Робинзон Крузо

           soIventuredtomaketothecoast,andcametoananchorinthemouthofalittleriver,Iknewnotwhat,norwhere,neitherwhatlatitude,whatcountry,whatnation,orwhatriver. Ineithersaw,nordesiredtoseeanypeople; theprincipalthingIwantedwasfreshwater. Wecameintothiscreekintheevening,resolvingtoswimonshoreassoonasitwasdark,anddiscoverthecountry; butassoonasitwasquitedark,weheardsuchdreadfulnoisesofthebarking,roaring,andhowlingofwildcreatures,ofweknewnotwhatkinds,thatthepoorboywasreadytodiewithfear,andbeggedofmenottogoonshoretillday. ‘Well,Xury,’saidI,‘thenIwon’t;butitmaybethatwemayseemenbyday,whowillbeasbadtousasthoselions.’ ‘Thenwegivethemtheshootgun,’saysXury,laughing,‘makethemrunwey.’ SuchEnglishXuryspokebyconversingamongusslaves. However,Iwasgladtoseetheboysocheerful,andIgavehimadram(outofourpatron’scaseofbottles)tocheerhimup. Afterall,Xury’sadvicewasgood,andItookit; wedroppedourlittleanchor,andlaystillallnight; Isaystill,forwesleptnone; forintwoorthreehourswesawvastgreatcreatures (weknewnotwhattocallthem) ofmanysorts,comedowntothesea-shoreandrunintothewater,wallowingandwashingthemselvesforthepleasureofcoolingthemselves; andtheymadesuchhideoushowlingsandyellings,thatIneverindeedheardthelike. 

           Xurywasdreadfullyfrighted,andindeedsowasItoo; butwewerebothmorefrightedwhenweheardoneofthesemightycreaturescomeswimmingtowardsourboat; wecouldnotseehim,butwemighthearhimbyhisblowingtobeamonstroushugeandfuriousbeast. Xurysaiditwasalion,anditmightbesoforaughtIknow;butpoorXurycriedtometoweightheanchorandrowaway; ‘No,’saysI,‘Xury;wecanslipourcable,withthebuoytoit,andgoofftosea;theycannotfollowusfar.’