Chapter 29, Taking Charge With the introductions, out of the way.
We ran as fast as we could off the beach, with Friday leading the way.
Once we were sitting safely on Lookout Hill, the captain told us his story in greater detail.
In the end, it was just two men causing all the problems for the poor captain.
They had convinced the others to mutiny and now were leading them all astray.
It was lucky they even survived, the captain said, for the two were terrible sailors.
They didn't really know what they were doing at all.
Gold is the only thing they think about, not about the safety of the boat or the lives of the rest of the men.
Money is the only thing they want.
I asked Captain Walsh if he thought the rest of his men would return to loyalty if the two bandits were caught.
Yes, I think they would.
I don't think they're too happy to be at sea with no clear direction and no plans to go home.
I told Captain Walsh that Friday and I would be happy to help him.
But I needed to know two things first.
Will you follow my instructions and let me lead you in this fight?
And should we win, will you take Friday and me back to England with you?
Captain Walsh agreed immediately.
The five of us sat down for a long while and created a very good plan.
The two villains often spent time just sitting and hatching their plans.
The captain agreed we could probably capture them easily and then, when they were safely tied up, convinced the rest of the men to return to order.
We took the sailors to my cooking cave where the rest of my guns were stored.
I gave each man a weapon and some gunpowder just in case we needed it.
We five moved as soft as air back down to the beach.
The men were all taking a nap, spread out all over the beach, some with their heads on logs, some just laying in the sun.
We surrounded the men and I counted to three with my fingers.
We all fired our guns into the air at the same time.
The men jumped up, scared and shocked.
They didn't know what to do.
"'Toss your weapons!'
I yelled.
"'Do it now, before we shoot you all!'
The clank and crash of many knives, swords, and scabbards rang out as they hit the ground.
"'Guns, too!
I know you have some!'
A few men reluctantly parted with their weapons.
I turned to the captain.
"'Who are the villains?
Who took over your ship, Captain Walsh?'
The captain pointed his finger at two men cowering in the middle of the group.
"'You two!
Come here, now!'
They hesitated at first, and then they tried to make a run for it, but Friday was too quick for them.
He tripped the first one and then grabbed the other before he could even make it to the trees.
Quick, I said.
Let's get him tied up.
Morgan and Pace tied their hands together with some vines.
Friday, you know where to take these two ruffians.
He nodded and motioned for Pace and Morgan to help him.
Once they were out of earshot, the captain spoke to his men.
He told them they could either come back to him or lose their lives that day.
It was their choice.
They all hung their heads in shame for betraying such a good man.
Every single one of them told Captain Walsh they would follow him.
Many apologized for the mutiny and said they were deeply upset about the way they acted.
Someone even started up a chorus of For he's a jolly good fellow, which made Captain Walsh very happy.
With the two villains safely tied up in my cooking cave.
The captain and I had a chance to have a nice long talk.
I gave Captain Walsh a tour of my island and showed him our successful farm.
He was very impressed.
He couldn't believe that I had done so much all by myself.
After a lifetime on the island, it only took Friday and me a couple of hours to pack everything we needed for the voyage to England.
The captain said he had plenty of supplies on board already, but took some drinking water and a lot of the fruit from my summer house for the trip back.
And then the kind captain gave me a clean shirt and a new pair of pants.
They were marvelous.
It had been years since I had worn anything other than goatskin clothes.
"'Friday,' I asked when we were packing, "'are you sure you don't want to return home to your family?'
Robinson, he answered, I decided a long, long time ago that I wanted a life of adventure.
Now I've got the chance to see the great nation of England, and I'm not about to pass that up.
Oh, Friday, I said, I'm so happy to hear you're coming along with me.
It just wouldn't be the same without you.
Captain Walsh came to tell us that his ship was ready to go.
There was just one more thing I needed to do before we left.
I visited the two men tied up in my cooking cave.
You have two choices, I said.
You can return to England with us, bound and shackled, destined to be tried and hung for treason, or you can stay here on this island and do your best to survive.
The two men looked at each other.
They knew that to return to the mainland would mean execution, so I wasn't surprised when both men hung their heads and accepted their fate.
I untied their hands and feet and left them some drinking water.
I told them where they could find my camp and how to live well on the island if they worked hard.
They didn't look very happy when I left, but at least they were alive.
This island is a paradise now, and you must treat it as such.
With those parting words, I left them.
I took one last look around.
The day I thought would never come was finally here.
I was getting off the island.
My prison had become a beautiful home, but as comfortable as it had all become, I longed for civilization.
I wanted to go home.
