For many months the perturbation of my mind was very great; in the day great troubles overwhelmed me, and in the night I dreamed often of killing savages.  About two years after I first knew these fears, I was surprised one morning by seeing five canoes on the shore.  I could not tell what to think of it, so went and lay in my castle perplexed and discomforted.  At length, becoming very impatient, I clambered up to the top of the hill and perceived, by the help of my perspective glass, no less than thirty men dancing round a fire with barbarous gestures.  While I was looking, two miserable wretches were dragged from the boats.  One was immediately knocked down, while the other, seeing himself a little at liberty, started away from them and ran along the sands directly towards me.  I was dreadfully frightened, that I must acknowledge, when I perceived him run my way, especially when, as I thought, I saw him pursued by the whole body.  But my spirits began to recover when I found that but three men followed him, and that he outstripped them exceedingly, in running.

Presently he came to a creek and, making nothing of it, plunged in, landed, and ran on with exceeding strength.  Two of the pursuers swam the creek, but the third went no farther, and soon after went back again.  I immediately took my two guns, ran down the hill and clapped myself in the way between the pursuers and the pursued, hallooing aloud to him that fled.  Then, rushing on the foremost of the pursuers, I knocked him down with the stock of my piece.  The other stopped, as if frightened, but as I came nearer, I perceived he was fitting a bow and arrow to shoot at me; so I was then obliged to shoot at him first, which I did and killed him.

The poor savage who fled was so frightened with the noise of my piece that he seemed inclined still to fly.  I gave him all the signs of encouragement I could think of, and he came nearer, kneeling down every ten or twelve steps.  I took him up and made much of him, and comforted him.  Then, beckoning him to follow me, I took him to my cave on the farther part of the island.  Here, having refreshed him, I made signs for him to lie down to sleep, which the poor creature did.  After he had slumbered about half an hour, he came out of the cave, running to me, laying himself down and setting my foot upon his head to let me know he would serve me so long as he lived.

In a little time I began to speak to him and teach him to speak to me; and, first, I let him know his name should be Friday, which was the day I saved his life.  I likewise taught him to say “Master,” and then let him know that was to be my name.  I made a little tent for him, and took in my ladders at night, so that he could no way come at me.