in his head but that the savages were come back to look for him, and
would cut him in pieces and eat him. I comforted him, and told him I was
in as much danger as he. Then I went up the hill and found quickly by my
glass that there were one-and-twenty savages, whose business seemed to
be a triumphant banquet upon three human bodies. I came down again to
Friday and, going towards the wretches, sent Friday a little ahead to
see what they were doing. He came back and told me that they were eating
the flesh of one of their prisoners, and that a bearded man lay bound,
whom he said they would kill next.

This fired the very soul within me, and, going to a little rising
ground, I turned to Friday and said, "Now, Friday, do exactly as you see
me do." So, with a musket, I took aim at the savages; Friday did the
like, and we fired, killing three of them and wounding five more. They
were in a dreadful consternation, and after we fired again among the
amazed wretches, I made directly towards the poor victim who was lying
upon the beach. Loosing him, I found he was a Spaniard. He took pistol
and sword from me thankfully, and flew upon his murderers, and, Friday,
pursuing the flying wretches, in the end but four of the twenty-one
escaped in a canoe.

I was minded to pursue them lest they should return with a greater force
and devour us by mere multitude. So, running to a canoe, I bade Friday
follow me, but was surprised to find another poor creature lying
therein, bound hand and foot. I immediately cut his fastenings and bade
Friday tell him of his deliverance. But when Friday came to hear him
speak and to look in his face, it would have moved anyone to tears to
have seen how Friday kissed him, embraced him, hugged him, cried,
danced, sung, and then cried again. It was a good while before I could
make him tell me what was the matter, but when he came a little to