them on
purpose to save themselves. Now," says I, "if the rest escape you, it is
your fault." Animated with this, he took the musket I had given him in
his hand, and a pistol in his belt, and his two comrades with him, with
each a piece in his hand; the two men who were with him going first made
some noise, at which one of the seamen who was awake turned about, and
seeing them coming, cried out to the rest; but was too late then, for the
moment he cried out they fired--I mean the two men, the captain wisely
reserving his own piece. They had so well aimed their shot at the men
they knew, that one of them was killed on the spot, and the other very
much wounded; but not being dead, he started up on his feet, and called
eagerly for help to the other; but the captain stepping to him, told him
it was too late to cry for help, he should call upon God to forgive his
villainy, and with that word knocked him down with the stock of his
musket, so that he never spoke more; there were three more in the
company, and one of them was slightly wounded. By this time I was come;
and when they saw their danger, and that it was in vain to resist, they
begged for mercy. The captain told them he would spare their lives if
they would give him an assurance of their abhorrence of the treachery
they had been guilty of, and would swear to be faithful to him in
recovering the ship, and afterwards in carrying her back to Jamaica, from
whence they came. They gave him all the protestations of their sincerity
that could be desired; and he was willing to believe them, and spare
their lives, which I was not against, only that I obliged him to keep
them bound hand and foot while they were on the island.

While this was doing, I sent Friday with the captain's mate to the boat
with orders to secure her, and bring away the oars and sails, which they
did; and by-and-by three straggling men, that were (happily for them)
parted from the rest, came back upon hearing the guns fired; and seeing
the captain, who was before their prisoner, now their conqueror, they
submitted to be bound also; and so our victory was complete.

It now remained that the captain and I should inquire into one another's
circumstances. I began first, and told him my whole history, which he
heard with an attention even to amazement--and particularly at the
wonderful manner of my being furnished with provisions and ammunition;
and, indeed, as my story is a whole collection of wonders,