Selkirk's long-awaited deliverance comes on February 2,…

Selkirk's long-awaited deliverance comes on February 2, 1709 by way of Duke, a privateering ship piloted by William Dampier, and its sailing companion Duchess. Thomas Dover leads the landing party that met Selkirk. After four years and four months without human company, Selkirk was almost incoherent with joy. The Duke's captain and leader of the expedition is Woodes Rogers, who wryly refers to Selkirk as the governor of the island. The agile castaway catches two or three goats a day and helped restore the health of Rogers' men, who had developed scurvy. 

Rogers had stocked his ships with limes to fend off scurvy, a practice not universally accepted at this time.

The ships' provisions of limes were exhausted after reaching the Pacific Ocean, and seven men had die of the vitamin deficiency disease.

Dampier had able to guide the ships to little-known Juan Fernandez Island to replenish supplies of fresh produce.

As they neared the island on January 31, 1709, the sailors had spotted a fire ashore and feared that it might be a shore party from a Spanish vessel.