Робінзон Крузо

           Iaskedhimwhathethoughtwouldbecomeofthemthere,andiftheyhadformednodesignofmakinganyescape. Hesaidtheyhadmanyconsultationsaboutit;butthathavingneithervessel,ortoolstobuildone,orprovisionsofanykind,theircouncilsalwaysendedintearsanddespair. 

           Iaskedhimhowhethoughttheywouldreceiveaproposalfromme,whichmighttendtowardsanescape;andwhether,iftheywereallhere,itmightnotbedone. Itoldhimwithfreedom,Ifearedmostlytheirtreacheryandill-usageofmeifIputmylifeintheirhands; forthatgratitudewasnoinherentvirtueinthenatureofman,nordidmenalwayssquaretheirdealingsbytheobligationstheyhadreceived,somuchastheydidbytheadvantagestheyexpected. ItoldhimitwouldbeveryhardthatIshouldbetheinstrumentoftheirdeliverance,andthattheyshouldafterwardsmakemetheirprisonerinNewSpain,whereanEnglishmanwascertaintobemadeasacrifice,whatnecessityorwhataccidentsoeverbroughthimthither; andthatIhadratherbedelivereduptothesavages,andbedevouredalive,thanfallintothemercilessclawsofthepriests,andbecarriedintotheInquisition. Iadded,thatotherwiseIwaspersuaded,iftheywereallhere,wemight,withsomanyhands,buildabarklargeenoughtocarryusallaway,eithertotheBrazils,southward,ortotheislands,orSpanishcoast,northward; butthatif,inrequital,theyshouldwhenIhadputweaponsintotheirhands,carrymebyforceamongtheirownpeople,Imightbeillusedformykindnesstothem,andmakemycaseworsethanitwasbefore. 

           Heanswered,withagreatdealofcandorandingenuity,thattheirconditionwassomiserable,andtheyweresosensibleofit,thathebelievedtheywouldabhorthethoughtofusinganymanunkindlythatshouldcontributetotheirdeliverance;