236 LANDING OF THE SAVAGES.

[ was indeed terribly surprised
at the sight, and stepped short
within my grove, not daring to
go out lest T might be surprise: ;
and yet [ had no more peace
within, from the apprehensions T[

    

had that if these savages, in ram-
\ bling over the island, should find my corn stand-
‘ing or cut, or any of my works or improve-
“ments, they would immediately conclude that
there were people in the place, and would then
never give over till they had found me out, In
this extremity L went back directly to my castle,
pulled up the ladder after me, and made all things
without look as wild and natural as [ could.
Then L prepared myself within, putting my-
self in a posture of defence. [ loaded all my
cannon, as [ called them—that is to say, my
muskets, which were mounted upon my new
fortification— and all my pistols, and resolved to
defend myself to the last gasp; not forgetting

 

 

seriously to commend myself to the divine pro-
tection, and earnestly to pray to God to deliver
ne me out of the hands of the barbarians. And
‘I in this posture [ continued about two hours, but

a began to be mighty impatient for intelligence
T WENT BACK DI-

neotny, anp rurten Abroad, for T had no spies to send out.
UP THK LADDER AFTER

ae After sitting a while longer, and musing what

 

I should do in this case, I was not able to bear
sitting in ignorance any longer; so setting up my ladder to
the side of the hill, where there was a flat place, as [T observed
before, and then pulling the ladder up after me, T set it up
again, and mounted to the top of the hill, and pulling out my
perspective-glass, which I had taken on purpose, [ laid me
down flat on my belly on the ground, and began to look for
the place. I presently found there was no less than nine
naked savages, sitting round a small fire they had made, not to