Робінзон Крузо
The Ship Recovered
AftersometimeIcamethither,dressedinmynewhabit;andnowIwascalledgovernoragain. Beingallmet,andthecaptainwithme,Icausedthementobebroughtbeforeme,andItoldthemIhadhadafullaccountoftheirvillainousbehaviortothecaptain,andhowtheyhadrunawaywiththeship,andwerepreparingtocommitfartherrobberies,butthatProvidencehadensnaredthemintheirownways,andthattheywerefallenintothepitwhichtheyhaddiggedforothers.
Iletthemknowthatbymydirectiontheshiphadbeenseized,thatshelaynowintheroad,andtheymightsee,byandby,thattheirnewcaptainhadreceivedtherewardofhisvillainy,forthattheymightseehimhangingattheyardarm; thatastothem,IwantedtoknowwhattheyhadtosaywhyIshouldnotexecutethemaspirates,takeninthefact,asbymycommissiontheycouldnotdoubtIhadauthoritytodo.
Oneofthemansweredinthenameoftherestthattheyhadnothingtosaybutthis,thatwhentheyweretakenthecaptainpromisedthemtheirlives,andtheyhumblyimploredmymercy. ButItoldthemIknewnowhatmercytoshowthem; forasformyself,Ihadresolvedtoquittheislandwithallmymen,andhadtakenpassagewiththecaptaintogoforEngland. Andasforthecaptain,hecouldnotcarrythemtoEnglandotherthanasprisonersinirons,tobetriedformutiny,andrunningawaywiththeship; theconsequenceofwhich,theymustneedsknow,wouldbethegallows; sothatIcouldnottellwhichwasbestforthem,unlesstheyhadamindtotaketheirfateintheisland. Iftheydesiredthat,Ididnotcare,asIhadlibertytoleaveit.Ihadsomeinclinationtogivethemtheirlives,iftheythoughttheycouldshiftonshore.
