(Continuing from Part 43)
Friday and I had finished our large canoe and were waiting for the proper season to begin our journey.
We had worked hard to make the boat strong enough to carry us toward the mainland. I had taught Friday to use a sail and rudder, and he had shown me much about handling a canoe.
We were both eager to leave.
But before our plans could be carried out, something unexpected happened.
One morning, while I was busy with my ordinary work, Friday suddenly came running toward me.
His face showed great alarm.
“Master! Master!” he cried.
I immediately stopped what I was doing.
“What is it, Friday?” I asked.
He pointed toward the coast.
He told me that several canoes had arrived.
At first, I could not understand why he was so frightened.
Then I remembered the people who sometimes visited the island to kill their prisoners.
Friday feared that his former enemies had returned.
He believed they might find him and carry him away.
I tried to calm him.
I reminded him that we had guns and a strong shelter.
I also told him that I would not abandon him.
He seemed relieved, although he remained nervous.
We prepared our weapons and climbed to a place where we could watch the shore without being seen.
I took my telescope and examined the beach.
There were three canoes.
A number of men had landed and were gathered near the water.
I counted them as carefully as I could.
There appeared to be more than twenty.
Some were preparing a fire.
Others stood beside the canoes.
I feared that they had brought prisoners with them.
Friday watched anxiously.
I asked whether he recognized the men.
He could not identify them from such a distance, but he believed they belonged to groups that sometimes attacked his people.
We remained hidden and continued observing.
After a time, I noticed something unusual.
One of the prisoners seemed different from the others.
His clothing and appearance suggested that he was a European.
I looked again through my telescope.
I became almost certain that he was a white man.
My heart began beating quickly.
A European prisoner!
I had long wished to meet someone from the world beyond the island.
Now such a person appeared to be in terrible danger.
I knew that the visitors might kill him if I did nothing.
I turned to Friday.
I told him that we must try to save the prisoner.
Friday agreed immediately.
He had not forgotten that I had rescued him in a similar situation.
We returned to our shelter and prepared carefully.
I selected several guns and pistols.
I loaded them and made sure they were ready.
I also took swords and enough ammunition for a fight.
I gave Friday weapons and explained how we would use them.
He listened closely.
By this time, he had become skilled at handling a gun.
I knew that I could depend on him.
Still, I understood that we were greatly outnumbered.
There were only two of us against more than twenty men.
If we attacked carelessly, we might both be killed.
We needed the advantage of surprise.
I decided that we should approach through the woods and find a place close to the prisoners.
Then we could judge the situation more clearly.
Friday followed me quietly.
We moved from tree to tree, taking care not to make unnecessary noise.
As we approached the shore, we could hear the voices of the visitors.
I looked through the branches.
The men were gathered around their fire.
Some were eating.
Others were talking and moving about.
I searched for the European prisoner.
At last, I saw him.
He was sitting on the ground with his hands and feet tied.
He looked weak and exhausted.
I could see that he had suffered greatly.
The sight filled me with pity.
I remembered my own captivity in Africa.
I knew what it meant to be powerless in the hands of others.
I decided that I could not leave him to die.
I turned to Friday and spoke quietly.
I explained that we would first try to free the prisoner.
If the visitors attacked us, we would defend ourselves.
Friday nodded.
He appeared calm and determined.
I then noticed another captive nearby.
This man seemed to be one of the Indigenous people of the mainland.
He was also tied and unable to escape.
I realized that there might be two lives to save.
We waited for a suitable moment.
Some of the visitors moved away from the fire.
Others were distracted by their preparations.
I studied their positions carefully.
Then I whispered to Friday that we must be ready.
I gave him clear instructions.
We would aim at the men who posed the greatest danger.
We would fire together so that the first shots would surprise the group.
Then we would reload as quickly as possible.
Friday understood.
I asked whether he was afraid.
He answered that he was ready to fight beside me.
His courage encouraged me.
I looked once more toward the prisoners.
The European was still lying helplessly on the ground.
I feared that the visitors might kill him at any moment.
There was no longer time to wait.
I raised my gun.
Friday prepared his weapon beside me.
We aimed carefully.
Then I gave the signal.
Our guns fired almost together.
The sudden noise echoed across the beach.
Several men fell.
The others jumped up in confusion.
Some looked toward the woods.
Others ran toward the canoes.
They had not expected an attack from hidden enemies.
Before they could understand what was happening, Friday and I prepared to fire again.
I knew that we had begun a dangerous struggle.
But I also knew that the prisoners’ lives depended upon our success.
We moved forward cautiously, keeping the trees between ourselves and the visitors.
The European prisoner raised his head.
He had heard the gunfire, but he did not yet understand who was attacking.
I called out to him.
I wanted him to know that help had come.
For the first time in many years, I was speaking to another European.
And although the battle was not yet finished, I hoped that this meeting would change our lives.