Робінзон Крузо
A Cave Retreat
Butallwasabortive;nothingcouldbepossibletotakeeffect,unlessIwastobetheretodoitmyself. Andwhatcouldonemandoamongthem,whenperhapstheremightbetwentyorthirtyofthemtogether,withtheirdarts,ortheirbowsandarrows,withwhichtheycouldshootastruetoamarkasIcouldwithmygun.
SometimesIcontrivedtodigaholeundertheplacewheretheymadetheirfire,andputinfiveorsixpoundsofgunpowder,which,whentheykindledtheirfire,wouldconsequentlytakefire,andblowupallthatwasnearit. Butas,inthefirstplace,Ishouldbeverylothtowastesomuchpowderuponthem,mystorebeingnowwithinthequantityofonebarrel,soneitherIbesureofitsgoingoffatanycertaintime,whenitmightsurprisethem; and,atbest,thatitwoulddolittlemorethanjustblowthefireabouttheirears,andfrightthem,butnotsufficienttomakethemforsaketheplace. SoIlaiditaside,andthenproposedthatIwouldplacemyselfinambushinsomeconvenientplace,withmythreegunsalldouble-loaded,and,inthemiddleoftheirbloodyceremony,letflyatthem,whenIshouldbesuretokillorwoundperhapstwoorthreeateveryshot; andthenfallinginuponthemwithmythreepistolsandmysword,ImadenodoubtbutthatiftherewastwentyIshouldkillthemall. Thisfancypleasedmythoughtsforsomeweeks; andIwassofullofitthatIoftendreamedofit,andsometimesthatIwasjustgoingtoletflyattheminmysleep.
IwentsofarwithitinmyimaginationthatIemployedmyselfseveraldaystofindoutproperplacestoputmyselfinambuscade,asIsaid,towatchforthem; andIwentfrequentlytotheplaceitself,whichwasnowgrownmorefamiliartome; andespeciallywhilemymindwasthusfilledwiththoughtsofrevenge,andofabloodyputtingtwentyorthirtyofthemtothesword,asImaycallit,thehorrorIhadattheplace,andatthesignalsofthebarbarouswretchesdevouringoneanother,abatedmymalice.
