I beckoned to him again to come to me, and gave him all the signs of encouragement that I could think of; and he came nearer and nearer, kneeling down every ten or twelve steps, in token of acknowledgment for saving his life. I smiled at him, and looked pleasantly, and beckoned to him to come still nearer; at length he came close to me; and then he kneeled down again, kissed the ground, and laid his head upon the ground, and taking me by the foot, set my foot upon his head; this, it seems, was in token of swearing to be my slave for ever.
Un’altra volta gli dissi a cenni d’avvicinarsi a me, dandogli quanti segnali d’incoraggiamento per me si potea, sì che egli veniva, s’accostava e s’accostava sempre un po’ più, inginocchiandosi ad ogni dieci o dodici passi, per manifestarmi la sua gratitudine, perchè lo aveva sottratto alla morte. Finalmente mi fu da presso del tutto, ed allora prosternatosi di bel nuovo, baciò la terra, e presomi un de’ piedi se lo pose sopra la testa, con che s’intendea giurarmi che sarebbe stato mio schiavo per sempre.