266 ROBINSON CRUSOE.

was not dead. At length he opened a vein in his arm, having
first chafed and rubbed the part, so as to warm it as much as
possible. Upon this, the blood, which only dropped at first,
flowing freely, in three minutes after the man opened his eyes ;
and a quarter of an hour after he spoke, grew better, and in a
little time quite well. After the blood was stopped, he walked
about, told us he was perfectly well, took a dram of cordial
which the surgeon gave him, and had come to himself. About
a quarter of an hour after this, they came running into the cabin
to the surgeon, who was bleeding a French woman that had
fainted, and told him the priest was gone stark mad. It seems
he had begun to revolve the change of his circumstances in his
mind, and again this put him into an ecstasy of joy. His spirits
whirled about faster than the vessels could convey them, the
blood grew hot and feverish ; and the man was as fit for Bedlam
as any creature that ever was init. The surgeon would not
bleed him again in that condition, but gave him something to
doze and put him to sleep; which, after some time, operated
upon him, and he awoke next morning perfectly composed and
well.

‘The younger priest behaved with great command of his
passions, and was really an example of a serious, well-governed
mind, At his first coming on board the ship, he threw himself
flat on his face, prostrating himself in thankfulness for his
deliverance, in which I unhappily and unseasonably disturbed
him, really thinking he had been in a swoon ; but he spoke
calmly, thanked me, told me he was giving God thanks for his
deliverance, begged me to leave him a few moments, and that,
next to his Maker, he would give me thanks also.

{ was heartily sorry that I disturbed him, and not only left
him, but kept others from interrupting himalso. He continued
in that posture about three minutes, or little more, after I left
him, then came to me, as he had said he would, and, with a
great deal of seriousness and affection, but with tears in his
eyes, thanked me, that had, under God, given him and so many
miserable creatures their lives. I told him I had no need to
tell him to thank God for it, rather than me, for I had seen that
he had done that already ; but I added that it was nothing but
what reason and humanity dictated to all men, and that we
had as much reason as he to give thanks to God, who had blessed
us so far as to make us the instruments of his mercy to so many
of his creatures.

After this, the young priest applied himself to his country-
men ; labored to compose thei ; persuaded, entreated, argued,