Page:The Captivity of Hans Stade of Hesse.pdf/194

and were going to take me to Uwattibi, where they intended killing me, they called mockingly after me that they would not fail to appear at my master's hut, to drink over me and to eat me. But my master always comforted me, saying that I was not to be killed for the present

Meanwhile it so happened, that the twenty-five canoes belonging to the savage tribe of whom the Portuguese are allies, and who as I also stated previous to my being captured, were desirous of proceeding thither to make war; it so happened (I say) that one morning they fell upon the village.

Now when the Tuppin Ikins were about to attack the huts, and together began shooting in upon them, those in the huts became distressed, and the women prepared for flight.

Then I said to them, "You take me for a Portuguese, your enemy; now give me a bow and arrows and let me go loose, and I will help you to defend the huts." They handed me a bow and arrows; I shouted and shot and acted as like them as I possibly could, and encouraged them to be of good heart and valorous, and that no harm would come to them. And my intention was to push through the stockade which surrounds the huts, and to run towards the others, for they knew me well, and also were aware that I was in the village. But they watched me too well. Now when the Tuppin Ikins saw that they could not succeed, they again repaired to their canoes and sailed away. When they had departed, I was imprisoned again.