Thus three weeks pass’d and I observ'd there was a point I had not consider'd, viz. in the many years upon this island, the nature of the beast had grown to be commonplace to me. It was as much a part of my routine as making my bread or drying raisins or milking my goats. Now it was the first night of the moon, and Friday, in his cheerful way, follow'd me every where I would go in my day and would follow me out at night. Thus, it was with great difficulty I explain'd he must stay within the castle this night while I went down the hill and away. This upset him greatly, and he made it known to me that he must follow me and keep me safe. With much effort he then told me that his people were much afraid of this island at night, for their god had set a monster loose on it which kill'd all things.
At this I laughed, for it was clear to me their monster was the beast, and it seem'd I had been safer here than I had first thought. I told him his monster did not frighten me, and, in what was a small lie, that I kept the monster imprison'd and chayn'd up for many days of the month, only setting it free to run for three nights so it would stay in good spirits and behave. Altho', upon reflection, this was not a lie at all, which pleas'd me. I told him again he could not follow, and I climb'd up the ladder and over the wall. He did cry for me to return, and his laments recall'd to my mind little Xury, the boy who had escap'd with me from the Moors of Sallee. I did then observe that little Xury would be a man now, older than was I when I first awoke on this island.
I walk'd a little ways from my castle till I was well away and hidden from Friday's eyes. Then I removed my cloathes and placed them upon a tree branch, as I had on the shores of Africk and my first nights here. I resolv'd, as the moon rose and bath'd me in her light, that I should make a cabinet for my cloathes outside the castle, perhaps three or four to place across my territory, so I could always find drawers each morning at the least.
Then the mantle of the beast did fall upon me, and it howl'd long and hard. It howl'd as it did to hunt and afore the kill, and ran cross the hilltops barking, and I knew, even deep within its skin, that it want'd to put great fear into Friday. It smell'd his relation to the savages, and to the dark church, and to the great totem, and it wanted Friday to know terror and know not to take any action against me. Had I not made my castle so well, I believe the beast would have kill'd Friday that first night.
Because of this, when I awoke the next day, I did not return to the castle but instead went to my bower, or summer house as I call'd it, and spent much time in reflection. I bethought myself, and the beast, that Friday was a loyal servant, and that he had cast off the rituals his people had rais'd him within. He would no longer eat the flesh of men, and would not raise his hand against me. I long observ'd these things, and made them clear to the beast as well. When the moon rose for the second night, the beast was tamer in its mood, yet still did howl and race cross the hills, tho' I knew this was now in the manner of wolves, that it but establish'd its place as above Friday in our small family and second only to me.
The next day I return'd to the castle, where Friday was much reliev'd to see me, and bowed and made his many signs of thanks. He had scarce moved since I left, and had eaten nothing lest he upset me somehow by doing so. I gave him some milk and bread, and we went to the shore and found a turtle, the flesh of which pleas'd him. I show'd him how to cook the eggs in the shell, as it is call'd, and then told him I would need to spend one more night away so they would be his supper, to cook when he became hungry, and eat with another cake of bread. I was surpris'd that this announcement met with no cries this time, and Friday gave a solemn nod and smiled at me. I ask'd if he had been so worry'd afore about food. He shook his head and made it known that he had fear'd I was leaving him and would not return.
When I ask'd why this did not worry him now, he smiled at me again with his thin white teeth and pointed up into the sky, where the last full moon had already risen in the after noon sky. He tilted his head back and did give a low howl. Then he gave me a most meaningful look with his large, dark eyes, spread his long fingers to show the tiny webs of flesh betwixt them, and set it against my chest. Afore I could speak, he placed the hand against his own chest, then back to mine, and spoke a few words in the little English he had learnt so far. Altho' his words were few, his meaning was most clear to me.
He had no fear, for he knew we were both monsters.
Old beliefs, the moving island,
the fallen
Friday began to talk pretty well and understand the names of almost every thing I had occasion to call for, and of every place I had to send him to. He talked a great deal to me. In short, I began now to have some use for my tongue again. Besides the pleasure of talking to him, I had a singular satisfaction in the fellow himself. His simple unfeigned honesty appeared to me more and more every day, and I began to love the creature. On his side, I believe he loved me more than it was possible for him ever to love any thing before.
I had a mind once to try if he had any hankering inclination to his own country again. Having taught him English so well he could answer me almost any question, I asked him whether the nation that he belonged to never conquered in battle? At which he smiled, and said, "Yes, yes, we always fight the better." That is, he meant, always get the better in fight. So we began the following discourse:
"You always fight the better," said I. "How came you to be taken prisoner then, Friday?"