 of; and this above all, that I had even in this
miserable Condition been comforted with the Knowledge of himself, and the Hope
of his Blessing, which was a Felicity more than sufficiently equivalent to all
the Misery which I had suffer'd, or could suffer.
    In this Frame of Thankfulness, I went Home to my Castle, and began to be
much easier now, as to the Safety of my Circumstances, than ever I was before;
for I observ'd, that these Wretches never came to this Island in search of what
they could get; perhaps not seeking, not wanting, or not expecting any Thing
here; and having often, no doubt, been up in the cover'd woody Part of it,
without finding any Thing to their Purpose. I knew I had been here now almost
eighteen Years, and never saw the least Foot-steps of Humane Creature there
before; and I might be here eighteen more, as entirely conceal'd as I was now,
if I did not discover my self to them, which I had no manner of Occasion to do,
it being my only Business to keep my self entirely conceal'd where I was, unless
I found a better sort of Creatures than Canibals to make my self known to.
    Yet I entertain'd such an Abhorrence of the Savage Wretches, that I have
been speaking of, and of the wretched inhuman Custom of their devouring and
eating one another up, that I continu'd pensive, and sad, and kept close within
my own Circle for almost two Years after this: When I say my own Circle, I mean
by it, my three Plantations, viz. my Castle, my Country Seat, which I call'd my
Bower, and my Enclosure in the Woods; nor did I look after this for any other
Use than as an Enclosure for my Goats; for the Aversion which Nature gave me to
these hellish Wretches, was such, that I was fearful of seeing them, as of
seeing the Devil himself; nor did I so much as go to look after my Boat, in all
this Time; but began rather to think of making me another; for I cou'd not think
of ever making any more Attempts, to bring the other Boat round the Island to
me, least I should meet with some of these Creatures at Sea, in which, if I had
happen'd to have fallen into their Hands, I knew what would have been my Lot.
    Time however, and the Satisfaction I had, that I was in no Danger
