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pleasantest year I had led upon the island: for as my man began to talk pretty well, I had some use for my tongue again.
I was now entered into the twenty-seventh year of my captivity, and intended soon to sail, when one morning I bid Friday go to the sea-shore to see if he eould find a turtle; but ho had not long been gone, when he came running back, and cried, “O Master! O Master! O sorrow! O bad!” “What’s the matter, Friday?” said I. “O yonder, there,” said he, “one, two, three; canoe! one, two, three! ” “Well, Friday,” said I, “do not be frightened.”
I then took my perspective glass, and went up the side of the hill, and saw twenty-ono savages, three prisoners, and three canoes. I bid him see what they were doing: he did so, and told me, that they were all about the fire, eating the flesh of one of their prisoners; and that a bearded man lay bound upon the sand, whom he said they would kill next.
I had not a moment to lose, for two were stooped down to untie the Christian, in order to murder him. “Now,” said I, “Friday, do as you see me do. I laid the muskets down, and took one, and then we both fired. Three were killed, and five wounded. The rest jumped up immediately on their feet, but they knew not where to run.
I resolved to pursue them, and ran to the canoe, calling to Friday to follow me; but I was no sooner in the canoe, than I found another poor creature lie there alive, bound hand and foot. I immediately cut the twisted flags; and seeing that he had been bound so tight, that he was almost dead, I gave him a dram, and ordered Friday to tell him of his deliverance; but when the poor fellow looked in his face, and heard him speak, it would have moved any one to tears, to have seen how he kissed, embraced, hugged him, cried, danced, sung, and then cried again. It was some time before I could make him tell me what was the matter; but when he came a little to himself, he said he was his own dear father. He then sat down by him, held the old man's head close to his bosom, and chafed his arms and ancles, which were stiff with binding.
The Spaniard having expressed to me the utmost gratitude for his deliverance, gave me an account of his shipwreck, and the situation of his companions; and it was resolved that Friday’s father and the Spaniard, should go in the boat to fetch them over.
About eight days after they were gone, Friday wakened mo one morning, by crying out, “Master, they are come!” I dressed, and hastened to the top of the hill, and plainly discovered an English ship lying at anchor.
They then ran the boat ashore on the beach, and eleven men
