About a year and a half after, one morning early, I was very much surprized by seeing no less than five canoes all on shore together, on my side of the island, and the savages that belonged to them all landed and out of my sight. Upon which, much dispirited and perplexed, I lay still in my castle; which, however, I put in a proper posture for an attack; and, having formerly provided all that was necessary, was soon ready to enter upon an engagement, should they attempt it. Having waited for some time, my impatient temper would let me bear it no longer; I set my guns at the foot of my ladder, and, as usual, ascended up to the top of the hill at two stages, standing, however, in such a manner, that my head did not appear above the hill, so that they could not easily perceive me : and here, by the assistance of my perspective glass, I observed no less than thirty in number around a fire, feasting upon what meat they had dressed how they cooked it, or what it was, I could not then perfectly tell; but they were all dancing and capering about the flames, nsing many frightful and barbarous gestures.

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But while, with a curious eye, I was behold. ing these wretches, my spirits sunk within me, when I perceived them drag two miserable crea. tures from the boats, to act afresh the dread. ful tragedy, as I supposed they had done be fore. It was not long before one of them fell' upon the ground, knocked down, as I suppose, with a club or wooden sword, for that was their manner: while two or three others went imme diately to wing him open for their

cookery, and then fell to devour him as they had done the former: while the last unhappy captive was left by himself, till such time us they were ready for him. The poor creature looked round him with a sorrowful eye, treinbling at the thoughts of death; yet, seeing himself a little at liberty, nature, that very moment, as it were, inspired him with hopes of life: He started away from them, and ran, with incredi ble swiftness, along the sands, directly to that part of the coast where my ancient and vener、

able castle stood.

You may well imagine I was dreadfully af. frighted upon this occasion, when, as I thought, they pursued him in a whole body, all running towards my palace And now, indeed, I expected, that he would certainly fly to my grove for protection. However, my spirits beginning to recover, I still kept upon my guard; and I now plainly perceived, there were but three men out of the number that pursued him. I was infinitely pleased at the swiftness with which the poor creature ran from his pursuers, gaining so much ground upon them, that I plainly perceived, could he thus hold out for half an hour, there was not the least doubt but he would save his life from the power of his er.emies.

Between them and my castle, there was a creek, the very same which I sailed into with all my effects from the wreck of the ship, on the steep banks of which I very much feared the poor victim would be taken, if he could

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not swim for his escape: But soon was I out of pain for him, when I perceived he made nothing of it, though at full tide, but, with an, intrepid courage, spurred on by the sense of danger, he plunged into the flood, swimming over in about thirty strokes, and then landing, ran with the same increble strength and swiftness as before. When the three pursuers came to the creek, two of them, who I perceived could not swim, happily for themselves, returned to their company, while the other, with an equal courage, but much less swiftness, attained the other side, as though he was resolved never to give over the pursuit. And now or never, I thought was the time for me to procure me a servant, companion or assistant: and earnestly did I hope that Providence might permit me to be the instrument to save this poor creature's life. I immediately descended my two ladders with the greatest expedition; I took up my two guns, which I said before were at the bottom of them: and, getting up again with the same haste towards the hill. I made nearer the sea. In a word, taking a short cut down the hill, I interposed between the pursuer and pursued, hallooing aloud to the latter, who venturing to look back, was, no doubt, as much terrified at me as at the enemy from whom he fled. I beckoned to him with my hand to return back, and in the mean time, advanced towards the pursuer. I was very unwilling to fire, lest the rest should hear, though, at that distance, I questioned whether they could or no, and,

bring out of sight of the smoke, they could not easily have known what to make of it. The

savage stopped as if he had been amazed: when, advancing towards him, I could perceive him take his bow from his back, and, after fixing an arrow to it, preparing to shoot at me, and, without dispute, he might have lodged it in my breast; but in this necessary case for self-preservation, I immediately firod, and shot him dead, just as his hand was going to draw the fatal string. All this while, the savage who had fled before, stood still, and had the satisfaction to see his enemy killed, as he thought, who designed to take away his life: so frighted was he with the fire and noise of

piece, that he stood as it were like Lot's ▾ife, fixed and immoveable, without either sense of motion. This obliged me to halloo to him again, making the plainest signs I could to him to draw nearer. 1 perceived he understood these tokens, by his approaching to me a little way, when, as if afraid I should kill him too, he stopped again. Several times did he advance, and as often stop in this nanner, till, coming! more to my view, I perceived him trembling, as if he was to undergo the same fate. Upon which, I looked upon him with a smiling countenance, and still beckoned to him; at length he came close to me, and kneeled down, kissed the ground, laid his head upon it, and taking me by the foot, set it upon his head; which as I derstood afterwards, was a token of swearing