then just going to untie the bands from his feet, in
order for death, as fetters are knocked off the feet of malefactors
before they go to the place of execution. Hereupon, immediately turning
to my man, 'now, Friday' said I 'mind what I say, fail in nothing, but
do exactly as you see me do'. All which he promising--he would perform,
I let down one of my muskets, and fowling-piece upon the ground, and
Friday did the same by his; and with the other musket I took my aim at
the savages, bidding him do the like: 'Are you ready' said I: _Yes,
Master,_ said he; 'why then fire at them,' said I; and that very moment
I gave fire likewise.

I only killed one and wounded two; but my man Friday, taking his aim
much better than I, killed two and wounded three. You may be sure they
were in a dreadful consternation, at, such an unexpected disaster, and
those who had yet escaped our penetrating shot, immediately jumped upon
their feet, but were in such a confusion, that they knew not which way
to run or look; not knowing from whence their destruction came. We threw
down our pieces, and took up others, giving a second dreadful volley;
but as they were loaded only with swan shot, or small pistol bullets, we
perceived only two of them fall; tho many were wounded, who run yelling
and screaming about like mad creatures. 'Now, Friday,' said I, 'lay down
your piece, and take up the musket, and follow me.' He did so, with
great courage, when showing ourselves to the savages we give a great
shout, and made directly to the poor victim, who would have been
sacrificed, had not our first fire obliged the butchers, with three
others, to jump into a canoe. By my order, Friday fired at them, at
which shot I thought he had killed them all, by reason of their falling
to the bottom of the boat; however, he killed two, and mortally wounded
a third. In the mean time, I cut the flags that tied the hands and feet
of the poor creature, and lifting him up asked him in the Portuguese
tongue, _What he was?_ He answered me in Latin, _Christiantis;_ but so
very weak and faint, that he could scarce stand or speak. Immediately I
gave him a dram; and a piece of bread to cherish him, and asked him,
What countryman he was? He said, _Hispaniola;_ and then uttered all the
thankfulness imaginable for his deliverance. 'Signior,' said I, with as
much Spanish as I was master of, 'let us talk afterwards, but fight now;
here, take this sword and pistol, and do what you can.' An