Робинзон Крузо
Rescue of Prisoners From Cannibals
Hedidso,andcameimmediatelybacktome,andtoldmetheymightbeplainlyviewedthere; thattheywereallabouttheirfire,eatingthefleshofoneoftheirprisoners,andthatanotherlaybounduponthesand,alittlefromthem,which,hesaid,theywouldkillnext,and, whichfiredalltheverysoulwithinme,hetoldmeitwasnotoneoftheirnation,butoneofthebeardedmen,whomhehadtoldmeof,thatcametotheircountryintheboat. Iwasfilledwithhorrorattheverynamingthewhite,beardedman;and,goingtothetree,Isawplainly,bymyglass,awhiteman,wholayuponthebeachofthesea,withhishandsandfeettiedwithflags,orthingslikerushes,andthathewasaEuropean,andhadclotheson.
Therewasanothertree,andalittlethicketbeyondit,aboutfiftyyearsnearertothemthantheplacewhereIwas,which,bygoingalittlewayabout,IsawImightcomeatundiscovered,andthatthenIshouldbewithinhalfshotofthem; soIwithheldmypassion,thoughIwasindeedenragedtothehighestdegree;andgoingbackabouttwentypaces,Igotbehindsomebushes,whichheldallthewaytillIcametotheothertree;andthenIcametoalittlerisingground,whichgavemeafullviewofthem,atthedistanceofabouteightyyards.
Ihadnownotamomenttolose,fornineteenofthedreadfulwretchessatupontheground,allclosehuddledtogether, andhadjustsenttheothertwotobutcherthepoorChristian,andbringhim,perhapslimbbylimb,totheirfire;andtheywerestoopeddowntountiethebandsatthisfeet. IturnedtoFriday. "Now,Friday,"saidI,"doasIbidthee." Fridaysaidhewould. "Then,Friday,"saysI,"doexactlyasyouseemedo;failinnothing."
