This was what I wished for; and immediately leaving Friday and the
captain's mate to their business, I took the rest with me; and,
crossing the creek out of their sight, we surprised the two men
before they were aware - one of them lying on the shore, and the
other being in the boat. The fellow on shore was between sleeping
and waking, and going to start up; the captain, who was foremost,
ran in upon him, and knocked him down; and then called out to him
in the boat to yield, or he was a dead man. They needed very few
arguments to persuade a single man to yield, when he saw five men
upon him and his comrade knocked down: besides, this was, it seems,
one of the three who were not so hearty in the mutiny as the rest
of the crew, and therefore was easily persuaded not only to yield,
but afterwards to join very sincerely with us. In the meantime,
Friday and the captain's mate so well managed their business with
the rest that they drew them, by hallooing and answering, from one
hill to another, and from one wood to another, till they not only
heartily tired them, but left them where they were, very sure they
could not reach back to the boat before it was dark; and, indeed,
they were heartily tired themselves also, by the time they came
back to us.
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