The Adventures of Roderick Random

Generosity Toward Mackshane

Generosity Toward Mackshane During conversation, Thompson tells Roderick that Captain Oakum is dead and that a discovery of Oakum’s felonious concealment of prize goods has resulted in Dr. Mackshane’s imprisonment and utter destitution. Mackshane, reduced to begging charity from Thompson, is now the very man whose barbarity had once driven Thompson to despair aboard The Thunder. Though Mackshane is plainly guilty, Roderick applauds Thompson’s generosity in relieving him, and is so moved himself that he privately sends the wretch ten pistoles, ensuring the benefactor remains unknown.

Setting Sail for England

Setting Sail for England Captain Bowling writes to his owners to insure the ship and cargo for the homeward voyage, and with Thompson’s help the vessel is loaded within six weeks. Thompson likewise procures bills on London for the bulk of Don Rodrigo’s gold and silver, securing the money from the risks of sea and enemy, and provides such abundant stock that both passengers and crew fare sumptuously throughout the passage. After taking leave of their generous entertainers, Don Rodrigo and Roderick go aboard at Port Royal and set sail for England on the first day of June, beating up to windward in fine easy weather.

The Man on the Hencoop

The Man on the Hencoop Believing themselves near Cape Tiberon, the ship lies to with intent to water. A drunken sailor falls overboard and is lost despite every effort to save him. About two hours later, a voice rises from the sea hailing the ship; the crew, astonished, cries out that it must be the drowned man. Roderick jumps into the boat, rows toward the sound, and finds a man riding a hencoop. The mate, declaring the fellow must be the devil, orders the boat back to the ship, but Roderick insists on rescuing him. The stranger proves to be a sailor from the Vesuvio man-of-war, fallen overboard a full day before; his own ship had tossed him the hencoop rather than heave to. Delighted by his unconcerned manner, Don Rodrigo and Captain Bowling restore him to the Vesuvio two days later, when the warship is met as he expected.