Робинзон Крузо
Friday’s Education
Fridaydescribedtheboattomewellenough;butbroughtmebettertounderstandhimwhenheaddedwithsomewarmth, "Wesavethewhitemansfromdrown." ThenIpresentlyaskedhimiftherewasanywhitemans,ashecalledthem,intheboat. "Yes,"hesaid,"theboatfullofwhitemans." Iaskedhimhowmany. Hetolduponhisfingersseventeen. Iaskedhimthenwhatbecameofthem. Hetoldme, "Theylive,theydwellatmynation."
Thisputnewthoughtsintomyhead; forIpresentlyimaginedthatthesemightbethemenbelongingtotheshipthatwascastawayinsightofmyisland,asInowcallit; andwho,aftertheshipwasstruckontherock,andtheysawherinevitablylost,hadsavedthemselvesintheirboat,andwerelandeduponthatwildshoreamongthesavages.
UponthisIinquiredofhimmorecriticallywhatwasbecomeofthem. Heassuredmetheylivedstillthere;thattheyhadbeenthereaboutfouryears;thatthesavagesletthemalone,andgavethemvictualstolive. Iaskedhimhowitcametopasstheydidnotkillthem,andeatthem. Hesaid,"No,theymakebrotherwiththem;"thatis,asIunderstoodhim,atruce;andthenheadded, "Theynoeatmansbutwhenmakethewarfight;" thatistosay,theynevereatanymenbutsuchascometofightwiththemandaretakeninbattle.
Itwasafterthissomeconsiderabletimethatbeingonthetopofthehill,attheeastsideoftheisland(fromwhence,asIhavesaid,Ihadinaclearday,discoveredthemainorcontinentofAmerica),Friday,theweatherbeingveryserene,looksveryearnestlytowardsthemainland,and,inakindofsurprise,fallsa-jumpinganddancing,andcallsouttome,forIwasatsomedistancefromhim. Iaskedhimwhatwasthematter. "Ojoy!"sayshe,"Oglad!thereseemycountry,theremynation."
