Робінзон Крузо
Tames Goats
Norwasthemadnessofitsogreatastothecompass,forifitwasoftenmilesabout,Iwasliketohavetimeenoughtodoitin. ButIdidnotconsiderthatmygoatswouldbeaswildinsomuchcompassasiftheyhadhadthewholeislandandIshouldhavesomuchroomtochasetheminthatIshouldnevercatchthem.
Myhedgewasbegunandcarriedon,Ibelieve,aboutfiftyyards,whenthisthoughtoccurredtome,soIpresentlystoppedshort,and,forthefirstbeginning, Iresolvedtoencloseapieceofabout150yardsinlength,and100yardsinbreadth; which,asitwouldmaintainasmanyasshouldhaveinanyreasonabletime,so,asmyflockincreased,Icouldaddmoregroundtomyenclosure.
Thiswasactingwithsomeprudence,andIwenttoworkwithcourage. Iwasaboutthreemonthshedginginthefirstpiece,and,tillIhaddoneit,Itetheredthethreekidsinthebestpartofit,andusedthemtofeedasnearmeaspossible,tomakethemfamiliar; andveryoftenIwouldgoandcarrythemsomeearsofbarley,orahandfulofrice,andfeedthemoutofmyhand; sothataftermyenclosurewasfinished,andIletthemloose,theywouldfollowmeupanddown,bleatingaftermeforahandfulofcorn.
Thisansweredmyend,andinaboutayearandahalfIhadaflockofabouttwelvegoats,kidsandall;andintwoyearsmoreIhadthreeandforty,besidesseveralthatItookandkilledformyfood. AndafterthatIenclosedfiveseveralpiecesofgroundtofeedthemin,andwithlittlepenstodrivetheminto,totakethemasIwanted,andgatesoutofonepieceofgroundintoanother.
