We made on to the southward for ten or twelve days, living very sparing on our provisions, which began to abate very much, and going no oftener into the shore than we were obliged to for fresh water. My design in this was to make the river Gambia or Senegal, that is to say, any where about the Cape de Verd, where I was in hopes to meet with some European ship. If I did not, I knew not what course I had to take, but to seek for the islands, or perish there among the Negroes. I knew all the ships from Europe which sailed either to the coast of Guinea, to Brasil, or to the East Indies made this Cape or those islands. In a word, I put the whole of my fortune upon this single point. Either I must meet with some ship, or must perish.
Several times I was obliged to land for fresh water, and once in particular, being early in the afternoon, we came to an anchor under a little point of land which was pretty high. I was fill'd with concern for Xury, as this was to be the first night of the full moon, the first since our escape from the Moors. Several times during our voyage I had ask'd what he knew of the visiting wise men and vizeers, but the boy knew only that they came to study with our former patron, and not at all of my nature or my part in these studies. So I told him that I must go ashore for the night, into the higher country, and he was to wait for me on the boat and not follow. I would return in the morning.
This upset Xury a great deal, and more so when he heard I would take no arms with me, for I did not want to risk losing my gun while the beast ran free. He cried and spoke dire warnings and said I would not be safe without him. I assur'd him I would be fine and had him remember I would be back on the shore in the morning. It upset him but I knew he would obey my commands, so great was his love for me.
As the sun set I waded into shore and bade the boy to sleep well. I wander'd till the shore was quite out of sight, and Xury could not see me as well. Here I remov'd what cloathes I had, which was precious little as I still wore the cloathes of my servitude to the Moors, viz. breeches, waistcoat, linen shirt, and kerchief. These I placed in a tree atop a high branch and walked still farther, expos'd now, were any other man there to see.
The sun went down and it was but a few hours later that the moon rose and the beast came upon me with great savage glee, for it sensed from deep within my skin it was not to be chayn'd this night. As a rule, the first night of the moon is gentle as that heavenly orb becomes full and true, but not this time, for after two years of silver chayns so quick it rush'd out that I did scream from the pain of it before its nature made me numb and distant.
I know the beast took great joy that night, for it had never been amidst such savagery, and I knew its pleasure through the smoky haze of my dream in the same way a man knows his horse or dog is happy and satisfied. It ran and kill'd and ate and howled and ran more and kill'd more and ate more. This was a danger my father had taught against us, for to appease the beast makes it stronger and gives it a better purchase upon one's thoughts and immortal soul.
I awoke the next day on a patch of soft grass that had been press'd down and made a most serviceable bed. A few scratches marr'd my arms and legs, but I was well rested and had no hunger, a fact I chose not to dwell on. It took but a short time to locate the tree with my cloathes, left on the high branch just as I had plac'd them. I walked back to the shore, where Xury greet'd me with joyous cries, for he told me the howls and screams of the night before had been far worse than any we had heard, and he feared I had met whatever fearsome creature he had heard, not knowing it was now within my skin while we spoke. "He eat you at one mouth," said Xury. One mouthful he meant.
We made our way south for the day, and that night we again dropp'd anchor and I went ashore. Xury wailed again at my leaving, but not as much as before, and I once more spent the night in the high country of Africk. The beast spent another night of savage debauchery beneath the moon, and when I came upon my own natures again, I was so deep in the forest I could not see the sun to acquaint myself with the cardinal directions. It was most unpleasant to me to spend hours walking uncloathed in the forest like a savage. After some time I found a clearing and did orient myself, yet it was still well into the second half of the day when I locat'd the tree with my cloathes, but was most put out to discover they had fallen from the tree and my good linen shirt was soiled by some creature.
It being too late to return to the boat, I call'd out to Xury from shore. The boy was in a state and from the sand I saw tears in his eyes. He cried out in joy and begg'd me not to leave him again, for he was sure a great creature had eaten me up. I told him I must spend one more night in the high country, but in the morning we would resume our journey. He was most displeas'd at the thought of another night alone, and wailed for me to let him join me on the shore. I told him he could not, for he was small and the creatures of Africk truly would "eat him at one mouth."