Робинзон Крузо
The Ship Recovered
Theyseemedverythankfulforit,saidtheywouldmuchratherventuretostaytherethantobecarriedtoEnglandtobehanged;soIleftitonthatissue.
However,thecaptainseemedtomakesomedifficultyofit,asifhedurstnotleavethemthere. UponthisIseemedalittleangrywiththecaptain,andtoldhimthattheyweremyprisoners,nothis; andthatseeingIhadofferedthemsomuchfavor,Iwouldbeasgoodasmyword; andthatifhedidnotthinkfittoconsenttoit,Iwouldsetthematliberty,asIfoundthem;andifhedidnotlikeit,hemighttakethemagainifhecouldcatchthem.
Uponthistheyappearedverythankful,andIaccordinglysetthematliberty,andbadethemretireintothewoodstotheplacewhencetheycame,andIwouldleavethemsomefire-arms,someammunition,andsomedirectionshowtheyshouldliveverywill,iftheythoughtfit.
UponthisIpreparedtogoonboardtheship,buttoldthecaptainthatIwouldstaythatnighttopreparemythings,anddesiredhimtogoonboardinthemeantime,andkeepallrightintheship,andsendtheboatonshorethenextdayforme; orderinghim,inthemeantime,tocausethenewcaptain,whowaskilled,tobehangedattheyard-arm,thatthesemenmightseehim.
Whenthecaptainwasgone,Isentforthemenuptometomyapartment,andenteredseriouslyintodiscoursewiththemoftheircircumstances. ItoldthemIthoughttheyhadmadearightchoice;thatifthecaptaincarriedthemaway,theywouldcertainlybehanged. Ishowedthemthenewcaptainhangingattheyard-armoftheship,andtoldthemtheyhadnothinglesstoexpect.
