Робінзон Крузо
Slavery and escape
TheusageIhadtherewasnotsodreadfulasatfirstIapprehended; norwasIcarriedupthecountrytotheemperor’scourt,astherestofourmenwere,butwaskeptbythecaptainoftheroverashisproperprize,andmadehisslave,beingyoungandnimble,andfitforhisbusiness. Atthissurprisingchangeofmycircumstances,fromamerchanttoamiserableslave,Iwasperfectlyoverwhelmed; andnowIlookedbackuponmyfather’spropheticdiscoursetome,thatIshouldbemiserableandhavenonetorelieveme,whichIthoughtwasnowsoeffectuallybroughttopassthatIcouldnotbeworse; fornowthehandofHeavenhadovertakenme,andIwasundonewithoutredemption; but,alas! thiswasbutatasteofthemiseryIwastogothrough,aswillappearinthesequelofthisstory.
Asmynewpatron,ormaster,hadtakenmehometohishouse,soIwasinhopesthathewouldtakemewithhimwhenhewenttoseaagain, believingthatitwouldsometimeorotherbehisfatetobetakenbyaSpanishorPortugalman-of-war;andthatthenIshouldbesetatliberty. Butthishopeofminewassoontakenaway;forwhenhewenttosea,heleftmeonshoretolookafterhislittlegarden,anddothecommondrudgeryofslavesabouthishouse; andwhenhecamehomeagainfromhiscruise,heorderedmetolieinthecabintolookaftertheship.
HereImeditatednothingbutmyescape,andwhatmethodImighttaketoeffectit,butfoundnowaythathadtheleastprobabilityinit; nothingpresentedtomakethesuppositionofitrational;forIhadnobodytocommunicateittothatwouldembarkwithme-nofellow-slave,noEnglishman,Irishman,orScotchmantherebutmyself; sothatfortwoyears,thoughIoftenpleasedmyselfwiththeimagination,yetIneverhadtheleastencouragingprospectofputtingitinpractice.
