My son, weeping over me, was trying to recover me, assisted
by one of the savages, of less repulsive appearance than his companions,
and who seemed the chief; this was Parabery. He made me swallow a few
drops of a detestable fermented liquor, which, however, restored me. I
felt, as I recovered, the extent of my disaster, and your grief, my
dears, when you should find me missing. I should have been wholly
disconsolate, but that Francis was left to me, and he was continually
praying me to live for his sake. I received some comfort from a vague
notion that as this was our canoe, the savages had already carried you
off, and were taking us to you.
"I was confirmed in this hope, when I saw that the savages, instead of
making to sea, continued to coast the island, till they came to the
Great Bay. I had then no doubt but that we should meet with you; but
this hope was soon destroyed. Two or three more of the savages were
waiting there on the shore; they spoke to their friends in the canoe;
and I understood from their gestures, that they were saying they could
not find anybody there. I have since learnt from Canda, that part of
them landed at the Great Bay, with instructions to search that side of
the island for inhabitants, whilst the rest proceeded with the canoe to
examine the other side, and had succeeded but too well.
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