Робінзон Крузо
The Ship Recovered
Ournextworkwastorepairtheboat,andthinkofseizingtheship; andasforthecaptain,nowhehadleisuretoparleywiththem,heexpostulatedwiththemuponthevillainyoftheirpracticeswithhim,andatlengthuponthefartherwickednessoftheirdesign,andhowcertainlyitmustbringthemtomiseryanddistressintheend,andperhapstothegallows.
Theyallappearedverypenitent,andbeggedhardfortheirlives. Asforthat,hetoldthemtheywerenoneofhisprisoners,butthecommanderoftheisland; thattheythoughttheyhadsethimonshoreinabarren,uninhabitedisland; butithadpleasedGodsotodirectthemthattheislandwasinhabited,andthatthegovernorwasanEnglishman; thathemighthangthemallthere,ifhepleased;butashehadgiventhemallquarter,hesupposedhewouldsendthemtoEngland,tobedealtwiththereasjusticerequired, exceptAtkins,whomhewascommandedbythegovernortoadvisetopreparefordeath,forthathewouldbehangedinthemorning.
Thoughthiswasallafictionofhisown,yetithaditsdesiredeffect. Atkinsfelluponhisknees,tobegthecaptaintointercedewiththegovernorforhislife; andalltherestbeggedofhim,forGod’ssake,thattheymightnotbesenttoEngland.
Itnowoccurredtomethatthetimeofourdeliverancewascome,andthatitwouldbeamosteasythingtobringthesefellowsintobeheartyingettingpossessionoftheship; soIretiredinthedarkfromthem,thattheymightnotseewhatkindofagovernortheyhad,andcalledthecaptaintome. WhenIcalled,asatagooddistance,oneofthemenwasorderedtospeakagain,andsaytothecaptain, "Captain,thecommandercallsforyou." Andpresentlythecaptainreplied, "TellhisexcellencyIamjusta-coming."
