be faithful. However, that we
might be very secure, I told him he should go back again and choose out
those five, and tell them, that they might see he did not want men, that
he would take out those five to be his assistants, and that the governor
would keep the other two, and the three that were sent prisoners to the
castle (my cave), as hostages for the fidelity of those five; and that if
they proved unfaithful in the execution, the five hostages should be
hanged in chains alive on the shore. This looked severe, and convinced
them that the governor was in earnest; however, they had no way left them
but to accept it; and it was now the business of the prisoners, as much
as of the captain, to persuade the other five to do their duty.

Our strength was now thus ordered for the expedition: first, the captain,
his mate, and passenger; second, the two prisoners of the first gang, to
whom, having their character from the captain, I had given their liberty,
and trusted them with arms; third, the other two that I had kept till now
in my bower, pinioned, but on the captain's motion had now released;
fourth, these five released at last; so that there were twelve in all,
besides five we kept prisoners in the cave for hostages.

I asked the captain if he was willing to venture with these hands on
board the ship; but as for me and my man Friday, I did not think it was
proper for us to stir, having seven men left behind; and it was
employment enough for us to keep them asunder, and supply them with
victuals. As to the five in the cave, I resolved to keep them fast, but
Friday went in twice a day to them, to supply them with necessaries; and
I made the other two carry provisions to a certain distance, where Friday
was to take them.

When I showed myself to the two hostages, it was with the captain, who
told them I was the person the governor had ordered to look after them;
and that it was the governor's pleasure they should not stir anywhere but
by my direction; that if they did, they would be fetched into the castle,
and be laid in irons: so that as we never suffered them to see me as
governor, I now appeared as another person, and spoke of the governor,
the garrison, the castle, and the like, upon all occasions.

The captain now had no difficulty before him, but to furnish his two
boats, stop the breach of one, and man them. He made his passenger
captain of one, with four of the men; and himself, his mate, and five
more, wen