316 ROBINSON CRUSOR.

first they came to the tree where the men lay that had beer
killed ; but it was easy to see that some more of the savages
had been there, for they had attempted to carry their dead men
away, and had dragged two of them a good way, but had given
it over. From thence they advanced to the first rising ground,
where they had stood and seen their camp destroyed, and where
they had the mortification still to see some of the smoke ; but
neither could they here see any of the savages. They then re-
solved, though with all possible caution, to go forward towards
their ruined plantation ; but, a little before they came thither,
coming in sight of the sea-shore, they saw plainly the savages
all embarked again in their canoes, in order to be gone. They
seemed sorry at first, that there was no way to come at them,
to give them a parting blow; but, upon the whole, they were
very well satisfied to be rid of them.

The poor Englishmen being now twice ruined, and all theiz
improvements destroyed, the rest all agreed to come and help
them to rebuild, and assist them with needful supplies. Their
three countrymen, who were not yet noted for having the least
inclination to do any good, yet as soon as they heard of it (for
they, living remote eastward, knew nothing of the matter till
all was over), came and offered their help and assistance, and
did, very friendly, work for several days to restore their habita-
tion, and make necessaries for them. And thus ina little time
they were set upon their legs again.

About two days after this they had the further satisfaction
of seeing three of the savages’ canoes come driving on shore,
and, at some distance from them, two drowned men, by which
they had reason to believe that they had met with a storm at
sea, which had overset some of them; for it had blown very
hard the night after they went off.

However, as some might miscarry, so, on the other hand,
enough of them escaped to inform the rest, as well of what
they had done as of what had happened to them, and to whet,
them on to another enterprise of the same nature, which they,
it seems, resolved to attempt, with sufficient force to carry all
before them ; for except what the first man had told them cf
inhabitants, they could say little of it of their own knowledge
for they never saw one man; and the fellow being killed that
had affirmed it, they had no other witness to confirm it to
them.

It was five or six months after this before they heard any
more of the savages, in which time our men were in hopes they
had either forgot their former bad luck, or given over hopes of