and at its close, lie down to die in this cave, like
the old goat.

As I went home I was struck by the sight of some smoke, which came from
a fire no more than two miles off. From this time I lost all my peace
of mind. Day and night a dread would haunt me, that the men who had made
this fire would find me out. I went home and drew up my steps, but first
I made all things round me look wild and rude. To load my gun was the
next thing to do, and I thought it would be best to stay at home and
hide.

But this was not to be borne long. I had no spy to send out and all I
could do was to get to the top of the hill, and keep a good look out. At
last, through my glass, I could see a group of wild men join in a dance
round their fire. As soon a they had left, I took two guns, and slung a
sword on my side; then with all speed, I set off to the top of the hill,
once more to have a good view.

This time I made up my mind to go up to the men, but not with a view to
kill them, for I felt that it would be wrong to do so. With such a load
of arms, it took me two hours to reach the spot where the fire was; and
by the time I got there, the men had all gone; but I saw them in four
boats out at sea.

Down on the shore, there was a proof of what the work of these men had
been. The signs of their feast made me sick at heart, and I shut my
eyes. I durst not fire my gun when I went out for food on that side the
isle, lest there should be some of the men left, who might hear it,
and so find me out. This state of things went on for a year and three
months, and for all that time I saw no more men.

On the twelfth of May, a great storm of wind blew all day and night. As
it was dark, I sat in my house; and in the midst of the gale, I heard
a gun fire! My guess was that it must have been from some ship cast on
shore by the storm. So I set a light to some wood on top of the hill,
that those in the ship, if ship it should be, might know that some one
was there to aid them. I then heard two more guns fire. When it was
light, I went to the South side of the isle, and there lay the wreck of
a ship, cast on the rocks in the night by the storm. She was too far off
for me to see if there were men on board.

Words could not tell how much I did long to bring but one of the ship's
crew to the shore! So strong was my wish to save the life of those on
board, that I could have laid down my own life to do so. There are some
springs in the heart which, when h