It seemed as if he were determined to drive him to desperation.
He succeeded.
Selkirk protested against such treatment, and recapitulated his subjects of complaint.

The other paid no more attention than he would have done to the buzzing of a fly.
Irritated by this outrageous impassibility, the young man declared that there should no longer be any thing in common between them, and that, whatever fate might await him, he demanded to be set on shore.
Stradling touched his forehead: 'That is a good idea,' said he, and he turned away.
The next day, they reached the Isthmus of Panama; the persevering Selkirk returned to the charge: 'The moment is favorable for ridding yourself of me, and me of you,' said he to the captain; 'let the boat convey me to the shore; I will cross the Isthmus, reach the Gulf of Darien, the North Sea, and return to Scotland, even before the Swordfish!' This time the honest corsair listened attentively, then shaking his head and winking his eye, with the smile of a hungry vampire, replied: 'You are then in great haste to be married, comrade.' It was the first word he had addressed to him relative to Catherine during this long voyage, and this word Selkirk had not even understood.
They were about passing Panama: the vessel continuing her voyage, Selkirk interposed his authority, ordered the men to put about, take in sail and approach the shore.
This Stradling prohibited, uttered a formidable oath, and commanded the young man to bring the log-book.

When it was brought, he made the following entry: 'To-day, Sept.

24th, 1704, Alexander Selkirk, mate of this vessel, having mutinied and attempted to desert to the enemy, we have deprived him of his title and his office; in case of obstinacy we shall hang him to the yard-arm.' And he read the sentence to the offender.
From this day, the rebel saw himself compelled to serve in the Swordfish as a simple sailor, and his subordinates of yesterday, to-day his equals, indemnified themselves for the authority he had exercised over them, which did not cure him of that native contempt he had always felt for mankind.
A month passed away thus, during which the Swordfish several times touched the shores of Peru, now to renew her supplies of provisions and water, now to exchange with the Indians, nails, hatchets, knives, and necklaces of beads, for gold dust, furs, and garments trimmed with colored feathers.
During one of these pauses, Selkirk, left on the ship, accosted the captain once more.

He knew that the remains of some bands of freebooters were colonized there, leading a peaceful and agricultural life; this fact was known to all.