Робінзон Крузо
The Ship Recovered
Theyfelldownontheirkneestothecaptain,andpromised,withthedeepestimprecations,thattheywouldbefaithfultohimtothelastdrop,andthattheyshouldowetheirlivestohim,andwouldgowithhimallovertheworld;thattheywouldownhimforafathertothemaslongastheylived.
"Well,"saysthecaptain,"Imustgoandtellthegovernorwhatyousay,andseewhatIcandotobringhimtoconsenttoit." Sohebroughtmeanaccountofthetemperhefoundthemin,andthatheverilybelievedtheywouldbefaithful.
However,thatwemightbeverysecure,Itoldhimheshouldgobackagainandchooseoutfiveofthem,andtellthemtheymightseethathedidnotwantmen,thathewouldtakeoutthosefivetobehisassistants,andthatthegovernorwouldkeeptheothertwoandthethreethatweresentprisonerstothecastle,mycave,ashostagesforthefidelityofthosefive; andthatiftheyprovedunfaithfulintheexecution,thefivehostagesshouldbehangedinchainsaliveupontheshore.
Thislookedsevere,andconvincedthemthatthegovernorwasinearnest. However,theyhadnowayleftthembuttoacceptit; anditwasnowthebusinessoftheprisoners,asmuchasofthecaptain,topersuadetheotherfivetodotheirduty.
Ourstrengthwasnowthusorderedfortheexpedition. 1.Thecaptain,hismate,andpassenger. 2.Thenthetwoprisonersofthefirstgang,towhom,havingtheircharactersfromthecaptain,Ihadgiventheirliberty,andtrustedthemwitharms. 3.TheothertwowhomIhadkepttillnowinmybower,pinioned,butuponthecaptain’smotionhadnowreleased. 4.Thesefivereleasedatlast;sothattheyweretwelveinall,besidesfivewekeptprisonersinthecaveforhostages.
