xpress his opinion that they had once been more
numerous, and, by way of representing what he imagined had become of
their companions, he laid himself on the deck, closing his eyes, and
stretching himself out motionless, as if to imitate the appearance of
a dead body.

The strongest proof of his sagacity was the manner of his getting
away. After having been on board the Anna for eight days, the scuttle
of the forecastle, where he and his family were locked up every night,
happened to be left unnailed, and on the following night, which
was extremely dark and stormy, he contrived to convey his wife and
children through the scuttle, and then over the ship's side into the
yawl, and immediately rowed on shore, using the precaution to cut
away the long-boat and his own periagua, which were towing astern, to
prevent being pursued. He conducted all this with so much silence
and secrecy, that, though there was a watch on the quarter-deck with
loaded arms, he was not discovered by them till the noise of his oars
in the water gave notice of his escape, after he had put off from the
ship, when it was too late either to prevent or pursue him. Besides,
as their boats were all adrift, it was some time before they could
contrive the means of getting on shore to search for their boats. By
this effort, besides regaining his liberty, the Indian was in some
measure revenged on those who had confined him, both by the perplexity
they were in for the loss of their boats, and by the terror occasioned
by his departure; for, on the first alarm of the watch, who cried,
"The Indians," the whole crew were in the utmost confusion, believing
that the ship had been boarded by a whole fleet of armed canoes.

Had the resolution and sagacity with which this Indian behaved on
this occasion, been exerted on a more extensive object, it might have
immortalized the exploit, and given him a rank among the illustrious
names of antiquity. The people of the Anna, indeed, allowed that it
was a most gallant enterprise, and were grieved at having thus been
under the necessity, from attention to their own safety, to abridge
the liberty of one who had now given so distinguished a proof of
courage and prudence. As he was supposed still to continue in the
woods near the port, where he might suffer for want of provisions,
they easily prevailed on the master to leave a quantity of such food
as they thought would be most agreeable to him in a place where he
was likely to