ptain, "Have you your knife? For if they
remain asleep, let us wait an hour or so, and if you can cut the leather
thong which the Indian holds in his hand, and then watch your
opportunity, I will do the same, and we may escape."

"I have my knife, but my Indian is not asleep," replied he; "I will wait
till he is."

"What signal shall we make if we succeed?" said I.

"When you are ready, lift your arm up,--I shall understand,--and if I am
ready I will do the same. Agreed; and now let us be quiet, for depend
upon it our conversation has roused them all."

We then composed ourselves, as if to sleep, and remained in that way for
more than an hour, by which time we were convinced that our captors were
slumbering. I then drew out my knife, for the Indians had not attempted
to rifle us, and cut the thong which was round my arm, without awaking
the Indian who had the other end in his hand. I remained quiet for a
quarter of an hour, when the Portuguese lifted up his arm as a signal
that he was free. I listened attentively, and, being certain that the
Indians were asleep, I lifted up my arm also.

The Portuguese then rose up carefully, and without noise, stepping past
the bodies of the Indians, till he was clear of the circle. I did the
same, and pointed to the muskets, which lay on the grass by the Indians.
He took one up and I another and we retreated to a short distance.

"We must have the other muskets," said I; "stay where you are."

I advanced cautiously and took up the other three muskets, and was
retreating with them, when one of the Indians turned round as if
awaking. I ran past, the Portuguese, and making a sign for him to
follow me we retreated a few yards into the wood, where we could watch
the Indians without being seen ourselves. The Portuguese motioned to be
off but I detained him, and I was right. The Indian roused up and sat
upon his haunches; perceiving that we had escaped, he waked up the
others. They started on their feet, and looking round found that the
muskets were all gone; and then they held a consultation. At last they
appeared to have made up their minds to follow, and, if possible,
recapture us, for they went back in the direction of the sea.

"Now, then, we must hide three of the muskets," said I, in a whisper,
"and keep the others to defend ourselves."

We examined and found that they were all loaded, and the Portuguese then
said to me, "There are five of them. If they meet with