He took them very thankfully. No sooner had he the arms in his hands but, as if they had put new vigour into him, he flew upon his murderers like a fury and had cut two of them in pieces in an instant.
I kept my piece in my hand still without firing, being willing to keep my charge ready, because I had given the Spaniard my pistol and sword. I called to Friday and bade him run up to the tree from whence we first fired and fetch the arms which lay there that had been discharged, which he did with great swiftness. Then giving him my musket, I sat down myself to load all the rest again, and bade them come to me when they wanted. While I was loading these pieces, there happened a fierce engagement between the Spaniard and one of the grey skinned savages who made at him with one of their wooden swords, the same-like weapon that was to have killed him before if I had not prevented it. The Spaniard, who was as bold and brave as could be imagined, had fought this creature a good while and had cut him two great wounds on his head. But the savage being a stout, lusty fellow had thrown him down, being faint, and was wringing my sword out of his hand. The Spaniard, wisely quitting the sword, drew the pistol from his girdle, shot the savage through the body and killed him upon the spot.
Friday being now left to his liberty, pursued the flying wretches with his own great wooden sword in hand. With that he dispatched those three who were wounded at first and fallen, and all the rest he could come up with. The Spaniard pursued two of the savages and wounded them both, but as he was not able to run they both got from him into the wood. Friday pursued them and killed one of them with a swift cut which took off his head. But the other savage was too nimble for him. Tho’ he was wounded, yet had plunged himself into the sea and swam with all his might off to those two who were left in the canoe. I could not help but observe what powerful swimmers some of the savages were, as I had observ'd with my man Friday and his pursuers on the day of his escape from a like fate, as I have said before.
Those that were in the canoe worked hard to get out of gun-shot, and tho’ Friday made two or three shots at them, I did not find that he hit any of them. Friday would fain have had me take one of their canoes and pursue them. Indeed, I was very anxious about their escape, lest carrying the news home to their people they should come back perhaps with two or three hundred of the canoes and devour us by mere multitude. So I consented to pursue them by sea. Running to one of their canoes, I jumped in and bade Friday follow me.
But when I was in the canoe, I was surprised to find another poor creature lie there, bound hand and foot for the slaughter and almost dead with fear, not knowing what was the matter, for he had not been able to look up over the side of the boat. He was tied so hard, and had been tied so long, he had but little life in him.
I cut the twisted rushes which they had bound him with and would have helped him up. He could not stand or speak but groaned most piteously, believing, it seems, he was only unbound in order to be kill’d.
When Friday came to him, I bade him speak to him, and tell him of his deliverance. But when Friday came to hear him speak and look in his face, it would have moved any one to tears to have seen how Friday kissed him, embraced him, hugged him, cried, laughed, hallooed. It was a good while before I could make him speak to me, or tell me what was the matter. When he came a little to himself, he told me it was his father, whom he called Walla-kay.
Friday was so busy about his father, I could not find in my heart to take him off for some time. But after I thought he could leave him a little, I called him to me, and he came jumping and laughing, and pleased to the highest extreme. I asked him if he had given his father any bread. He shook his head, and said, "None, ugly frog eat all up self."
I then gave him a cake of bread, out of a little pouch I carried on purpose. I also gave him a dram for himself, but he would not taste it, but carried it to his father. I had in my pocket two or three bunches of raisins, so I gave him a handful of them for his father.
He had no sooner given his father these raisins but I saw him come out of the boat and run away as if he had been bewitched, he ran at such a rate. He was the swiftest fellow on his feet ever I saw, even with his odd gait. He was out of sight in an instant, and tho’ I called and hallooed out after him, away he went.