, being over-powered and
frightened; but that as for the boatswain, who it seems was the chief
officer among them, and all the rest, they were as outrageous as any of
the ship's crew, and were no doubt made desperate in their new
enterprise; and terribly apprehensive he was that they would be too
powerful for us. I smiled at him, and told him that men in our
circumstances were past the operation of fear; that seeing almost every
condition that could be was better than that which we were supposed to be
in, we ought to expect that the consequence, whether death or life, would
be sure to be a deliverance. I asked him what he thought of the
circumstances of my life, and whether a deliverance were not worth
venturing for? "And where, sir," said I, "is your belief of my being
preserved here on purpose to save your life, which elevated you a little
while ago? For my part," said I, "there seems to be but one thing amiss
in all the prospect of it." "What is that?" say he. "Why," said I, "it
is, that as you say there are three or four honest fellows among them
which should be spared, had they been all of the wicked part of the crew
I should have thought God's providence had singled them out to deliver
them into your hands; for depend upon it, every man that comes ashore is
our own, and shall die or live as they behave to us." As I spoke this
with a raised voice and cheerful countenance, I found it greatly
encouraged him; so we set vigorously to our business.

We had, upon the first appearance of the boat's coming from the ship,
considered of separating our prisoners; and we had, indeed, secured them
effectually. Two of them, of whom the captain was less assured than
ordinary, I sent with Friday, and one of the three delivered men, to my
cave, where they were remote enough, and out of danger of being heard or
discovered, or of finding their way out of the woods if they could have
delivered themselves. Here they left them bound, but gave them
provisions; and promised them, if they continued there quietly, to give
them their liberty in a day or two; but that if they attempted their
escape they should be put to death without mercy. They promised
faithfully to bear their confinement with patience, and were very
thankful that they had such good usage as to have provisions and light
left them; for Friday gave them candles (such as we made ourselves) for
their comfort; and they did not know but that he stood sentinel over them