Робинзон Крузо
Surveys His Position
However,asmyarablelandwassmall,suitedtomycrop,Igotittotallywellfencedinaboutthreeweeks’time,andshootingsomeofthecreaturesinthedaytime,Isetmydogtoguarditinthenight,tyinghimuptoastakeatthegate,wherehewouldstandandbarkallnightlong; soinalittletimetheenemiesforsooktheplace,andthecorngrewverystrongandwell,andbegantoripenapace.
Butasthebeastsruinedmebeforewhilemycornwasintheblade,sothebirdswereaslikelytoruinmenowwhenitwasintheear; forgoingalongbytheplacetoseehowitthrove,Isawmylittlecropsurroundedwithfowls,ofIknownothowmanysorts,whostood,asitwere,watchingtillIshouldbegone. Iimmediatelyletflyamongthem,forIalwayshadmygunwithme. Ihadnosoonershot,butthereroseupalittlecloudoffowls,whichIhadnotseenatall,fromamongthecornitself.
Thistouchedmesensibly,forIforesawthatinafewdaystheywoulddevourallmyhopes,thatIshouldbestarved,andneverbeabletoraiseacropatall,andwhattodoIcouldnottell. However,Iresolvednottolosemycorn,ifpossible,thoughIshouldwatchitnightandday. Inthefirstplace,Iwentamongittoseewhatdamagewasalreadydone,andfoundtheyhadspoiledagooddealofit; butthatasitwasyettoogreenforthem,thelosswasnotsogreatbutthattheremainderwasliketobeagoodcropifitcouldbesaved.
Istayedbyittoloadmygun,andthencomingaway,Icouldeasilyseethethievessittinguponallthetreesaboutme,asiftheyonlywaitedtillIwasgoneaway. Andtheeventprovedittobeso;forasIwalkedoff,asifIwasgone,Iwasnosooneroutoftheirsightbuttheydroppeddown,onebyone,intothecornagain.
