one of my business--that it
was true Friday might justify it, because he was a declared enemy and in
a state of war with those very particular people, and it was lawful for
him to attack them--but I could not say the same with regard to myself.
These things were so warmly pressed upon my thoughts all the way as I
went, that I resolved I would only go and place myself near them that I
might observe their barbarous feast, and that I would act then as God
should direct; but that unless something offered that was more a call to
me than yet I knew of, I would not meddle with them.

With this resolution I entered the wood, and, with all possible wariness
and silence, Friday following close at my heels, I marched till I came to
the skirts of the wood on the side which was next to them, only that one
corner of the wood lay between me and them. Here I called softly to
Friday, and showing him a great tree which was just at the corner of the
wood, I bade him go to the tree, and bring me word if he could see there
plainly what they were doing. He did so, and came immediately back to
me, and told me they might be plainly viewed there--that they were all
about their fire, eating the flesh of one of their prisoners, and that
another lay bound upon the sand a little from them, whom he said they
would kill next; and this fired the very soul within me. He told me it
was not one of their nation, but one of the bearded men he had told me
of, that came to their country in the boat. I was filled with horror at
the very naming of the white bearded man; and going to the tree, I saw
plainly by my glass a white man, who lay upon the beach of the sea with
his hands and his feet tied with flags, or things like rushes, and that
he was an European, and had clothes on.

There was another tree and a little thicket beyond it, about fifty yards
nearer to them than the place where I was, which, by going a little way
about, I saw I might come at undiscovered, and that then I should be
within half a shot of them; so I withheld my passion, though I was indeed
enraged to the highest degree; and going back about twenty paces, I got
behind some bushes, which held all the way till I came to the other tree,
and then came to a little rising ground, which gave me a full view of
them at the distance of about eighty yards.

I had now not a moment to lose, for nineteen of the dreadful wretches sat
upon the ground, all close huddled together, and had just sent th