could not think of doing
myself; nay, I could not bear to see them if I went that way; all which
he punctually performed, and effaced the very appearance of the savages
being there; so that when I went again, I could scarce know where it was,
otherwise than by the corner of the wood pointing to the place.

I then began to enter into a little conversation with my two new
subjects; and, first, I set Friday to inquire of his father what he
thought of the escape of the savages in that canoe, and whether we might
expect a return of them, with a power too great for us to resist. His
first opinion was, that the savages in the boat never could live out the
storm which blew that night they went off, but must of necessity be
drowned, or driven south to those other shores, where they were as sure
to be devoured as they were to be drowned if they were cast away; but, as
to what they would do if they came safe on shore, he said he knew not;
but it was his opinion that they were so dreadfully frightened with the
manner of their being attacked, the noise, and the fire, that he believed
they would tell the people they were all killed by thunder and lightning,
not by the hand of man; and that the two which appeared--viz. Friday and
I--were two heavenly spirits, or furies, come down to destroy them, and
not men with weapons. This, he said, he knew; because he heard them all
cry out so, in their language, one to another; for it was impossible for
them to conceive that a man could dart fire, and speak thunder, and kill
at a distance, without lifting up the hand, as was done now: and this old
savage was in the right; for, as I understood since, by other hands, the
savages never attempted to go over to the island afterwards, they were so
terrified with the accounts given by those four men (for it seems they
did escape the sea), that they believed whoever went to that enchanted
island would be destroyed with fire from the gods. This, however, I knew
not; and therefore was under continual apprehensions for a good while,
and kept always upon my guard, with all my army: for, as there were now
four of us, I would have ventured upon a hundred of them, fairly in the
open field, at any time.

CHAPTER XVII--VISIT OF MUTINEERS

In a little time, however, no more canoes appearing, the fear of their
coming wore off; and I began to take my former thoughts of a voyage to
the main into consideration; being likewise assured by Friday's father
t