Робінзон Крузо
Fight Between Friday and a Bear
Thisfilleduswithhorror,andweknewnotwhatcoursetotake; butthecreaturesresolvedussoon,fortheygatheredaboutuspresentlyinhopesofprey,andIverilybelievetherewerethreehundredofthem. Ithappenedverymuchtoouradvantagethat,attheentranceintothewood,butalittlewasfromit,therelaysomelargetimber-trees,whichhadbeencutdownthesummerbefore,andIsupposelaythereforcarriage. Idrewmylittletroopinamongthosetrees,andplacingourselvesinalinebehindonelongtree,Iadvisedthemalltolight,andkeepingthattreebeforeusforabreastwork,tostandinatriangleorthreefronts,enclosingourhorsesinthecentre.
Wedidso,anditwaswellwedid;forneverwasamorefuriouschargethanthecreaturesmadeuponusintheplace. Theycameonuswithagrowlingkindofanoise,andmountedthepieceoftimber,which,asIsaid,wasourbreastwork,asiftheywereonlyrushingupontheirprey; andthisfuryoftheirs,itseems,wasprincipallyoccasionedbytheirseeingourhorsesbehindus,whichwasthepreytheyaimedat. Iorderedourmentofireasbefore,everyotherman;andtheytooktheiraimsosurethatindeedtheykilledseveralofthewolvesatthefirstvolley; buttherewasanecessitytokeepacontinualfiring,fortheycameonlikedevils,thosebehindpushingonthosebefore.
Whenwehadfiredoursecondvolleyofourfusees,wethoughttheystoppedalittle,andIhopedtheywouldhavegoneoffbutitwasbutamoment,forotherscameforwardagain; sowefiredtwovolleysofourpistols; andIbelieveinthesefourfiringswehadkilledseventeenoreighteenofthem,andlamedtwiceasmany,yettheycameonagain.
