: you talked of making him a present, that is to pay our respects to him, is it not? _D_. Well, but I will tell him that you will come on shore to him when your ship is got off. _W_. I have nothing to say to that; you may tell him what you think fit. _D_. But he will be in a great rage if I do not. _W_. Who will he be in a great rage at? _D_. At you. _W_. What occasion have we to value that? _D_. Why, he will send all his army down against you. _W_. And what if they were all here just now? What dost thou suppose they could do to us? _D_. He would expect they should burn your ships and bring you all to him. _W_. Tell him, if he should try, he may catch a Tartar. _D_. He has a world of men. _W_. Has he any ships? _D_. No, he has no ships. _W_. Nor boats? _D_. No, nor boats. _W_. Why, what then do you think we care for his men? What canst thou do now to us, if thou hadst a hundred thousand with thee? _D_. Oh! they might set you on fire. _W_. Set us a-firing, thou meanest; that they might indeed; but set us on fire they shall not; they may try, at their peril, and we shall make mad work with your hundred thousand men, if they come within reach of our guns, I assure thee. _D_. But what if the king gives you hostages for your safety?