Робінзон Крузо

           Afterthesethoughtshadforsometimeentertainedme,IcametoreflectseriouslyupontherealdangerIhadbeeninforsomanyyearsinthisveryisland,andhowIhadwalkedaboutinthegreatestsecurity,andwithallpossibletranquillity,evenwhenperhapsnothingbutabrowofahill,agreattree,orthecasualapproachofnighthadbeenbetweenmeandtheworstkindofdestruction,viz., thatoffailingintothehandsofcannibalsandsavages,whowouldhaveseizedonmewiththesameviewasIdidofagoatoraturtle,andhavethoughtitnomoreacrimetokillanddevourmethanIdidofapigeonoracurlew. IwouldunjustlyslandermyselfifIshouldsayIwasnotsincerelythankfultomygreatPreserver, towhosesingularprotectionIacknowledged,withgreathumility,thatalltheseunknowndeliverancesweredue,andwithoutwhichImustinevitablyhavefallenintotheirmercilesshands. 

           Whenthesethoughtswereover,myheadwasforsometimetakeupinconsideringthenatureofthesewretchedcreatures,Imeanthesavages, andhowitcametopassintheworldthatthewiseGovernorofallthingsshouldgiveupanyofHiscreaturestosuchinhumanity;nay,tosomethingsomuchbelowevenbrutalityitself,astodevouritsownkind. Butasthisendedinsome(atthattimefruitless)speculations,itoccurredtometoinquirewhatpartoftheworldthesewretcheslivedin? Howfaroffthecoastwasfromwhencetheycame?Whattheyventuredoversofarfromhomefor?Whatkindofboatstheyhad? AndwhyImightnotordermyselfandmybusinessso,thatImightbeabletogooverthitherastheyweretocometome. 

           IneversomuchastroubledmyselftoconsiderwhatIshoulddowithmyselfwhenIcamethither; whatwouldbecomeofme,ifIfellintothehandsofthesavages;orhowIshouldescapefromthem,iftheyattemptedme;