Робинзон Крузо
Slavery and escape
Afterabouttwoyears,anoddcircumstancepresenteditself,whichputtheoldthoughtofmakingsomeattemptformylibertyagaininmyhead. Mypatronlyingathomelongerthanusualwithoutfittingouthisship,which,asIheard,wasforwantofmoney, heusedconstantly,onceortwiceaweek,sometimesofteneriftheweatherwasfair,totaketheship’spinnaceandgooutintotheroada-fishing; andashealwaystookmeandyoungMarescowithhimtorowtheboat,wemadehimverymerry, andIprovedverydexterousincatchingfish;insomuchthatsometimeshewouldsendmewithaMoor,oneofhiskinsmen,andtheyouth-theMaresco,astheycalledhim-tocatchadishoffishforhim.
Ithappenedonetime,thatgoinga-fishinginacalmmorning,afogrosesothickthat,thoughwewerenothalfaleaguefromtheshore,welostsightofit; androwingweknewnotwhitherorwhichway,welabouredallday,andallthenextnight; andwhenthemorningcamewefoundwehadpulledofftoseainsteadofpullinginfortheshore; andthatwewereatleasttwoleaguesfromtheshore. However,wegotwellinagain,thoughwithagreatdealoflabourandsomedanger;forthewindbegantoblowprettyfreshinthemorning;butwewereallveryhungry.
Butourpatron,warnedbythisdisaster,resolvedtotakemorecareofhimselfforthefuture;andhavinglyingbyhimthelongboatofourEnglishshipthathehadtaken,heresolvedhewouldnotgoa-fishinganymorewithoutacompassandsomeprovision; soheorderedthecarpenterofhisship,whoalsowasanEnglishslave,tobuildalittlestate-room,orcabin,inthemiddleofthelong-boat, likethatofabarge,withaplacetostandbehindittosteer,andhaulhomethemain-sheet;theroombeforeforahandortwotostandandworkthesails.
