The idea of swimming to one of the adjacent isles occurred to me; but the straits between were full of foaming breakers and sharks; the rocks, moreover, were inaccessible, and wherever I might go Antonio could easily follow.
I remembered the carpenter's little hatchet, which was still lying upon the beach, and resolved to possess myself of it, to conceal it about me, and to use it without mercy if occasion served or required.
"Did you hear me speak, you English heathen?" shouted Antonio, striking me on the shoulder.
"Yes," said I, shuddering again; for in addition to the load of crime which covered Antonio, I loathed him as the primary cause of all our misfortunes, and of my present misery.
"Bueno—then look to it!" said he, nodding.
"Look to what!"
"We must take to kid-catching, and boar-hunting, else I may feed myself, as I have done before, with whatever comes most readily to hand."
"Shall we not place a signal again on the mountain?"
"For what purpose?" he asked with a grimace.
"To attract a passing ship."