Робинзон Крузо
Visit of Mutineers
Thiswasacheerfulwork,beingthefirstmeasuresusedbyme,inviewofmydeliverance,fornowtwenty-sevenyearsandsomedays. Igavethemprovisionsofbreadandofdriedgrapessufficientforthemselvesformanydays,andsufficientforalltheircountrymenforabouteightdays’time; andwishingthemagoodvoyage,Iseethemgo,agreeingwiththemaboutasignaltheyshouldhangoutattheirreturn,bywhichIshouldknowthemagain,whentheycameback,atadistance,beforetheycameonshore.
Theywentawaywithafairgaleonthedaythatthemoonwasatfull,bymyaccountinthemonthofOctober,butasforanexactreckoningofdays,afterIhadoncelostit,Icouldneverrecoveritagain; norhadIkepteventhenumberofyearssopunctuallyastobesurethatIwasright,thoughasitproved,whenIafterwardsexaminedmyaccount,IfoundIhadkeptatruereckoningofyears.
ItwasnolessthaneightdaysIhadwaitedforthem,whenastrangeandunforeseenaccidentintervened,ofwhichthelikehasnotperhapsbeenheardofinhistory. Iwasfastasleepinmyhutchonemorning,whenmymanFridaycamerunningintome,andcalledaloud, "Master,master,theyarecome,theyarecome!"
Ijumpedup,andregardlessofdanger,IwentoutassoonasIcouldgetmyclotheson,throughmylittlegrove,which,bytheway,wasbythistimegrowntobeaverythickwood; Isay,regardlessofdanger,Iwentwithoutmyarms,whichwasnotmycustomtodo; butIwassurprisedwhen,turningmyeyestothesea,Ipresentlysawaboatataboutaleagueandhalf’sdistancestandinginfortheshore,withashoulder-of-muttonsail,astheycallit,andthewindblowingprettyfairtobringthemin; alsoIobservedpresentlythattheydidnotcomefromthatsidewhichtheshorelayon,butfromthesouthernmostendoftheisland.
