to
die. It was as much as I could do to make them sheath their swords,
which you saw were drawn to slay me. They have set me down in this isle
with these two men, my friend here, and the ship's mate."

"Where have they gone?" said I.

"There, in the wood, close by. I fear they may have seen and heard us.
If they have, they will be sure to kill us all."

"Have they fire-arms?"

"They have four guns, one of which is in the boat."

"Well then, leave all to me!"

"There are two of the men," said he, "who are worse than the rest. All
but these I feel sure would go back to work the ship."

I thought it was best to speak out to Paul at once, and I said, "Now if
I save your life, there are two things which you must do." But he read
my thoughts, and said, "If you save my life, you shall do as you like
with me and my ship, and take her where you please."

I saw that the two men, in whose charge the boat had been left, had come
on shore; so the first thing I did was to send Friday to fetch from it
the oars, the sail, and the gun. And now the ship might be said to be in
our hands. When the time came for the men to go back to the ship, they
were in a great rage; for, as the boat had now no sail nor oars, they
knew not how to get out to their ship.

We heard them say that it was a strange sort of isle, for that sprites
had come to the boat, to take off the sails and oars. We could see them
run to and fro, with great rage; then go and sit in the boat to rest,
and then come on shore once more. When they drew near to us, Paul and
Friday would fain have had me fall on them at once. But my wish was to
spare them, and kill as few as I could. I told two of my men to creep
on their hands and feet close to the ground, so that they might not be
seen, and when they got up to the men, not to fire till I gave the word.

They had not stood thus long, when three of the crew came up to us. Till
now, we had but heard their voice, but when they came so near as to be
seen, Paul and Friday stood up and shot at them. Two of the men fell
dead, and they were the worst of the crew, and the third ran off. At the
sound of the guns I came up, but it was so dark that the men could not
tell if there were three of us or three score.

It fell out just as I could wish, for I heard the men ask, "To whom must
we yield, and where are they?" Friday told them that Paul was there with
the king of the isle, who had brought with him a crowd of men! At this
on