of fools.

But we were presently undeceived; for, in two or three minutes more, we
heard the screaming roaring noise go on from one place to another, through
all their little towns; nay, even over the creek to the other side; and, on
a sudden, we saw a naked multitude running from all parts to the place
where the first man began it, as to a rendezvous; and, in less than an
hour, I believe there was near 500 of them gotten together, armed some with
bows and arrows, but most with lances, which they throw at a good distance,
so nicely that they will strike a bird flying.

We had but a very little time for consultation, for the multitude was
increasing every moment; and I verily believe, if we had stayed long, they
would have been 10,000 together in a little time. We had nothing to do,
therefore, but to fly to our ship or bark, where indeed we could have
defended ourselves very well, or to advance and try what a volley or two of
small shot would do for us.

We resolved immediately upon the latter, depending upon it that the fire
and terror of our shot would soon put them to flight; so we drew up all in
a line, and marched boldly up to them. They stood ready to meet us,
depending, I suppose, to destroy us all with their lances; but before we
came near enough for them to throw their lances, we halted, and, standing
at a good distance from one another, to stretch our line as far as we
could, we gave them a salute with our shot, which, besides what we wounded
that we knew not of, knocked sixteen of them down upon the spot, and three
more were so lamed, that they fell about twenty or thirty yards from them.

As soon as we had fired, they set up the horridest yell, or howling, partly
raised by those that were wounded, and partly by those that pitied and