410 OMINOUS TIDINGS,

other, and, as it appeared afterwards, were of two different
nations.

After having mused a great while on the course they should
take, and beaten their brains in considering their present circum-
stances, they resolved at last, while it was dark, to send the old
savage, Friday’s father, out as a spy, to learn, if possible, some-
thing concerning them, what they came for, and what they in-
tended to do. The old man readily undertook it; and stripping
himself quite naked, as most of the savages were, away he went.
After he had been gone an hour or two, he brings word that he
had been among them undiscovered; that he found they were
two parties, and of two several nations, who had war with one
another, and had had a great battle in their own country; and
that both sides having had several prisoners taken in the fight,
they were by mere chance landed all on the same island, for the
devouring their prisoners, and making merry. But their coming
so by chance to the same place had spoiled all their mirth; that
they were in a great rage at one another; and that they were so
near, that he believed they would fight again as soon as daylight
began to appear. But he did not perceive that they had any notion
of anybody’s being on the island but themselves. He had hardly
made an end of telling his story, when they could perceive, by the
unusual noise they made, that the two little armies were engaged
in a bloody fight.

Friday’s father used all the arguments he could to persuade our
people to lie close, and not be seen. He told them their safety
consisted in it; and that they had nothing to do but lie still, and
the savages would kill one another to their hands, and then the
rest would go away: and it was so to a tittle. But it was im-
possible to prevail, especially upon the Englishmen ; their curiosity
was so importunate upon their prudentials, that they must run
out and see the battle. However, they used some caution too;
namely, they did not go openly, just by their own dwelling, but
went further into the woods, and placed themselves to advantage,
where they might securely see them manage the fight, and, as they
thought, not to be seen by them; but it seems the savages did see
them, as we shall find hereafter.