But we were soon after struck with a Damp that chill'd the very Blood in our Veins, when we saw our Boat gone. We thought at first that we had not fasten'd it well, or that the violent Motion of the Water had broke the Rope by which it was moor'd. The Curiosity of knowing what was become of it, made us mend our Pace. We curs'd the very Day that we went upon this fatal Voyage, which depriv'd us of the Advantages that we receiv'd from this little Machine, and we began to blame one another for having first propos'd it, when La Foret on my Left-Hand, turning his Head about by chance towards our Hut, which was but a little Way behind us, gave a sudden Start, and cry'd out, Oh Lord; what's that? what terrible Monster is that in our Hut! I immediately turn'd about, and never was more surpriz'd in my Life than to see a great Creature there lain down, so that we could only discover its Back, and by the Hair of it we concluded it must be a Bear.
To speak the Truth, the Sight of so fierce an Animal as that seem'd to be, surpriz'd us. The Bows that we had were not Weapons fit to attack it, yet we were twenty times in the mind to advance towards it as softly as possible, and let fly an Arrow at it from each of our Bows, and then to bend them again instantly in order to be ready to shoot it again, in case it had Strength enough left to make towards us; but for fear of missing it and being torn to Pieces, we chose to go on without making any Noise, imagining that when it was awake it would go off towards the Wood rather than towards the Shore.
We travell'd as if we had not made use of our Legs for a Week, so little did we feel the Fatigues we had undergone. Fear carry'd us on as swift as the Wind, without giving a Look either to the Right Hand or the Left, and as we always kept by the Side of the River, we were within two or three Paces of our Boat before we spy'd it, and when we thought no more of it. This unexpected Sight reviv'd us in a Moment, but when we went to it, and found it fasten'd in another manner from what it us'd to be, we could not help being surpriz'd again. The Boat was in a nasty pickle, and the Oars and Stretchers were not in the order we left them. Besides, we observ'd a Wicker-Basket about 18 Foot long in the form of a Bow just under the Water, with Cords ty'd to the two Ends, which was made use of for fishing, as was evident from several little dead Fishes about the Machine, which those who had made use of it, had neglected to throw into the Water.
These Instances of humane Industry, made us conclude that the Country was not uninhabited, but the Point was to know what People they were; we could not imagine them to be sociable and civiliz'd, and there was all the Appearance of their being Cannibals. Mean time, we were as hungry as Horses, we had sav'd none of the Provisions we took with us, and the two or three Fowls that we brought were raw, so that if we would eat them we must dress them, and we had Fire still burning near our Hut, as we could easily see by the Smoak, but we could not get to it for fear of the Bear. The Day was almost spent, so that there was a Necessity of coming to a Determination, if we intended to lie there. We resolv'd therefore to carry our Boat with all Speed to that part of the River which was over-against our Hut, and then to give a terrible Hollow and Hoot, in order to frighten the Beast away.
We did as we intended, but instead of rousing the Bear, we were very much startled to see a couple of Men run dress'd in Skins down to their Knees. Tho' the River, which was very deep, separated us, yet we were afraid and kept upon our Guard; they approach'd us, and seeing us both dress'd, one of 'em call'd out, and ask'd who we were. O Heavens, said I, that's Normand, I know him by his Voice. We are your Friends, said I, and perhaps more than you imagine. Come over then in God's Name, said they, and be not terrify'd at our Dress. We are poor unfortunate Wretches abandon'd by God and Man, but we are civiliz'd Christians. That was enough to oblige us to go over to them. The Tears fall from my Eyes whenever I think on't; tho' they were very much alter'd, yet we knew them; we embrac'd one another with inexpressible Marks of Tenderness, and cry'd for Joy like Children. We went together to our Hut, where they gave us some little Fishes broil'd, but our Hearts were so full that we could not eat a Bit. Any Body that had seen us would have taken us for Statues; for we had no Motion, except in our Eyes, and all that we did was to stare at one another in such a manner as shew'd our Astonishment.
At length when we began to know one another, they oblig'd us to take some Nourishment, and after having heartily reproach'd us for our having left them, without giving them notice, and declar'd that they were both firmly of Opinion that we had been torn to pieces by wild Beasts, they ask'd us, where we had been so long, and what was become of Du Puis, upon which we were fain to oblige them with a general Account of our Voyage. They wish'd a thousand times they had been in our Place, and according to them, we were very wrong in coming away from so fine a Country. Talk no more of it, said I, you don't yet know the tenth Part of what I shall tell you hereafter. If it had not been for La Foret, you would not have seen us here, for I should never have had a Thought of coming away as long as I liv'd. To-morrow you shall tell us how you came to our Hut, and how you have subsisted so long in this Place without any manner of Commerce; but now I must retire to Rest, for in truth I can hold out no longer: And indeed I slept like a Dormouse, for our Savages were up 4 Hours before La Foret and I were awake.
We had scarce bid one another Good-morrow, but we renew'd the Conversation upon the Subject of our last. Normand was desirous to know more than I had told him, and we long'd to hear of their Adventures. It was at that time very hot, for we were not only in the middle of Autumn, or if you please in the Month of May, but the Sky was clear for many Days together, and the Weather mild and agreeable, so that we went and sat down under the Shade of our Hut. About four Days ago, said Normand, having a mind to bathe my self in the River, I ask'd my Comrades, if any of 'em would go with me; but the only Man that consented was Alexander. Tho' we each took a Bow with us, we did not intend to spend any time in hunting; nevertheless a very beautiful large Fowl sprung up before us in the Way which we had a mind to shoot at, and we went out of our Road to follow it. You will say 'twas a Bird of good Omen to conduct us to this Place, for as soon as it was almost within Bow-shot, it again flew straight before us in a direct Line without turning either to the Right Hand or the Left, and we pursued it till we came full-but, as one may say, upon your Barrack, and discover'd the little Boat; and then the Fowl disappear'd, and we thought no more of it. A Hut and a Boat were such Rarities in a Country like this, that we were astonish'd to see them. We thought at first, that some Ship had met with the Misfortune of being cast away here-abouts, and that some few of the Company had escap'd Ashore, so that we made no Scruple to come to the Door of this Hut, and seeing no Body appear notwithstanding we talk'd loud, we both enter'd, and found a great many Things which confirm'd us in our Opinion. Nevertheless, my Comrade was for our returning, and coming again next Day with more in Company, but I forc'd him to stay out of a Principle of Curiosity which I had to know the Owner of so well contriv'd a Lodging. To pass the time, we contriv'd a great Basket in form of a Semicircle, which by the Help of your Boat we made use of with Success to bring the Fish Ashore at those Places where the Coast was steep, and where the River had broke in upon the Land. The third Day you came, and found us, God be prais'd, at a Time when we little thought of one another.
CHAP. XIII.
Containing what happened to the Residue of the Ship's Company during the Author's Absence; and the rest of their Adventures 'till their Departure from this Country.