a musket, I took aim at the savages; Friday did the
like, and we fired, killing three of them and wounding five more. They
were in a dreadful consternation, and after we fired again among the
amazed wretches, I made directly towards the poor victim who was lying
upon the beach. Loosing him, I found he was a Spaniard. He took pistol
and sword from me thankfully, and flew upon his murderers, and, Friday,
pursuing the flying wretches, in the end but four of the twenty-one
escaped in a canoe.

I was minded to pursue them lest they should return with a greater force
and devour us by mere multitude. So, running to a canoe, I bade Friday
follow me, but was surprised to find another poor creature lying
therein, bound hand and foot. I immediately cut his fastenings and bade
Friday tell him of his deliverance. But when Friday came to hear him
speak and to look in his face, it would have moved anyone to tears to
have seen how Friday kissed him, embraced him, hugged him, cried,
danced, sung, and then cried again. It was a good while before I could
make him tell me what was the matter, but when he came a little to
himself, he told me it was his father. He sat down by the old man a long
while, and took his arms and ankles, which were numbed with the binding,
and chafed and rubbed them with his hands.

My island was now peopled, and I thought myself rich in subjects. The
Spaniard and the old savage had been with us about seven months, sharing
in our labours, when, being unable to keep means of deliverance out of
my thoughts, I gave them leave to go over in one of the canoes to the
mainland, where some of the Spaniard's shipmates were cast away, giving
them provisions sufficient for themselves and all the Spaniards, for
eight days.

It was no less than eight days I had waited for their return when Friday
came to me and called aloud, "Master, master, they are come!" I jumped
up and climbed to the top of the hill, and with my glass plainly made
out an English ship, and its long-boat standing in for the shore. I
cannot express the joy I was in at seeing a ship, and one that was
manned by my own countrymen; but yet I had some secret doubts, bidding
me keep on my guard. Presently the boat was run upon the beach, and in
all eleven men landed, whereof three were unarmed and bound, whom I
could perceive using passionate gestures of entreaty and despair.
Presently the seamen were all gone straggling in the woods, leaving the
three distressed