My good friends here are willing that the purchasing of all the stores required shall be in my hands, and you shall yourself test the quality of all the provisions before the bargains are concluded, so as to see that everything is sweet and wholesome.

My friends here will not appear in the affair at all, for if folks saw that four of us were concerned in the venture, they would think that it was something quite out of ordinary.
"All preparation will be made as quietly as possible, and it will be given out that the Swan is going to make a voyage to the Levant, and that she will carry a stronger battery of guns than usual to beat off any Moorish pirates she may meet by the way.

As it is known that she had a sharp fight, coming homeward, it will seem only natural that we should add to her armament.

I shall write up to my agent in London to purchase for me the articles required to trade with the natives, and bid him send them round here by sea, well packed in bales.

If we were to purchase so many strange articles, here, it would give rise to talk; for people would wonder with whom we intended to trade such goods.
"Tomorrow morning you and I will make out a list of what you deem advisable for the purpose." For another hour the party sat and talked; for, now that the other traders had fully determined to go into the venture, they were quite excited over it.
"Truly if I could but be spared from my business, here, I would gladly go with you myself," Master Streatham said.