I was tired , at any rate ; but had I been as fresh as when I rose , I could see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such an adversary . From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer , running manlike on two legs , but unlike any man that I had ever seen , stooping almost double as it ran . Yet a man it was , I could no longer be in doubt about that . I began to recall what I had heard of cannibals . I was within an ace of calling for help . But the mere fact that he was a man , however wild , had somewhat reassured me , and my fear of Silver began to revive in proportion . I stood still , therefore , and cast about for some method of escape ; and as I was so thinking , the recollection of my pistol flashed into my mind . As soon as I remembered I was not defenceless , courage glowed again in my heart and I set my face resolutely for this man of the island and walked briskly towards him . He was concealed by this time behind another tree trunk ; but he must have been watching me closely , for as soon as I began to move in his direction he reappeared and took a step to meet me . Then he hesitated , drew back , came forward again , and at last , to my wonder and confusion , threw himself on his knees and held out his clasped hands in supplication . At that I once more stopped . `` Who are you ? '' I asked . `` Ben Gunn , '' he answered , and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward , like a rusty lock . `` I 'm poor Ben Gunn , I am ; and I have n't spoke with a Christian these three years . '' I could now see that he was a white man like myself and that his features were even pleasing . His skin , wherever it was exposed , was burnt by the sun ; even his lips were black , and his fair eyes looked quite startling in so dark a face . Of all the beggar-men that I had seen or fancied , he was the chief for raggedness . He was clothed with tatters of old ship 's canvas and old sea-cloth , and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings , brass buttons , bits of stick , and loops of tarry gaskin . About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt , which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement .
`` Three XXXXX ! ''
Christian Gunn accoutrement beggar-men escape gaskin sea-cloth supplication tatters years