Yes, master, I answer quietly, but inside I was excited. Perhaps now I can escape,I said to myself.
My master went back to his friends and we took the bpat out to sea.For a time we fished quietly, and then I moved carefully behind Moely and knocked him into the water . Swim I cried. Swim to the shore.
My master liked to shoot seabirds and so there were guns on the boat.Quickly,I took one of these guns.Moely was swimmimg after the boat and I shouted to him
Go back to the shore you can swim there-it's not too far. I won't hurt you, but if you come near the boat, I'll shoot you throug the head. So Moely turned,and swam back to shore as quickly as he could.
Then I said to the boy, Xury,if you help me, I'll push you into the sea too.
But Xury was happy to help Canary Island, but I was afraid to go too far from thet more shore.It was only a small boat. And so we sailed on south for some days. We had very little water,and it was dangerous country here,with many wild animals. We were afraid, but we often had to on shore to get mote water.Once I used a gun to shoot a wild animal. I don't know what animal itwas,but it made a good meal.
For about ten or tweive days we saild on south,down the coast of Africa. Then one day we saw some people on the shore-strange,wild people ,who did not look friendly. By now we had very little food, and we really needed help.We were afraid,but we had go on shore.
At first, they were afriaid of us,too.Perhaps white people never visited this coast. We did not speak their languge, of course,so we used our hands and faces to show that we were hungry.They came whit food for us, but then they moved away quickly.We carried the food to our boat, and they watched us. I tried to thank them, but ha nothing to give them.
Just then two big wild cats came down to the shore from the mountains.I think they were leopards. The people were afraid of these wild cats, and the women cried out.
Quickly, I look a gun, and shot one of the animals. The second wild cat ran back up into the mountains.
Guns were new to these African people, and they wehem the meat of the dead wildre afraid of the loud noise and the smoke. But they were happy about the dead wild cat.I gave them the meat of the dead animal, and they gave us more food and water.
We now had alot of food and water,and we sailed on.Eleven days later we came near the Cape Verde Islands.We could see them, but we couldn't get near because there was no windd. We waited
Suddenly Xury called and shouted and sailed our little boat as fast we could.But the ship did not see us. Then I remembered the guns which made a lot of smoke. A few minutes later the ship saw us and turned
When we were on the ship,the Portuguese captain Iistened to my story.He was going to Brazil and agreed to help me, but he wanted notihg for his help. No,he said,when I tried to pay him. Perhaps, one day, someone will help me when I need it.
But he gave me money for myboat, and for Xury, too.At first,I did not wantt to sell Xury as a slave,after all pur dangerous adventures together.But Xury was happy to go to the captain, and the captain was a good man. In ten years time,he said,Xury can go free.
When we arrive in Brazil three weeks later,I said goodbye to the captain and Xury, left the ship, and went to begin a new life.