Chapter 7
To remedy this, I went
to Work in my Thought, and calling to Friday to bid them sit down on the Bank
while he came to me, I soon made a Kind of Hand-Barrow to lay them on, and Friday
and I carry'd them up both together upon it between us: But when we got them to
the outside of our Wall or Fortification, we were at a worse Loss than before;
for it was impossible to get them over; and I was resolv'd not to break it
down: So I set to Work again; and Friday and I, in about 2 Hours time, made a
very handsom Tent, cover'd with old Sails, and above that with Boughs of Trees,
being in the Space without our outward Fence, and between that and the Grove of
young Wood which I had planted: And here we made them two Beds of such things
as I had (viz.) of good Rice-Straw, with Blankets laid upon it to lye
on, and another to cover them on each Bed.
My
As soon as I had secur'd
my two weak rescued Prisoners, and given them Shelter, and a Place to rest them
upon, I began to think of making some Provision for them: And the first thing I
did, I order'd Friday to take a yearling Goat, betwixt a Kid and a Goat, out of
my particular Flock, to be kill'd, when I cut off the hinder Quarter, and
chopping it into small Pieces, I set Friday to Work to boiling and stewing, and
made them a very good Dish, I assure you, of Flesh and Broth, having put some
Barley and Rice also into the Broth; and as I cook'd it without Doors, for I
made no Fire within my inner Wall, so I carry'd it all into the new Tent; and
having set a Table there for them, I sat down and eat my own Dinner also with
them, and, as well as I could, chear'd them and encourag'd them; Friday
being my Interpreter, especially to his Father, and indeed to the Spaniard
too; for the Spaniard spoke the Language of the Savages
pretty well.
After we had dined, or
rather supped, I order'd Friday to take one of the Canoes, and go and
fetch our Muskets and other Fire-Arms, which for Want of time we had left upon
the Place of Battle, and the next Day I order'd him to go and bury the dead
Bodies of the Savages, which lay open to the Sun, and would presently be
offensive; and I also order'd him to bury the horrid Remains of their barbarous
Feast, which I knew were pretty much, and which I could not think of doing my
self; nay, I could not bear to see them, if I went that Way: All which he
punctually performed, and defaced 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 enquire 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 frighted with the Manner of
their being attack'd, the Noise and the Fire, that he believed they would tell
their People, they were all kill'd by Thunder and Lightning, not by the Hand of
Man, and that the two which appear'd, (viz.) Friday and me, 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 to one another, for it was impossible to 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 believ'd whoever went to
that enchanted Island would be destroy'd 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, me and all my Army; for as we were now four of us, I
would have ventur'd upon a hundred of them fairly in the open Field at any
Time.
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
But my Thoughts were a
little suspended, when I had a serious Discourse with the Spaniard,
and when I understood that there were sixteen more of his Countrymen and Portuguese,
who having been cast away, and made their Escape to that Side, liv'd there at
Peace indeed with the Savages, but were very sore put to it for Necessaries,
and indeed for Life: I ask'd him all the Particulars of their Voyage, and found
they were a Spanish Ship bound from the Rio de
He told me, they had
some Arms with them, but they were perfectly useless, for that they had neither
Powder or Ball, the Washing of the Sea having spoil'd all their Powder but a
little, which they used at their first Landing to provide themselves some Food.
I ask'd him what he
thought would become of them there, and if they had form'd no Design of making
any Escape? He said, They had many Consultations about it, but that having
neither Vessel, or Tools to build one, or Provisions of any kind, their
Councils always ended in Tears and Despair.
I ask'd him how he
thought they would receive a Proposal from me, which might tend towards an
Escape? And whether, if they were all here, it might not be done? I told him
with Freedom, I fear'd mostly their Treachery and ill Usage of me, if I put my
Life in their Hands; for that Gratitude was no inherent Virtue in the Nature of
Man; nor did Men always square their Dealings by the Obligations they had
receiv'd, So much as they did by the Advantages they expected. I told him it
would be very hard, that I should be the Instrument of their Deliverance, and
that they should afterwards make me their Prisoner in New Spain, where
an English Man was certain to be made a Sacrifice, what Necessity, or
what Accident soever, brought him thither: And that I had rather be deliver'd
up to the Savages, and be devour'd alive, than fall into the merciless
Claws of the Priests, and be carry'd into the Inquisition. I added,
That otherwise I was perswaded, if they were all here, we might, with so many
Hands, build a Bark large enough to carry us all away, either to the Brasils
South-ward, or to the Islands or Spanish Coast North-ward: But that if
in Requital they should, when I had put Weapons into their Hands, catty me by
Force among their own People, I might be ill used for my Kindness to them, and
make my Case worse than it was before.
He answer'd with a great
deal of Candor and Ingenuity, That their Condition was so miserable, and they
were so sensible of it, that he believed they would abhor the Thought of using
any Man unkindly that should contribute to their Deliverance; and that, if I
pleased, he would go to them with the old Man, and discourse with them about
it, and return again, and bring me their Answer: That he would make Conditions
with them upon their solemn Oath, That they should be absolutely under my
Leading, as their Commander and Captain; and that they should swear upon the
Holy Sacraments and the Gospel, to be true to me, and to go to such Christian
Country, as that I should agree to, and no other; and to be directed wholly and
absolutely by my Orders, 'till they were landed safely in such Country, as I
intended; and that he would bring a Contract from them under their Hands for
that Purpose.
Then he told me, he
would first swear to me himself, That he would never stir from me as long as he
liv'd, 'till I gave him Orders; and that he would take my Side to the last Drop
of his Blood, if there should happen the least Breach of Faith among his
Country-men.
He told me, they were
all of them very civil honest Men, and they were under the greatest Distress
imaginable, having neither Weapons or Cloaths, nor any Food, but at the Mercy
and Discretion of the Savages; out of all Hopes of ever returning to
their own Country; and that he was sure, if I would undertake their Relief,
they would live and die by me.
Upon these Assurances, I
resolv'd to venture to relieve them, if possible, and to send the old Savage
and this Spaniard over to them to treat: But when we had gotten all things in a
Readiness to go, the Spaniard himself started an Objection, which had
so much Prudence in it on one hand, and so much Sincerity on the other hand,
that I could not but be very well satisfy'd in it; and by his Advice, put off
the Deliverance of his Comerades, for at least half a Year. The Case was thus:
He had been with us now
about a Month; during which time, I had let him see in what Manner I had
provided, with the Assistance of Providence, for my Support; and he saw
evidently what Stock of Corn and Rice I had laid up; which as it was more than
sufficient for my self, so it was not sufficient, at least without good
Husbandry, for my Family; now it was encreas'd to Number four: But much less
would it be sufficient, if his Country-men, who were, as he said, fourteen'
still alive, should Come over. And least of all should it be sufficient to
victual our Vessel, if we should build one, for a Voyage to any of the
Christian Colonies of
His Caution was so
seasonable, and his Advice so good, that I could not but be very well pleased
with his Proposal, as well as I was satisfy'd with his Fidelity. So we fell to
digging all four of us, as well as the Wooden Tools we were furnish'd with
permitted; and in about a Month's time, by the End of which it was Seed time,
we had gotten as much Land cur'd and trim'd up, as we sowed 22 Bushels of
Barley on, and 16 Jarrs of Rice, which was in short all the Seed we had to
spare; nor indeed did we leave our selves Barley sufficient for our own Food,
for the six Months that we had to expect our Crop, that is to say, reckoning
from the time we set our Seed aside for sowing; for it is not to be supposed it
is six Months in the Ground in the Country.
Having now Society
enough, and our Number being sufficient to put us out of Fear of the Savages,
if they had come, unless their Number had been very great, we went freely all
over the Island, where-ever we found Occasion; and as here we had our Escape or
Deliverance upon our Thoughts, it was impossible, at least for me, to
have the Means of it out of mine; to this Purpose, I mark'd out several Trees
which I thought fit for our Work, and I set Friday and his Father to
cutting them down; and then I caused the Spaniard, to whom I imparted
my Thought on that Affair, to oversee and direct their Work. I shewed them with
what indefatigable Pains I had hewed a large Tree into single Planks, and I
caused them to do the like, till they had made about a Dozen large Planks of
good Oak, near
It was now Harvest, and
our Crop in good Order; it was not the most plentiful Encrease I had seen in
the Island, but however it was enough to answer our End; for from our 22
Bushels of Barley, we brought in and thrashed out above 220 Bushels; and the
like in Proportion of the Rice, which was Store enough for our Food to the next
Harvest, tho' all the 16 Spaniards had been on Shore with me; or if we
had been ready for a Voyage, it would very plentifully have victualled our
Ship, to have carry'd us to any Part of the World, that is to say, of America.
When we had thus hous'd
and secur'd our Magazine of Corn, we fell to Work to make more Wicker Work,
(viz.) great Baskets in which we kept it; and the Spaniard was very
handy and dexterous at this Part, and often blam'd me that I did not make some
things, for Defence, of this Kind of Work; but I saw no Need of it.
And now having a full
Supply of Food for all the Guests I expected, I gave the Spaniard
Leave to go over to the
Under these
Instructions, the Spaniard, and the old Savage the Father of Friday,
went away in one of the Canoes, which they might be said to come in, or rather
were brought in, when they came as Prisoners to be devour'd by the Savages.
I gave each of them a
Musket with a Firelock on it, and about eight Charges of Powder and Ball,
charging them to be very good Husbands of both, and not to use either of them
but upon urgent Occasion.
This was a chearful
Work, being the first Measures used by me in View of my Deliverance for now 27
Years and some Days. I gave them Provisions of Bread, and of dry'd Grapes,
sufficient for themselves for many Days, and sufficient for all their Country-men
for about eight Days time; and wishing them a good Voyage, I see them go,
agreeing with them about a Signal they should hang out at their Return, by
which I should know them again, when they came back, at a Distance, before they
came on Shore.
They went away with a
fair Gale on the Day that the Moon was at Full by my Account, in the Month of October:
But as for an exact Reckoning of Days, after I had once lost it I could never
recover it again; nor had I kept even the Number of Years so punctually, as to
be sure that I was right, tho' as it prov'd, when I afterwards examin'd my
Account, I found I had kept a true Reckoning of Years.
It was no less than
eight Days I had waited for them, when a Strange and unforeseen Accident
interveen'd, of which the like has not perhaps been heard of in History: I was
fast asleep in my Hutch one Morning, when my Man Friday came running
in to me, and call'd aloud, Master, Master, they are come, they are come.
I jump'd up, and
regardless of Danger, I went out, as soon as I could get my Cloaths on, thro'
my little Grove, which by the Way was by this time grown to be a very thick
Wood; I say, regardless of Danger, I went without my Arms, which was not my
Custom to do: But I was surpriz'd, when turning my Eyes to the Sea, I presently
saw a Boat at about a League and half's Distance, standing in for the Shore,
with a Shoulder of Mutton Sail, as they call it; and the Wind blowing
pretty fair to bring them in; also I observ'd presently, that they did not come
from that Side which the Shore lay on, but from the Southermost End of the
Island: Upon this I call'd Friday in, and bid him lie close, for these
were not the People we look'd for, and that we might not know yet whether they
were Friends or Enemies.
In the next Place, I
went in to fetch my Perspective Glass, to see what I could make of them; and
having taken the Ladder out, I climb'd up to the Top of the Hill, as I used to
do when I was apprehensive of any thing, and to take my View the plainer
without being discover'd.
I had scarce Set my Foot
on the Hill, when my Eye plainly discover'd a Ship lying at an Anchor, at about
two Leagues and an half's Distance from me South-south-east, but not above a
League and an half from the Shore. By my Observation it appear'd plainly to be
an English Ship, and the Boat appear'd to be an English
Long-Boat.
I cannot express the
Confusion I was in, tho' the Joy of seeing a Ship, and one who I had Reason to
believe was Mann'd by my own Country-men, and consequently Friends, was such as
I cannot describe; but yet I had some secret Doubts hung about me, I cannot
tell from whence they came, bidding me keep upon my Guard. In the first Place,
it occurr'd to me to consider what Business an English Ship could have
in that Part of the World, since it was not the Way to or from any Part of the
World, where the English had any Traffick; and I knew there had been
no Storms to drive them in there, as in Distress; and that if they were English
really, it was most probable that they were here upon no good Design; and that
I had better continue as I was, than fall into the Hands of Thieves and
Murtherers.
Let no Man despise the
secret Hints and Notices of Danger, which sometimes are given him, when he may
think there is no Possibility of its being real. That such Hints and Notices
are given us, I believe few that have made any Observations of things, can
deny; that they are certain Discoveries' of an invisible World, and a Converse
of Spirits, we cannot doubt; and if the Tendency of them seems to be to warn us
of Danger, why should we not suppose they are from some friendly Agent, whether
supreme, or inferior, and subordinate, is not the Question; and that they are
given for our Good?
The present Question
abundantly confirms me in the Justice of this Reasoning; for had I not been
made cautious by this secret Admonition, come it from whence it will, I had
been undone inevitably, and in a far worse Condition than before, as you will
see presently.
I had not kept my self
long in this Posture, but I saw the Boat draw near the Shore, as if they look'd
for a Creek to thrust in at for the Convenience of Landing; however, as they
did not come quite far enough, they did not see the little Inlet where I
formerly landed my Rafts; but run their Boat on Shore upon the Beach, at about
half a Mile from me, which was very happy for me; for otherwise they would have
landed just as I may say at my Door, and would soon have beaten me out of my
Castle, and perhaps have plunder'd me of all I had.
When they were on Shore,
I was fully satisfy'd that they were English Men; at least, most of
them; one or two I thought were Dutch; but it did not prove so: There
were in all eleven Men, whereof three of them I found were unarm'd, and as I
thought, bound; and when the first four or five of them were jump'd on Shore,
they took those three out of the Boat as Prisoners: One of the three I could
perceive using the most passionate Gestures of Entreaty, Affliction and
Despair, even to a kind of Extravagance; the other two I could perceive lifted
up their Hands sometimes, and appear'd concern'd indeed, but not to such a
Degree as the first.
I was perfectly
confounded at the Sight, and knew not what the Meaning of it should be. Friday
call'd out to me in English, as well as he could, O Master! You see
English Mans eat Prisoner as well as Savage Mans. Why, says
I, Friday, Do you think they are a going to eat them
then? Yes, says Friday, They mill eat them: No, no, says I,
Friday, I am afraid they mill murther them indeed, but you may be sure they
will not eat them.
All this while I had no
thought of what the Matter really was; but Stood trembling with the Horror of
the Sight, expecting every Moment when the three Prisoners should be kill'd;
nay, Once I saw one of the Villains lift up his Arm with a great Cutlash, as
the Seamen call it, or Sword, to spike one of the poor Men; and I expected to
see him fall every Moment, at which all the Blood in my Body seem'd to run
chill in my Veins.
I wish'd heartily now
for my Spaniard, and the Savage that was gone with him; or
that I had any way to have come undiscover'd within shot of them, that I might
have rescu'd the three Men; for I saw no Fire Arms they had among them; but it
fell out to my Mind another way.
After I had Observ'd the
outragious Usage of the three Men, by the insolent Seamen, I observ'd the
Fellows run scattering about the Land, as if they wanted to see the Country: I
observ'd that the three other Men had Liberty to go also where they pleas'd;
but they Sat down all three upon the Ground, very pensive, and look'd like Men
in Despair.
This put me in Mind of
the first Time when I came on Shore, and began to look about me; How I gave my
self over for lost: How wildly I look'd round me: What dreadful Apprehensions I
had: And how I lodg'd in the Tree all Night for fear of being devour'd by wild
Beasts.
As I knew nothing that
Night of the Supply I was to receive by the providential Driving of the Ship
nearer the Land, by the Storms and Tide, by which I have since been so long
nourish'd and Supported; so these three poor desolate Men knew nothing how
certain of Deliverance and Supply they were, how near it was to them, and how
effectually and really they were in a Condition of Safety, at the same Time
that they thought themselves lost, and their Case desperate.
So little do we see
before us in the World, and so much reason have we to depend chearfully upon
the great Maker of the World, that he does not leave his Creatures so
absolutely destitute, but that in the worst Circumstances they have always
something to be thankful for, and sometimes are nearer their Deliverance than
they imagine; nay, are even brought to their Deliverance by the Means by which
they seem to be brought to their Destruction.
It was just at the Top
of High-Water when these People came on Shore, and while partly they stood
parlying with the Prisoners they brought, and partly while they rambled about
to see what kind of a Place they were in; they had carelessly staid till the
Tide was spent, and the Water was ebb'd considerably away, leaving their Boat
a-ground.
They had left two Men in
the Boat, who as I found afterwards, having drank a little too much Brandy,
fell a-sleep; however, one of them waking Sooner than the other, and finding
the Boat too fast a-ground for him to stir it, hollow'd for the rest who were
straggling about, upon which they all Soon came to the Boat; but it was past
all their Strength to launch her, the Boat being very heavy, and the Shore on
that Side being a soft ousy Sand, almost like a Quick-Sand.
In this Condition, like
true Seamen who are perhaps the and least of all Mankind given to lore-thought,
they gave it over, and away they stroll'd about the Country again; and I heard
one of them say aloud to another, calling them off from the Boat, Why let
her alone, Jack, can't ye, she will float next Tide; by which I
was fully confirm'd in the main Enquiry, of what Countrymen they were.
All this while I kept my
self very close, not once daring to stir out of my Castle, any farther than to
my Place of Observation, near the Top of the Hill; and very glad I was, to
think how well it was fortify'd: I knew it was no less than ten Hours before
the Boat could be on float again, and by that Time it would be dark, and I
might be at more Liberty to see their Motions, and to hear their Discourse, if
they had any.
In the mean Time, I
fitted my self up for a Battle, as before; though with more Caution, knowing I
had to do with another kind of Enemy than I had at first: I order'd Friday
also, who I had made an excellent Marks-Man with his Gun, to load himself with
Arms: I took my self two Fowling-Pieces, and I gave him three Muskets; my
Figure indeed was very fierce; I had my formidable Goat-Skin Coat on, with the
great Cap I have mention'd, a naked Sword by my Side, two Pistols in my Belt,
and a Gun upon each Shoulder.
It was my Design, as I
said above, not to have made any Attempt till it was Dark: But about Two a
Clock, being the Heat of the Day, I found that in short they were all gone
straggling into the Woods, and as I thought were laid down to Sleep. The three
poor distressed Men, too Anxious for their Condition to get any Sleep, were
however set down under the Shelter of a great Tree, at about a quarter of a
Mile from me, and as I thought out of sight of any of the rest.
Upon this I resolv'd to discover
my self to them, and learn something of their Condition: Immediately I march'd
in the Figure as above, my Man Friday at a good Distance behind me, as
formidable for his Arms as I, but not making quite so staring a Spectre-like
Figure as I did.
I came as near them
undiscover'd as I could, and then before any of them saw me, I call'd aloud to
them in Spanish, What are ye Gentlemen?
They started up at the
Noise, but were ten times more confounded when they saw me, and the uncouth
Figure that I made. They made no Answer at all, but I thought I perceiv'd them
just going to fly from me, when I spoke to them in English, Gentlemen,
said I, do not be surpriz'd at me; perhaps you may have a Friend near you when
you did not expect it. He must be sent directly from Heaven then, said one
of them very gravely to me, and pulling off his Hat at the same time to me,
for our Condition is past the Help of Man. All Help is from Heaven, Sir,
said I. But can you put a Stranger in the way how to help you, for you
seem to me to be in some great Distress? I saw you when you landed, and when
you Seem'd to make Applications to the Brutes that came with you, I saw one of
them lift up his Sword to kill you.
The poor Man with Tears
running down his Face, and trembling, looking like one astonish'd, return'd, Am
I talking to God, or Man! Is it a real Man, or an Angel! Be in no fear
about that, Sir, said I, if God had sent an Angel to relieve you, he
would have come better Cloath'd, and Arm'd after another manner than you see me
in; pray lay aside your Fears, I am a Man, an English-man, and
dispos'd to assist you, you see; I have one Servant only; we have Arms and
Ammunition; tell us freely, Can we serve you ? - What is your Case?
Our Case, said he, Sir,
is too long to tell you, while our Murtherers are so near; but in Short, Sir, I
was Commander of that Ship, my Men have Mutinied against me; they have been
hardly prevail'd on not to Murther me, and at last have set me on Shore in this
desolate Place, with these two Men with me; one my Mate, the other a Passenger,
where we expected to Perish, believing the Place to be uninhabited, and know
not yet what to think of it.
Where are those Brutes,
your Enemies, said I, do you know where they are gone? There they lye,
Sir, Said he, pointing to a Thicket of Trees; my Heart trembles, for fear
they have seen us, and heard you speak, if they have, they will certainly
Murther us all.
Have they any Fire-Arms,
said I, He answered they had only two Pieces, and one which they left
in the Boat. Well then, Said I, leave the rest to me; I see they are all
asleep, it is an easie thing to kill them all; but shall we rather take them
Prisoners? He told me there were two desperate Villains among them, that it was
scarce safe to shew any Mercy to; but if they were secur'd, he believ'd all the
rest would return to their Duty. I ask'd him, which they were? He told me he
could not at that distance describe them; but he would obey my Orders in any
thing I would direct. Well, says I, let us retreat out of their View or
Hearing, least they awake, and we will resolve further; so they willingly went
back with me, till the Woods cover'd us from them.
Look you, Sir, said I,
if I venture upon your Deliverance, are you willing to make two Conditions with
me? he anticipated my Proposals, by telling me, that both he and the Ship, if
recover'd, should be wholly Directed and Commanded by me in every thing; and if
the Ship was not recover'd, he would live and dye with me in what Part of the
World soever I would send him; and the two other Men said the same.
Well, says I, my Conditions
are but two. 1. That while you stay on this Island with me, you will not
pretend to any Authority here; and if I put Arms into your Hands, you will upon
all Occasions give them up to me, and do no Prejudice to me or mine, upon this
2. That if the Ship is,
or may be recover'd, you will carry me and my Man to
He gave me all the
Assurances that the Invention and Faith of Man could devise, that he would
comply with these most reasonable Demands, and besides would owe his Life to
me, and acknowledge it upon all Occasions as long as he liv'd.
Well then, said I,
here are three Muskets for you, with Powder and Ball; tell me next what you
think is proper to be done. He shew'd all the Testimony of his Gratitude that
he was able; but offer'd to be wholly guided by me. I told him I thought it was
hard venturing any thing; but the best Method I could think of was to fire upon
them at once, as they lay; and if any was not kill'd at the first Volley, and
offered to submit, we might save them, and so put it wholly upon God's
He said very modestly,
that he was loath to kill them, if he could help it, but that those two were
incorrigible Villains, and had been the Authors of all the Mutiny in the Ship,
and if they escaped, we should be undone still; for they would go on Board, and
bring the whole Ship's Company, and destroy us all. Well then, says I,
Necessity legitimates my Advice; for it is the only Way to save our
Lives. However, seeing him still cautious of shedding Blood, I told him they
should go themselves, and manage as they found convenient.
In the Middle of this
Discourse, we heard some of them awake, and soon after, we saw two of them on
their Feet, I ask'd him, if either of them were of the Men who he had said were
the Heads of the Mutiny? He said, No: Well then, said I, you may let
them escape, and
Animated with this, he
took the Musket, I had given him, in his Hand, and a Pistol in his Belt, and
his two Comerades with him, with each Man a Piece in his Hand. The two Men who
were with him, going first, made some Noise, at which one of the Seamen who was
awake, turn'd about, and seeing them coming, cry'd out to the rest; but it was
too late then; for the Moment he cry'd out, they fir'd; I mean the two Men,
the Captain wisely reserving his own Piece: They had so well aim'd their Shot
at the Men they knew, that one of them was kill'd on the Spot, and the other
very much wounded; but not being dead, he started up upon his Feet, and call'd
eagerly for help to the other; but the Captain stepping to him, told him, 'twas
too late to cry for help, he should call upon God to forgive his Villany, and
with that Word knock'd him down with the Stock of his Musket, so that he never
spoke more: There were three more in the Company, and one of them was also slightly
wounded: By this Time I was come, and when they saw their Danger, and that it
was in vain to resist, they begg'd for Mercy: The Captain told them, he would
spare their Lives, if they would give him any Assurance of their Abhorrence of
the Treachery they had been guilty of, and would swear to be faithful to him in
recovering the Ship, and afterwards in carrying her back to Jamaica,
from whence they came: They gave him all the Protestations of their Sincerity
that could be desir'd, and he was willing to believe them, and spare their
Lives, which I was not against, only that I oblig'd him to keep them bound Hand
and Foot while they were upon the Island.
While this was doing, I
sent Friday with the Captain's Mate to the Boat, with Orders to secure
her, and bring away the Oars, and Sail, which they did; and by and by, three
straggling Men that were (happily for them) parted from the rest, came back
upon hearing the Guns fir'd, and seeing their Captain, who before was their
Prisoner, now their Conqueror, they submitted to be bound also; and so our
Victory was compleat.
It now remain'd, that
the Captain and I should enquire into one another's Circumstances: I began
first, and told him my whole History, which he heard with an Attention even to
Amazement; and particularly, at the wonderful Manner of my being furnish'd with
Provisions and Ammunition; and indeed, as my Story is a whole Collection of
Wonders, it affected him deeply; but when he reflected from thence upon
himself, and how I seem'd to have been preserv'd there, on purpose to save his
Life, the Tears ran down his Face, and he could not speak a Word more.
After this Communication
was at an End, I carry'd him and his two Men into my Apartment, leading them
in, just where I came out, viz. At the Top of the House, where I refresh'd them
with such Provisions as I had, and shew'd them all the Contrivances I had made,
during my long, long, inhabiting that Place.
All I shew'd them, all I
Said to them, was perfectly amazing; but above all, the Captain admir'd my Fortification,
and how perfectly I had conceal'd my Retreat with a Grove of Trees, which
having been now planted near twenty Years, and the Trees growing much faster
than in England, was become a little Wood, and so thick, that it was
unpassable in any Part of it, but at that one Side, where I had reserv'd my
little winding Passage into it: I told him, this was my Castle, and my
Residence; but that I had a Seat in the Country, as most Princes have, whither
I could retreat upon Occasion, and I would shew him that too another Time; but
at present, our Business was to consider how to recover the Ship: He agreed
with me as to that; but told me, he was perfectly at a Loss what Measures to
take; for that there were still six and twenty Hands on board, who having entred
into a cursed Conspiracy, by which they had all forfeited their Lives to the
Law, would be harden'd in it now by Desperation; and would carry it on, knowing
that if they were reduc'd, they should be brought to the Gallows, as soon as
they came to England, or to any of the English Colonies; and
that therefore there would be no attacking them, with so small a Number as we
were.
I mus'd for some Time
upon what he had said; and found it was a very rational Conclusion; and that
therefore something was to be resolv'd on very speedily, as well to draw the
Men on board into some Snare for their Surprize, as to prevent their Landing
upon us, and destroying us; upon this it presently occurr'd to me, that in a
little while the Ship's Crew wondring what was become of their Comrades, and of
the Boat, would certainly come on Shore in their other Boat, to see for them,
and that then perhaps they might come arm'd, and be too strong for us; this he
allow'd was rational.
Upon this, I told him
the first Thing we had to do, was to stave the Boat, which lay upon the Beach,
so that they might not carry her off; and taking every Thing out of her, leave
her so far useless as not to be fit to swim; accordingly we went on board, took
the Arms which were left on board, out of her, and whatever else we found
there, which was a Bottle of Brandy, and another of Rum, a few Bisket Cakes, a
Horn of Powder, and a great Lump of Sugar, in a Piece of Canvas; the Sugar was
five or six Pounds; all which was very welcome to me, especially the Brandy,
and Sugar, of which I had had none left for many Years.
When we had carry'd all
these Things on Shore (the Oars, Mast, Sail, and Rudder of the Boat, were
carry'd away before, as above) we knock'd a great Hole in her Bottom, that if
they had come strong enough to master us, yet they could not carry off the
Boat.
Indeed, it was not much
in my Thoughts, that we could be able to recover the Ship; but my View was that
if they went away without the Boat, I did not much question to make her fit
again, to carry us away to the Leeward Islands, and call upon our
Friends, the Spaniards, in my Way, for I had them still in my
Thoughts.
While we were thus
preparing our Designs, and had first, by main Strength heav'd the Boat up upon
the Beach, so high that the Tide would not fleet her off at High-Water-Mark;
and besides, had broke a Hole in her Bottom, too big to be quickly stopp'd, and
were sat down musing what we should do; we heard the Ship fire a Gun, and saw
her make a Waft with her Antient, as a Signal for the Boat to come on board;
but no Boat stirr'd; and they fir'd several Times, making other Signals for the
Boat.
At last, when all their
Signals and Firings prov'd fruitless, and they found the Boat did not stir, we
saw them by the Help of my Glasses, hoist another Boat out, and row towards the
Shore; and we found as they approach'd, that there was no less than ten Men in
her, and that they had Fire-Arms with them.
As the Ship lay almost
two Leagues from the Shore, we had a full View of them as they came, and a
plain Sight of the Men even of their Faces, because the Tide having set them a
little to the East of the other Boat, they row'd up under Shore, to
come to the same Place, where the other had landed, and where the Boat lay.
By this Means, I say, we
had a full View of them, and the Captain knew the Persons and Characters of all
the Men in the Boat, of whom he said, that there were three very honest
Fellows, who he was sure were led into this Conspiracy by the rest, being
over-power'd and frighted.
But that as for the
Boatswain, who it seems was the chief Officer among them, and all the rest,
they were as outragious as any of the Ship's Crew, and were no doubt made
desperate in their new Enterprize, and terribly apprehensive he was, that they
would be too powerful for us.
I smil'd 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
suppos'd to be in, we ought to expect that the Consequence, whether Death or
Life, would be sure to be a Deliverance: I ask'd 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 preserv'd 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's
that? Says he; why, said I, 'Tis, that as you say, there are three or four
honest Fellows among them, which should be spar'd; 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 of them
that comes a-shore are our own, and shall die, or live, as they behave to us.
As I spoke this with a
rais'd Voice and chearful Countenance, I found it greatly encourag'd him; so we
set vigorously to our Business: We had upon the first Appearance of the Boat's
coming from the Ship, consider'd of separating our Prisoners, and had indeed
secur'd them effectually.
Two of them, of whom the
Captain was less assur'd than ordinary, I sent with Friday, and one of
the three (deliver'd Men) to my Cave, where they were remote enough, and out of
Danger of being heard or discover'd, or of finding their way out of the Woods,
if they could have deliver'd themselves: Here they left them bound, but gave
them Provisions, They promis'd them if they continu'd 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 promis'd faithfully to bear
their Confinement with Patience, and were very thankful that they had such good
Usage, as to have Provisions, and a Light left them; for Friday gave
them Candles (such as we made our selves) for their Comfort; and they did not
know but that he stood Sentinel over them at the Entrance.
The other Prisoners had
better Usage; two of them were kept pinion'd indeed, because the Captain was
not free to trust them; but the other two were taken into my Service upon their
Captain's Recommendation, and upon their solemnly engaging to live and die with
us; so with them and the three honest Men, we were seven Men, well arm'd; and I
made no doubt we shou'd be able to deal well enough with the Ten that were a
coming, considering that the Captain had said, there were three or four honest
Men among them also.
As soon as they got to
the Place where their other Boat lay, they run their Boat in to the Beach, and
came all on Shore, haling the Boat up after them, which I was glad to see; for
I was afraid they would rather have left the Boat at an Anchor, some Distance
from the Shore, with some Hands in her, to guard her; and so we should not be
able to seize the Boat.
Being on Shore, the
first Thing they did, they ran all to their other Boat, and it was easy to see
that they were under a great Surprize, to find her stripp'd as above, of all
that was in her, and a great hole in her Bottom.
After they had mus'd a
while upon this, they set up two or three great Shouts, hollowing with all
their might, to try if they could make their Companions hear; but all was to no
purpose: Then they came all close in a Ring, and fir'd a Volley of their small
Arms, which indeed we heard, and the Ecchos made the Woods ring; but it was all
One, those in the Cave we were sure could not hear, and those in our keeping,
though they heard it well enough, yet durst give no Answer to them.
They were so astonish'd
at the Surprize of this, that as they told us afterwards, they resolv'd to go
all on board again to their Ship, and let them know, that the Men were all
murther'd, and the Long-Boat stav'd; accordingly they immediately launch'd
their Boat again, and gat all of them on board.
The Captain was terribly
amaz'd, and even confounded at this, believing they would go on board the Ship
again, and set Sail, giving their Comrades for lost, and so he should still
lose the Ship, which he was in Hopes we should have recover'd; but he was
quickly as much frighted the other way.
They had not been long
put off with the Boat, but we perceiv'd them all coming on Shore again; but
with this new Measure in their Conduct, which it seems they consulted together
upon, viz. To leave three Men in the Boat, and the rest to go on
Shore, and go up into the Country to look for their Fellows.
This was a great
Disappointment to us; for now we were at a Loss what to do; for our Seizing
those Seven Men on Shore would be no Advantage to us, if we let the Boat
escape; because they would then row away to the Ship, and then the rest of them
would be sure to weigh and set Sail, and so our recovering the Ship would be
lost.
However, we had no
Remedy, but to wait and see what the Issue of Things might present; the seven
Men came on Shore, and the three who remain'd in the Boat, put her off to a
good Distance from the Shore, and came to an Anchor to wait for them; so that
it was impossible for us to come at them in the Boat.
Those that came on
Shore, kept close together, marching towards the Top of the little Hill, under
which my Habitation lay; and we could see them plainly, though they could not
perceive us: We could have been very glad they would have come nearer to us, so
that we might have fir'd at them, or that they would have gone farther off, that
we might have come abroad.
But when they were come
to the Brow of the Hill, where they could see a great way into the Valleys and
Woods, which lay towards the North-East Part, and where the Island lay
lowest, they shouted, and hollow'd, till they were weary; and not caring it
seems to venture far from the Shore, nor far from one another, they sat down
together under a Tree, to consider of it: Had they thought fit to have gone to
sleep there, as the other Party of them had done, they had done the Jobb for us;
but they were too full of Apprehensions of Danger, to venture to go to sleep,
though they could not tell what the Danger was they had to fear neither.
The Captain made a very
just Proposal to me, upon this Consultation of theirs, viz. That perhaps they would
all fire a Volley again, to endeavour to make their Fellows hear, and that we
should all Sally upon them, just at the Juncture when their Pieces were all
discharg'd, and they would certainly yield, and we should have them without
Bloodshed: I lik'd the Proposal, provided it was done while we heard, when they
were presently stopp'd by the Creek, where the Water being up, they could not
get over, and call'd for the Boat to come up, and Set them over, as indeed I
expected.
When they had Set
themselves over, I observ'd, that the Boat being gone up a good way into the
Creek, and as it were, in a Harbour within the Land, they took one of the three
Men out of her to go along with them, and left only two in the Boat, having
fastned her to the Stump of a little Tree on the Shore.
This was what I wish'd
for, and immediately leaving Friday and the Captain's Mate to their
Business, I took the rest with me, and crossing the Creek out of their Sight,
we surpriz'd the two Men before they were aware; one of them lying on Shore,
and the other being in the Boat; the Fellow on Shore, was between sleeping and
waking, and going to start up, the Captain who was foremost, ran in upon him,
and knock'd him down, and then call'd out to him in the Boat, to yield, or he
was a dead Man.
There needed very few
Arguments to perswade a single Man to yield, when he Saw five Men upon him, and
his Comrade knock'd down; besides, this was it seems one of the three who were
not so hearty in the Mutiny as the rest of the Crew, and therefore was easily
perswaded, not only to yield, but afterwards to joyn very sincere with us.
In the mean time, Friday
and the Captain's Mate so well manag'd their Business with the rest, that they
drew them by hollowing and answering, from one Hill to another, and from one
Wood to another, till they not only heartily tyr'd them but left them, where
they were very Sure they could not reach back to the Boat, before it was dark;
and indeed they were heartily tyr'd themselves also by the Time they came back
to us.
We had nothing now to
do, but to watch for them, in the Dark, and to fall upon them, so as to make
sure work with them.
It was several Hours
after Friday came back to me, before they came back to their Boat; and
we could hear the foremost of them long before they came quite up, calling to
those behind to come along, and could also hear them answer and complain, how
lame and tyr'd they were, and not able to -come any faster, which was very
welcome News to us.
At length they came up
to the Boat; but 'tis impossible to express their Confusion, when they found
the Boat fast a-Ground in the Creek, the Tide ebb'd out, and their two Men gone
We could hear them call to one another in a most lamentable Manner, telling one
another, they were gotten into an inchanted Island; that either there were
Inhabitants in it, and they should all be murther'd, or else there were Devils
and Spirits in it, and they should be all carry'd away, and devour'd.
They hallow'd again, and
call'd their two Comerades by their Names, a great many times, but no Answer.
After some time, we could see them, by the little Light there was, run about
wringing their Hands like Men in Despair; and that sometimes they would go and
sit down in the Boat to rest themselves, then come ashore again, and walk about
again, and so over the same thing again.
My Men would fain have
me given them Leave to fall upon them at once in the Dark; but I was willing to
take them at some Advantage, so to spare them, and kill as few of them as I
could; and especially I was unwilling to hazard the killing any of our own Men,
knowing the other were very well armed. I resolved to wait to see if they did
not separate; and therefore to make sure of them, I drew my Ambuscade nearer,
and order'd Friday and the Captain, to creep upon their Hands and Feet
as close to the Ground as they could, that they might not be discover'd, and
get as near them as they could possibly, before they offered to fire.
They had not been long
in that Posture, but that the Boatswain, who was the principal Ringleader of
the Mutiny, and had now shewn himself the most dejected and dispirited of all
the rest, came walking towards them with two more of their Crew; the Captain
was so eager, as having this principal Rogue so much in his Power, that he
could hardly have Patience to let him come so near, as to be sure of him; for
they only heard his Tongue before: But when they came nearer, the Captain and Friday
starting up on their Feet, let fly at them.
The Boatswain was kill'd
upon the Spot, the next Man was Shot into the Body, and fell just by him, tho'
he did not die 'till an Hour or two after; and the third run for it.
At the Noise of the
Fire, I immediately advanc'd with my whole Army, which was now 8 Men, viz.
my self Generalissimo, Friday my Lieutenant-General, the Captain and
his two Men, and the three Prisoners of War, who we had trusted with Arms.
We came upon them indeed
in the Dark, so that they could not see our Number; and I made the Man we had
left in the Boat, who was now one of us, call to them by Name, to try if I
could bring them to a Parley, and so might perhaps reduce them to Terms, which
fell out just as we desir'd: for deed it was easy to think, as their Condition
then was, they would be very willing to capitulate; so he calls out as loud as
he could, to one of them, Tom Smith, Tom Smith; Tom Smith answered
immediately, Who's that, Robinson? for it seems he knew his Voice:
T'other answered, Ay, ay; for God's Sake, Tom Smith, throw down
your Arms, and yield, or, you are all dead Men this Moment.
Who must me yield to?
where are they? (says Smith again;) Here they are: says he,
here's our Captain, and fifty Men with him, have been hunting you this two
Hours; the Boatswain is kill'd, Will Frye is wounded, and I am a
Prisoner; and if you do not yield, you are all lost.
Will they give us.
Quarter then, (says Tom Smith) and we will yield? I'll go and ask,
if you promise to yield, says Robinson; So he ass:'d the Captain,
and the Captain then calls himself out, You Smith, you know my Voice,
if you lay down your Arms immediately, and submit, you shall have your Lives
all but Will. Atkins.
Upon this, Will
Atkins cry'd out, For God's Sake, Captain, give me Quarter, what have
I done? They have been all as bad as I, which by the Way was not true
neither; for it seems this Will. Atkins was the first Man that laid hold of the
Captain, when they first mutiny'd, and used him barbarously, in tying his
Hands, and giving him injurious Language. However, the Captain told him he must
lay down his Arms at Discretion, and trust to the Governour's Mercy, by which
he meant me; for they all call'd me Governour.
In a Word, they all laid
down their Arms, and begg'd their Lives; and I sent the Man that had parley'd
with them, and two more, who bound them all; and then my great Army of 50 Men,
which particularly with those three, were all but eight, came up and seiz'd
upon them all, and upon their Boat, only that I kept my self and one more out
of Sight, for Reasons of State.
Our next Work was to
repair the Boat, and think of seizing the Ship; and as for the Captain, now he
had Leisure to parley with them: He expostulated with them upon the Villany of
their Practices with him, and at length upon the farther Wickedness of their
Design, and how certainly it must bring them to Misery and Distress in the End,
and perhaps to the Gallows.
They all appear'd very
penitent, and begg'd hard for their Lives; as for that, he told them, they were
none of his Prisoners, but the Commander of the Island; that they thought they
had set him on Shore in a barren uninhabited Island, but it had pleased God so
to direct them, that the Island was inhabited, and that the Governour was an
English Man; that he might hang them all there, if he pleased; but as he had
given them all Quarter, he supposed he would send them to England to
be dealt with there, as Justice requir'd, except Atkins, who he was
commanded by the Governour to advise to prepare for Death; for that he would be
hang'd in the Morning.
Though this was all a
Fiction of his own, yet it had its desired Effect; Atkins fell upon
his Knees to beg the Captain to interceed with the Governour for his Life; and
all the rest beg'd of him for God's Sake, that they might not be sent to England.
It now occurr'd to me,
that the time of our Deliverance was come, and that it would be a most easy
thing to bring these Fellows in, to be hearty in getting Possession of the
Ship; so I retir'd in the Dark from them, that they might not see what Kind of
a Governour they had, and call'd the Captain to me; when I call'd, as at a good
Distance, one of the Men was order'd to speak again, and say to the Captain, Captain,
the Commander calls for you; and presently the Captain reply'd, Tell
his Excellency, I am just a coming:
This more perfectly
amused' them; and they all believed that the Commander was just by with his
fifty Men.
Upon the Captain's
coming to me, I told him my Project for seizing the Ship, which he lik'd of
wonderfully well, and resolv'd to put it in Execution the next Morning.
But in Order to execute
it with more Art, and secure of Success, I told him, we must divide the
Prisoners, and that he should go and take Atkins and two more of the
worst of them, and send them pinion'd to the Cave where the others lay: This
was committed to Friday and the two Men who came on Shore with the
Captain.
They convey'd them to
the Cave, as to a Prison; and it was indeed a dismal Place, especially to Men
in their Condition.
The other I order'd to
my Bower, as I call'd it, of which I have given a full
Description; and as it was fenc'd in, and they pinion'd, the Place was secure
enough, considering they were upon their Behaviour.
To these in the Morning
I sent the Captain, who was to enter into a Parley with them, in a Word to try
them, and tell me, whether he thought they might be trusted or no, to on Board
and surprize the Ship. He talk'd to them of the Injury done him, of the
Condition they were brought to; and that though the Governour had given them
Quarter for their Lives, as to the present Action, yet that if they were sent
to England, they would all be hang'd in Chains, to be sure; but that
if they would join in so just an Attempt, as to recover the Ship, he would have
the Governour's Engagement for their Pardon.
Any one may guess how
readily such a Proposal would be accepted by Men in their Condition; they fell
down on their Knees to the Captain, and promised with the deepest Imprecations,
that they would be faithful to him to the last Drop, and that they should owe
their Lives to him, and would go with him all over the World, that they would
own him for a Father to them as long as they liv'd.
Well, says the Captain,
I must go and tell the Governour what you say, and see what I can do to bring
him to consent to it: So he brought me an Account of the Temper he found them
in; and that he verily believ'd they would be faithful.
However, that we might
be very secure, I told him he should go back again, and choose out five of
them, and tell them, they might see that he did not want Men, that he would
take out those five to be his Assistants, and that the Governour would keep the
other two, and the three that were sent Prisoners to the Castle, (my Cave)
as Hostages, for the Fidelity of those five; and that if they prov'd unfaithful
in the Execution, the five Hostages should be hang'd in Chains alive upon the
Shore.
This look'd severe, and
convinc'd them that the Governour was in Earnest; however they had no Way left
them, but to accept it; and it was now the Business of the Prisoners, as much
as of the Captain, to perswade the other five to do their Duty.
Our Strength was now
thus ordered for the Expedition: 1. The Captain, his Mate, and Passenger. 2.
Then the two Prisoners of the first Gang, to whom having their Characters from
the Captain, I had given their Liberty, and trusted them with Arms. 3. The
other two who I had kept till now, in my Bower, pinion'd; but upon the
Captain's Motion, had now releas'd. These five releas'd at last: So that they
were twelve in all, besides five we kept Prisoners in the Cave, for Hostages.
I ask'd the Captain, if
he was willing to venture with these Hands on Board the Ship; for as for me and
my Man Friday, I did not think it was proper for us to stir, having
seven Men left behind; and it was Employment enough for us to keep them
assunder, and supply them witAs to the five in the Cave, I resolv'd to keep
them fast, but Friday went in twice a Day to them, to supply them with
Necessaries; and I made the other two carry Provisions to a certain Distance,
where Friday was to take it.
When I shew'd my self to
the two Hostages, it was with the Captain, who told them, I was the Person the
Governour had order'd to look after them, and that it was the Governour's
Pleasure they should not stir any where, but by my Direction; that if they did,
they should be fetch'd into the Castle, and be lay'd in Irons; so that as we
never suffered them to see me as Governour, so I now appear'd as another
Person, and Spoke of the Governour, the Garrison, the Castle, and the like,
upon all Occasions.
The Captain now had no
Difficulty before him, but to furnish his two Boats, Stop the Breach of one,
and Man them. He made his Passenger Captain of one, with four other Men; and
himself, and his Mate, and five more, went in the other: And they contriv'd
their Business very well; for they came up to the Ship about Midnight: As soon
as they came within Call of the Ship, he made Robinson hale them, and
tell them they had brought off the Men and the Boat, but that it was a long
time before they had found them, and the like holding them in a Chat 'till they
came to the Ship's Side when the Captain and the Mate entring first with their
Arms, immediately knock'd down the second Mate and Carpenter, with the But-end
of their Muskets, being very faithfully seconded by their Men, they secur'd all
the rest that were upon the Main and Quarter Decks, and began to fasten the
Hatches to keep them down who were below, when the other Boat and their Men
entring at the fore Chains, secur'd the Fore-Castle of the Ship, and the
Scuttle which went down into the Cook Room, making three Men they found there,
Prisoners.
When this was done, and
all safe upon Deck, the Captain order'd the Mate with three Men to break into
the Round-House where the new Rebel Captain lay, and having taken the Alarm,
was gotten up, and with two Men and a Boy had gotten Fire Arms in their Hands,
and when the Mate with a Crow split open the Door, the new Captain and his Men
fir'd boldly among them, and wounded the Mate with a Musket Ball which broke
his Arm, and wounded two more of the but kill'd no Body.
The Mate calling for
Help, rush'd however into the Round-House, wounded as he was, and with his
Pistol shot the new Captain thro' the Head, the Bullet entring at his Mouth,
and came out again behind one of his Ears; so that he never spoke a Word; upon
which the rest yielded, and the Ship was taken effectually, without any more
Lives lost.
As soon as the Ship was
thus secur'd, the Captain order'd seven Guns to be fir'd, which was the Signal
agreed upon with me, to give me Notice of his Success, which you may be sure I
was very glad to hear, having sat watching upon the Shore for it till near two
of the Clock in the Morning.
Having thus heard the
Signal plainly, I laid me down; and it having been a Day of great Fatigue to
me, I slept very sound, 'till I was something surpriz'd with the Noise of a
Gun; and presently starting up, I heard a Man call me by the Name of Governour,
Governour, and presently I knew the Captain's Voice, when climbing up to the
Top of the Hill, there he stood, and pointing to the Ship, he embrac'd me in
Arms, My dear Friend and Deliverer, says he, there's your Ship,
for she is all yours, and so are we and all that belong to her. I cast my
Eyes to the Ship, and there she rode within little more than half a Mile of the
Shore; for they had weighed for as soon as they were Masters of her; and the
Weather being fair, had brought her to an Anchor just against the Mouth of the
little Creek; and the Tide being up, the Captain had brought the Pinnace in
near the Victuals.
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