Робінзон Крузо
Rescue of Prisoners From Cannibals
"Oyonder,there,"sayshe,"one,two,threecanoe!one,two,three!" Byhiswayofspeaking,Iconcludedthereweresix;butoninquiry,Ifounditwasbutthree. "Well,Friday,"saysI,"donotbefrighted."SoIheartenedhimupaswellasIcould. However,Isawthepoorfellowwasmostterriblyscared;fornothingraninhisheadbutthattheywerecometolookforhim,andwouldcuthiminpieces,andeathim; andthepoorfellowtrembledsothatIscarceknewwhattodowithhim. IcomfortedhimaswellasIcould,andtoldhimIwasinasmuchdangerashe,andthattheywouldeatmeaswellashim. "But,"saysI,"Friday,wemustresolvetofightthem.Canyoufight,Friday?" "Meshoot,"sayhe;"buttherecomemanygreatnumber." Nomatterforthat,"saidIagain;"ourgunswillfrightthemthatwedonotkill." SoIaskedhimwhether,ifIresolvedtodefendhim,hewoulddefendme,andstandbyme,anddojustasIbidhim. Hesaid, "Mediewhenyoubiddie,master." SoIwentandfetchedagooddramofrum,andgavehim;forIhadbeensogoodahusbandofmyrumthatIhadagreatdealleft. Whenhehaddrankit,Imadehimtakethetwofowling-pieces,whichwealwayscarried,andloadthemwithlargeswan-shot,asbigassmallpistol-bullets. ThenItookfourmuskets,andloadedthemwithtwoslugsandfivesmallbulletseach;andmytwopistolsIloadedwithabraceofbulletseach. Ihungmygreatsword,asusual,naked,bymyside,andgaveFridayhishatchet.
WhenIhadthuspreparedmyself,Itookmyperspective-glassandwentuptothesideofthehilltoseewhatIcoulddiscover; andIfoundquickly,bymyglass,thattherewereone-and-twentysavages,threeprisoners,andthreecanoes,andthattheirwholebusinessseemedtobethetriumphantbanquetuponthesethreehumanbodies; abarbarousfeastindeed,butnothingmorethan,asIhadobserved,wasusualwiththem.
