e men in pursuit, two also plunged in and swam
through, but less quickly than the man escaping, being more blown with
running, because of what they had eaten before starting. The third man
stopped altogether, and went back the way he came.

Seeing the turn things were taking, it seemed to Robinson that now had
come his chance to get a servant, and he resolved to try to save the
life of the man who was fleeing from the cannibals. At once he hurried
down the ladder, snatched up his two guns, and running as fast as he
could, got between the man and his pursuers, calling out to him at the
same time to stop. The man looked back, and the sight of Robinson
seemed to frighten him at first as much as did the men who were trying
to catch him. But Robinson again spoke, and signed to him with his
hand to come back, and in the meantime went slowly towards the other
men, who were now coming near. Then, rushing at the foremost, he
knocked him senseless with the butt of his gun, for it seemed to him
safer not to fire, lest the noise should bring the other cannibals
around.

The second man, seeing his comrade fall, hesitated, and stopped, but
Robinson saw when nearer to him that the savage had in his hands a bow
and arrow with which he was just about to shoot. There was then no
choice but to fire first, which Robinson did, killing the man on the
spot.

Thereupon the man who had been chased by the others was so terrified
by the flash and noise of the gun, and at seeing his enemy fall dead,
that he stood stock still, trembling, and it was with great difficulty
that Robinson coaxed him to come near. This at last he did, stopping
every few paces and kneeling down. At length, coming close to
Robinson, he again knelt, kissed the ground, and taking hold of
Robinson's foot, set it on his head as it rested on the sand.

While this was going on, Robinson noticed that the savage whom he had
knocked down had begun to move, and to come to his senses. To this he
drew the attention of the man whom he had rescued, who said some words
that Robinson could not understand, but which sounded pleasant to an
ear that had heard no voice but his own for more than twenty-five
years. Next he made a motion with his hand, as if asking for the
cutlass that hung at Robinson's belt, and when the weapon was given to
him he ran at his enemy, and with one clean blow cut off his head.
Then, laughing, he brought the head, and laid it with the cutlass at
Robinson's fee