Page:The Captivity of Hans Stade of Hesse.pdf/155

Capitan Salaser,^[1] and had also returned with the next ship.

We sailed with them to the huts where he (the Portuguese) lived among the savages, and the latter entertained us after their manner.

Thereupon our captain begged the man whom we found. among the savages, that he would cause a canoe to be manned, which should be conducted by one of us to the great ship, so that this also might proceed there.

Then the captain sent me off with the savages to the ship; we had been absent three nights, and those in the ship did not know what had become of us. Now when I fired an arquebuss from the boat, on approaching the vessel, they made a great alarm and prepared for defence, and would not permit me to approach nearer with the boat, but called out to me, asking what had happened, where the rest of the crew remained, and how I so came alone with the boat-full of savages. I remained silent and gave no answer, for the captain had commanded me to look sorrowful, in order to observe what those in the ship would do.

Now as I answered them not, they said among themselves," the affair is not altogether right, the others must be dead, and they come with this one; perhaps they have others in the rear with whom to seize the vessel." And they were about to fire. Yet they called out once more to me, then I began to laugh, and said, "Be comforted, good news! let me come nearer so that I may give you ac-