About three in the
afternoon
It was a prosperous voyage . It made me both a sailor and a merchant , for my adventure yielded me on my return to London almost £ 300 , and this filled me with those aspiring thoughts which have since so completed my ruin . I was now set up as a Guinea trader , and made up my mind to go the same voyage again in the same ship ; but this was the unhappiest voyage ever man made , for as we were off the African shore we were surprised by a Moorish rover of Salee , who gave chase with all sail . About three in the afternoon he came up with us , and after a great fight we were forced to yield , and were carried all prisoners into the port of Salee , where we were sold as slaves . I was fortunate enough to fall into the hands of a master who treated me with no little kindness . He frequently went fishing , and as I was dexterous in catching fish , he never went without me . One day he sent me out with a Moor to catch fish for him .