5

three out of the boat as prisoners: one of the three I could see using the gestures of entreaty and despair; the other two, I could see, lifted up their hands and appeared concerned but not to such a degree as the first.

I was shocked and terrified at the sight of all this and knew not what the meaning of it could be. Friday called out to me in English, as well as he could, "O master! you see English mans eat prisoner as well as savage mans." "Why, Friday," said I, "do you think they are going to eat them, then ?"-"Yes," 10 said Friday, "they will eat them."-"No, no," said I, "Friday; I am afraid they will murder them indeed; but you may be sure they will not eat them."

I expected to see the three prisoners killed every minute, so I fitted myself up for a battle, though with much caution, know15 ing that I had to do with another kind of enemy than if I were fighting savages. I ordered Friday also to load himself with arms. I took myself two fowling-pieces, and I gave him two muskets. My figure was very fierce; I had my goat-skin coat on, with the great cap, a naked sword, two pistols in my belt, and a 20 gun upon each shoulder.

It was my design not to have made any attempt till it was dark; but about two o'clock, being the heat of the day, I found, in short, they had all gone straggling into the woods, and, as I thought, had all laid down to sleep. The three poor distressed 25 men, too anxious for their condition to get any sleep, had, however, sat down under the shelter of a great tree.

I resolved to discover myself to them, and learn something of their condition; immediately I marched toward them, my man Friday at a good distance behind me, as formidable for his 30 arms as I, but not making quite so staring a spectre-like figure as I did. I came as near them undiscovered as I could, and then, before any of them saw me, I called aloud to them in Spanish, "Who are ye, sirs?"

They gave a start at my voice and at my strange dress, and 35 made a move as if they would fly from me. I said, "Do not fear

me, for it may be that you have a friend at hand, though you do not think it." "He must be sent from the sky then," said one of them with a grave look; and he took off his hat to me at the same time. "All help is from thence, sir," I said. "But what can 5 I do to aid you? You look as if you had some load of grief on your breast. A moment ago I saw one of the men lift his sword as if to kill you."

The tears ran down the poor man's face, as he said, "Is this a god, or is it but a man?” "Have no doubt on that score, sir," 10 said I, "for a god would not have come with a dress like this. No, do not fear-nor raise your hopes too high; for you see but a man, yet one who will do all he can to help you. Your speech shows me that you come from the same land as I do. I will do all I can to serve you. Tell me your case?"

15

"Our case, sir, is too long to tell you while they who would kill us are so near. My name is Paul. To be short, sir, my crew have thrust me out of my ship, which you see out there, and have left me here to die. It was as much as I could do to make them sheathe their swords, which you saw were drawn to slay 20 me. They have set me down in this isle with these two men, my friend here, and the ship's mate."

25

30

"Where have they gone?" said I.

"There, in the wood close by. I fear they may have seen and heard us. If they have, they will be sure to kill us all."

"Have they fire-arms?"

"They have four guns, one of which is in the boat."

"Well, then, leave all to me!"

"There are two of the men," said he, "who are worse than the rest. All but these I feel sure would go back to work the ship." I thought it was best to speak out to Paul at once, and I said, "Now if I save your life, there are two things which you must do."

But he read my thoughts, and said. "If you save my life, you shall do as you like with me and my ship, and take her where 35 you please."

I saw that the two men, in whose charge the boat had been left, had come on shore; so the first thing I did was to send Friday to fetch from it the oars, the sail, and the gun. And now the ship might be said to be in our hands. When the time 5 came for the men to go back to the ship, they were in a great rage; for, as the boat had now no sail nor oars, they knew not how to get out to their ship.

We heard them say that it was a strange sort of isle, for that sprites had come to the boat, to take off the sails and oars. 10 We could see them run to and fro, with great rage; then go and sit in the boat to rest, and then come on shore once more. When they drew near to us, Paul and Friday would fain have had me fall on them at once. But my wish was to spare them, and kill as few as possible. I told two of my men to creep on their 15 hands and knees close to the ground, so that they might not be seen, and when they got up to the men, not to fire till I gave the word.

They had not stood thus long when three of the crew came up to us. Till now we had but heard their voices, but when they 20 came so near as to be seen, Paul and Friday stood up and shot at them. Two of the men fell dead, and they were the worst of the crew, and the third ran off. At the sound of the guns I came up, but it was so dark that the men could not tell if there were three of us or three score.

25

It fell out just as I wished, for I heard the men ask: "To whom must we yield, and where are they?" Friday told them that Paul was there with the king of the isle, who had brought with him a crowd of men! At this one of the crew said: "If Paul will spare our lives we will yield." "Then," 30 said Friday, "you shall know the king's will." Then Paul said to them: "You know my voice; if you lay down your arms the king will spare your lives."

They fell on their knees to beg the same of me. I took good care that they did not see me, but I gave them my word 35 that they should all live, that I should take four of them to work

10

15

the ship, and that the rest would be bound hand and foot for the good faith of the four. This was to show them what a stern king I was.

Of course I soon set them free, and I put them in a way to 5 take my place on the isle. I told them of all my ways, taught them how to mind the goats, how to work the farm and make the bread. I gave them a house to live in, firearms, tools, and my two tame cats; in fact, all that I owned but Poll and my gold.

As I sat on the top of the hill Paul came up to me. He held out his hand to point to the ship, and with much warmth took me to his arms and said: "My dear friend, there is your ship! for this vessel is all yours, and all that is in her, and so are all of us.'

I made ready to go on board the ship, but told the captain I would stay that night to get my things in shape, and asked him to go on board in the meantime and keep things right on the ship.

I cast my eyes to the ship, which rode half a mile off the 20 shore, at the mouth of the creek, and near the place where I had brought my raft to the land. Yes, there she stood, the ship that was to set me free and to take me where I might choose to go. She set her sails to the wind and her flags threw out their gay stripes in the breeze. Such a sight was too much 25 for me, and I fell down faint with joy.

30

Friday and Paul then went on board the ship, and Paul took charge of her once more. We did not start that night, but at noon the next day I left the isle-that lone isle, where I had spent so great a part of my life.

When I took leave of this island, I carried on board a great goat-skin cap I had made, and my parrot; also the money which had lain by me so long useless that it was grown rusty or tarnished, and could hardly pass for gold till it had been a little rubbed and handled. And thus I left the island, the 19th of 35 December, as I found by the ship's account, in the year 1686,

after I had been upon it seven-and-twenty-years, one month, and nineteen days; being delivered from this second captivity the same day of the month that I first made my escape from among the Moors. In this vessel, after a long voyage, I arrived in 5 England the 11th of June, in the year 1687, having been more than thirty-five years absent.

Helps to Study

Notes and Questions

Why was an ocean voyage so difficult and dangerous at the time in which Robinson Crusoe lived? Read the lines which describe what you think was the most difficult work undertaken by Robinson Crusoe.

What undertaking required the
most perseverance? Read lines
which show this.

At what time did he show the
greatest courage? Read lines
which seem to you to prove your
answer is correct.
What was the greatest disappoint-

ment which he had to bear while on the island?

What do you think was the greatest happiness he had?

Read lines which tell how Robinson

Crusoe studied how to make something he needed very much. Mention some thing which he made and which you have tried to make.

How did your result compare with his? What reason can you give for this?

What part of the story do you like best?

reign (ran)-the time during which a king or queen rules; supreme

authority.

tour (toor)-a journey; an excursion.