in. This obliged them to send another boat ashore, with ten
men armed, whose faces the Captain plainly descried, the boatswain being
the chief officer; but he said there were three honest lads among them,
who were forced into the conspiracy. Hereupon I gave him fresh courage
(for I had perceived he was in concern): In the mean while securing our
prisoners, except two, whom we took to our assistance, we thought
ourselves able enough to adventure a battle. When the sailors landed,
and beheld their boat in that condition, they not only hallooed, but
fired for their companions to hear, yet they received no answer. This
struck them with horror and amazement, thinking their companions were
murdered, they made as if they would return to the ship. I could
perceive the Captain's countenance change at this, till of a sudden
three men were ordered to look after the boat, while the other seven
leapt on shore in order to search for their companions; and, indeed,
they came to the brow of the hill, near my ancient castle, from whence
they could see to a great distance in the woods, and there shooting and
hallooing till tired and weary, they at length seated themselves under a
spreading tree. My opinion was, that nothing could be done till night,
when I might use some artifice to get them all out of the boat; but of a
sudden they started up, and made to the sea-side; hereupon I ordered
Friday and the Captain's mate to go over the creek, and halloo as loud
as they could, and so decoying them into the woods, come round to me
again. And this, indeed, had good effect; for they followed the noise,
till coming westward to the creek, they called for their boat to carry
them over, and taking one of the men out of her, left two to look after
her, having fastened her to the stump of a little tree on shore.
Hereupon immediately the Captain and our party passing the creek, out of
their sight, we surprised them both, by the Captain's knocking down one,
and ordering the other in surrender upon pain of death, and who being
the honestest of them all, sincerely joined with us. By this time it was
pretty late; when the rest returning to there boat, which they found
aground in the creek, the tide out, and the men gone, they ran about
wringing their hands, crying it was an enchanted island, and that they
should be all murdered by spirits or devils. My men would willingly have
fallen upon them, but I would not agree to hazard any of our party. But
to be more