(Continuing from Part 38)
After my remarkable dream, I continued watching the coast for an opportunity to rescue a prisoner.
I had imagined a young man escaping from his captors and running toward my hiding place. In the dream, I had saved him, and he had helped me prepare for a journey to the mainland.
When I woke, I knew it had been only a dream.
Still, the idea remained in my thoughts.
I hoped that one day I might save another person’s life and gain a companion.
For many months, nothing happened.
I continued caring for my goats, tending my fields, and repairing my shelters.
Whenever I climbed the hills, I looked toward the shore where the strangers had gathered before.
But I saw no canoes.
At last, about a year and a half after my dream, an extraordinary event occurred.
One morning, I was working near my shelter when I noticed something unusual in the distance.
I went to a place where I could see the coast more clearly.
There, on the beach, I saw several canoes.
My heart began beating quickly.
The visitors had returned.
I counted five canoes drawn up on the sand.
A large group of men had landed.
There were so many that I could not count them easily from where I stood.
I estimated that there might be twenty or thirty.
I immediately returned to my shelter and prepared my weapons.
I took my guns and pistols, making sure they were loaded.
Then I moved toward a hidden position from which I could watch the visitors.
I did not want them to discover me.
When I reached a suitable place, I lay quietly among the trees.
I could see the men gathered near the shore.
They had made a fire.
Some were moving around it, while others stood beside the canoes.
I watched carefully, remembering the terrible remains I had once discovered on that beach.
I feared that they had brought prisoners with them.
For some time, I could not see exactly what was happening.
Then I noticed a sudden movement.
One of the prisoners broke away from the group.
He began running as fast as he could.
The other men shouted.
Several immediately started chasing him.
I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
The scene was almost exactly like my dream.
The prisoner ran across the beach toward the trees.
He was young and strong, and fear seemed to give him extraordinary speed.
Three men pursued him.
The prisoner ran much faster than the others.
Soon, he had gained a considerable distance.
I watched with growing excitement.
If he continued in that direction, he might pass close to my hiding place.
Perhaps I could help him.
But I knew that I must act carefully.
The men on the beach were numerous.
If they discovered me, I might face a dangerous attack.
I remained hidden and watched the chase.
The fleeing prisoner reached a narrow creek.
The water separated him from the land beyond.
For a moment, I feared that he would be trapped.
But he did not hesitate.
He jumped into the water and began swimming.
He crossed the creek quickly and climbed onto the opposite bank.
Two of his pursuers followed him into the water.
The third remained behind.
Perhaps he could not swim, or perhaps he was unwilling to continue.
The prisoner ran on.
He was now approaching the part of the island where I had concealed myself.
I realized that this might be my opportunity.
I stepped out from behind the trees.
At first, the young man did not see me.
He was looking over his shoulder at the men chasing him.
I called out and made a sign for him to come toward me.
When he noticed me, he stopped suddenly.
He seemed even more frightened than before.
He did not know whether I was a friend or another enemy.
I raised my hand and tried to show that I meant him no harm.
Then I pointed toward the pursuers.
I wanted him to understand that I intended to help.
He hesitated for a moment.
Meanwhile, the two men continued approaching.
I could not wait any longer.
I moved toward the nearest pursuer.
He was carrying a wooden weapon.
Before he could attack, I struck him with the heavy end of my gun.
He fell to the ground.
I had chosen not to fire because the sound might attract the large group on the beach.
The second pursuer stopped when he saw what had happened.
He seemed surprised and frightened.
But then he raised his bow and prepared to shoot an arrow at me.
I knew that I was in immediate danger.
I raised my gun and fired.
The man fell.
The sound of the shot echoed across the surrounding country.
For a moment, everything became quiet.
I looked toward the beach, fearing that the other visitors had heard.
But they were far away, and I could not see anyone coming toward us.
The young prisoner stood nearby, watching me.
He seemed astonished.
He had probably never seen a gun fired before.
He looked first at the fallen man and then at my weapon.
I called him closer.
He approached slowly, still uncertain whether he could trust me.
I smiled and made signs that he was safe.
Then he suddenly fell to his knees.
He lowered his head and made gestures of gratitude.
He even placed my foot upon his head, as though promising to obey me.
I understood that he believed I had saved his life.
I helped him stand.
I wanted him to know that I did not intend to harm him.
But there was no time for a long meeting.
The first pursuer, whom I had struck with my gun, began moving again.
He had not been killed.
The young man noticed this and became alarmed.
He pointed toward the fallen man and made signs asking for my sword.
I gave it to him.
He approached his enemy and killed him.
Then he returned the sword to me.
I was struck by how quickly and confidently he had acted.
He had been terrified only moments earlier, yet he was now calm.
I knew that we could not remain there.
The other visitors might discover what had happened.
I pointed toward the woods and made signs for the young man to follow me.
He understood.
Before leaving, we covered the bodies so they would not be easily noticed.
Then we hurried away from the beach.
I led him through the trees toward a place where we could hide safely.
As we walked, I looked at him with wonder.
For more than twenty years, I had lived without human companionship.
Now another person was walking beside me.
I did not know his name.
I did not know his language.
I did not know whether he would become my friend.
But I had saved his life, and he had followed me willingly.
My dream had begun to come true.