(Continuing from Part 44)
The sound of our guns filled the air, and the men gathered on the beach were thrown into confusion.
Friday and I had fired from behind the trees, where we could not easily be seen. Several of the visitors had fallen, while the others looked around in fear.
They did not understand where the attack had come from.
I knew that surprise was our greatest advantage.
There were only two of us against a much larger group.
If the men discovered our position and attacked together, we might be overwhelmed.
I quickly reloaded my gun.
Friday did the same.
We fired again.
More men fell, and the rest began running in different directions.
Some hurried toward the canoes.
Others tried to hide behind trees or rocks.
I called to Friday to remain close to me.
Then we moved forward.
I wanted to reach the European prisoner before anyone could harm him.
He was lying on the sand with his hands and feet tied.
He looked weak and exhausted.
When I approached, he raised his head.
I spoke to him in Portuguese.
“Who are you?”
He answered faintly that he was a Christian.
Then he told me that he was a Spaniard.
I was delighted to hear a familiar European language.
I immediately cut the ropes around his hands and feet.
He tried to stand but was too weak.
I gave him a little water and some food.
He thanked me with great emotion.
I asked whether he could walk.
He said that he could hardly move.
I understood that he had suffered terribly during his captivity.
I gave him a pistol and a sword.
I told him that he must defend himself if any of the attackers returned.
He accepted the weapons gratefully.
Meanwhile, Friday continued watching the men who were trying to escape.
Several had reached their canoes.
Others were still running along the beach.
I did not wish to pursue anyone unnecessarily, but I feared that those who escaped might return with more men.
The Spaniard, although weak, helped us during the remaining struggle.
He defended himself bravely when one of the attackers approached.
At last, the fighting began to end.
Most of the surviving visitors had fled.
Some reached a canoe and pushed away from the shore.
I considered following them, but I knew that doing so might be dangerous.
We had already risked our lives to save the prisoners.
I decided that our first duty was to protect those we had rescued.
Then I remembered the second captive.
I had seen another prisoner lying near one of the canoes.
He was still tied and unable to escape.
I called Friday.
“Go and help that man,” I said.
Friday hurried toward the canoe.
I watched him bend down beside the prisoner.
Then something extraordinary happened.
Friday suddenly cried out.
He seemed unable to control his excitement.
He raised his hands, jumped into the air, and began speaking rapidly in his own language.
I had never seen him behave in such a way.
For a moment, I feared that something terrible had happened.
Then I saw him kneel beside the prisoner and embrace him.
He kissed the man’s face and held him tightly.
He laughed and cried at the same time.
I hurried toward them.
“What is it, Friday?” I asked.
Friday looked up at me with tears in his eyes.
“Master!” he cried. “My father!”
I stopped in astonishment.
The prisoner was Friday’s own father.
I could hardly believe it.
Of all the people who might have been brought to the island, this man was the father of my companion.
Friday had believed that he might never see him again.
Now, through an extraordinary turn of events, they had been reunited.
I felt deeply moved.
Friday continued embracing his father.
He stroked the old man’s face and spoke to him in their own language.
He seemed unable to stop looking at him.
I stood quietly and allowed them time together.
Their happiness was greater than anything I could express in words.
At last, Friday remembered that his father was still weak and suffering.
He quickly cut the ropes that held him.
Then he helped him sit up.
The old man was exhausted.
He had been tied for a long time and could barely move.
Friday ran to fetch water.
He brought it carefully and helped his father drink.
Then he offered him food.
The old man ate slowly.
Friday watched him with great concern.
He seemed determined to do everything possible to restore his strength.
I had always known Friday as cheerful and loyal.
But now I saw another side of his character.
His love for his father was deep and sincere.
He could hardly remain still.
One moment, he was embracing the old man.
The next, he was running to fetch something useful.
He laughed, cried, and spoke excitedly.
I was touched by his happiness.
I thought about my own father in England.
Many years had passed since I had disobeyed his advice and left home.
I did not know whether he was still alive.
Watching Friday’s reunion reminded me of everything I had lost through my long absence.
I wished that I, too, might one day see my family again.
But there was still work to do.
The Spaniard remained weak, and Friday’s father could not walk far.
We needed to bring both men to safety.
I decided that we should use one of the canoes left on the beach.
Friday helped prepare it.
We placed the two rescued men inside as comfortably as possible.
Then we moved along the coast toward a place nearer my shelter.
The journey was slow, but it was much easier than forcing the weakened prisoners to walk.
When we reached a suitable landing place, Friday helped his father ashore.
I assisted the Spaniard.
We brought them to a sheltered area where they could rest.
I provided food, water, and coverings.
I wanted them to recover before we asked them to do anything difficult.
That evening, I looked at the three men who were now with me.
Only a short time earlier, I had been alone on the island.
Then Friday had become my companion.
Now we had rescued a Spaniard and Friday’s father.
My little world had changed again.
For the first time in more than twenty years, I was living among several human beings.
I felt grateful beyond words.
But I also knew that their arrival brought new responsibilities.
We would need more food, more shelter, and careful plans for the future.
Perhaps, with four men working together, we might finally find a way to leave the island.
As night approached, Friday remained close to his father.
I watched them speaking quietly.
Their reunion had brought happiness into a place that had known so much loneliness.
And I began to believe that our rescue of the prisoners might be the beginning of an even greater change.