send these two over for that purpose; but when every thing was ready,
the Spaniard raised an objection, which carried a great deal of weight
in it: _You know, Sir, said he, that having been some time with you, I
cannot but be sensible of your stock of rice and corn, sufficient,
perhaps for us at present, but not for them, should they come over
presently; much less to victual a vessel for an intended voyage. Want
might be as great an occasion for them to disagree and rebel, as the
children of Israel did against God himself, when they wanted to break
bread in the wilderness. And therefore, my advice is to await another
harvest and in the mean time cultivate and improve more land, whereby we
may have plenty of provisions in order to execute our design_.
This advice of the Spaniard's I approved extremely; and so satisfied was
I of his fidelity that I esteemed him ever after. And thus we all four
went to work upon some more land, and against seed time we had gotten so
much cured and trimmed up sufficient to sow twenty-two bushels of barley
on, and sixteen jars of rice, which was in short all the feed we had to
spare. As we were four in number and by this time all in good health, we
feared not a hundred Indians should they venture to attack us; and while
the corn was growing, I pitched upon some trees, fit to build us a large
vessel in case the Spaniards came over; which being marked, I ordered
Friday and his father to cut them down, appointing the Spaniard, who was
now my privy counsellor, to oversee and direct the work. I likewise
increased my flocks of goats by shooting the wild dams and bringing home
their kids to my inclosure. Nor did I neglect the grape season, but
cured them as usual, though I had such a quantity now as would have
filled eighty barrels with raisins. And thus all of us being employed,
they in working, and I in providing for them till harvest came, God
Almighty blessed the increase of it so much, that from twenty-two
barrels of barley we thrashed out two hundred and twenty, and the like
quantity of rice; sufficient to victual a ship fit to carry me and all
the Spaniards to any part of America.
Thus the principal objection being answered, by a sufficient stock of
provisions, I sent my two ambassadors over to the main land, with a
regal authority to administer the oaths of allegiance and fidelity, and
have an instrument signed under their hands, though I never asked
whether they had pen, ink, or paper; when giving each of them a musket,
eight charges of powder and ball, and provisions enough for eight days,
they sailed away with a fair gale on a day when the moon was at full.
Scarce a fortnight had passed over my head, but impatient for their
return, I laid me down to sleep one morning, when a strange accident
happened, which was ushered in by Friday's coming running to me, and
calling aloud, _Master, Master, they are come, they are come._ Upon
which, not dreaming of any danger, out I jumped from my bed, put on my
clothes and hurried through my little grove; when looking towards the
sea, I perceived a boat about a league and a half distant, standing in
for the shore with the wind fair. I beheld they did not come from the
side where the land lay on, but from the southerhmost end of the island:
So these being none of the people we wanted, I ordered Friday to lie
still, till such time as I came down from the mountain, which, with my
ladder, I now ascended in order to discover more fully what they were;
and now, with the help of my perspective glass, I plainly perceived an
English ship, which I concluded it to be; by the fashion of its long
boat; and which filled me with such uncommon transports of joy, that I
cannot tell how to describe; and yet some secret doubts hang about me,
proceeding from I know not what cause, as though I had reason to be upon
my guard. And, indeed, I would have no man contemn the secret hints and
intimations of danger, which very often are given, when he may imagine
there is no possibility of its being real; for had I not been warned by
this silent admonition, I had been in a worse situation than before, and
perhaps inevitably ruined.
Not long it was, before I perceived the boat to approach the shore, as
though they looked for a place where they might conveniently land; and
at last they ran their boat on shore upon the beach, about half a mile
distance; which proved so much the happier for me, since, had they come
into the creek, they had landed just at my door, and might not only have
forced me out of my castle, but plundered me of all I had in the world.
Now I was fully convinced they were all Englishmen, three of which were
unarmed and bound; when immediately the first four or five leaped on
shore, and took those three out of the boat as prisoners; one of whom I
could perceive used the most passionate gestures of entreaty,
affliction, and despair, while the others in a lesser degree, showed
abundance of concern.
Not knowing the meaning of this, I was very much astonished, and I
beckoned to Friday, who was below, to ascend the mountain, and likewise
view this sight. _O master_, said he to me, _you see English mans eat
prisoners as well as Savage mans_. 'And do you think they will eat them
Friday?' said I. _Yes_, said Friday, _they eat all up_. 'No, no,' said
I, 'Friday, I am much more concerned lest they murder them, but as for
eating them up, that I am sure they will never do.'
And now I not only lamented my misfortune in not having the Spaniard and
Savage with me, but also that I could not come within shot of them
unperceived, they having no fire arms among them, and save these three
me, whom I thought they were going to kill with their swords. But some
comfort it was to me, that I perceived they were set at liberty to go
where they pleased, the rascally seamen scattering about as though they
had a mind to see the place; and so long did they negligently ramble,
that the tide had ebbed so low, as to leave the boat aground. Nor were
the two men who were in her more circumspect; for having drunk a little
too much liquor, they fell fast asleep; but one of them waking before
the other, and perceiving the boat too fast aground for his strength to
move it, he hallooed out to the rest, who made all possible expedition
to come to him; but as Providence ordered it, all their force was
ineffectual to launch her, when I could hear them speak to one another,
_Why let her alone, Jack, can't ye, she'll float next tide_; by which
words I was fully convinced they were my own countrymen. I all this
while lay very quiet, as being fully sensible it could be no less than
ten hours before the boat would be afloat, and then it would be so dark,
that they could not easily perceive me, by which means I should be at
more liberty to hear their talk, and observe all their motions: not but
that I prepared for my defence: yet, as I had another sort of enemy to
combat with I acted with more caution. I took two fusees on my shoulder,
and gave Friday three muskets; besides my formidable goat-skin coat and
monstrous cap made me look as fierce and terrible as Hercules of old,
especially when two pistols were stuck in my belt, and my naked sword
hanging by my side.
It was my design at first not to make any attempt till it was dark; and
it being now two o'clock, in the very heat of the day, the sailors were
all straggling in the woods, and undoubtedly were lain down to sleep.
The three poor distressed creatures, too anxious to get any repose, were
however seated under the shade of a great tree, about a quarter of a
mile from me. Upon which, without any more ado, I approached towards
them, with my man following behind me, and before I was perceived, I
called aloud to them in Spanish, _What are ye, Gentlemen_.
At these words, they started up in great confusion, when they beheld the
strange figure I made; they returned no answer, but seemed as if they
would fly from me: 'Gentlemen,' said I, in English 'don't be afraid,
perhaps you have a friend nearer than you expect.' _He must be from
Heaven_, said one of them, gravely pulling off his hat, _for we are past
all help in this world._ 'All help is from Heaven,' said I: 'But Sir, as
I have perceived every action between you and these brutes since your
landing only inform me, how to assist you, and I will do it to the
utmost of my power.'
_Am I talking with God or man_, said he, in melting tears. _Are you of
human kind or an angel_? 'Sir,' said I, 'my poor habit will tell you I
am a man, and an Englishman, willing to assist you, having but this
servant only: here are arms and ammunition: tell freely your condition:
Can we save you?' _The story_, said he, _is too long to relate, since
our butchers are so near: but, Sir, I was master of that ship, my men
have mutinied, and it is a favour they have put my mate, this
passenger, and me, on shore without murdering us, though we expect
nothing but perishing here_. 'Are your enemies gone?' said I. _No_,
replied he, pointing to a thicket, _there they lie, while my heart
trembles, lest having seen and heard us they should murder us all._
'Have they fire arms?' said I. _They have but two pieces_, said he, _one
of which is left in the boat._ He also told me there were two enormous
villains among them, that were the authors of this mutiny, who, if they
were killed or seized, might induce the rest to return to their
obedience. 'Well, well,' said I, 'let us retire farther under the
covering of the woods;' and there it was I made these conditions
with him:
[Illustration: R. Crusoe accosting the Captain, &c. set ashore by the
Mutineers.]
I. That, while they staid in the island, they should not pretend to any
authority; but should entirely conform to my orders, and return me the
arms which I should put in their hands.
II. That, if the ship was recovered, they should afford Friday and
myself a passage _gratis_ to England.
When he had given me all the satisfaction I could desire, I gave him and
his two companions each of them a gun, with powder and ball sufficient,
advising them to fire upon them as they lay sleeping. The Captain
modestly said, that he was sorry to kill them; though, on the other
hand, to let these villains escape, who were the authors of his misery,
might be the ruin of us all. _Well,_ said he, _do as you think fit;_ and
so accordingly I fired, killed one of the Captain's chief enemies and
wounding the other; who eagerly called for assistance, but the Captain
who had reserved his piece, coming up to him, _Sirrah_, said he, _'tis
too late to call for assistance, you should rather cry to God to pardon
your villany;_ and so knocked him down with the stock of his gun: three
others were also slightly wounded, who at my approach cried out for
mercy. This the Captain granted upon condition that they would swear to
be true to him in recovering the ship, which they solemnly did; However
I obliged the Captain to keep them bound. After which I sent Friday and
the Captain's mate to secure the boat and bring away the oars and sails;
when, at their return, three men coming back, and seeing their late
distressed Captain, now their conqueror, submitted to be bound also. And
then it was, that having more liberty, I related the adventures of my
whole life, which he heard with a serious and wonderful attention. After
this, I carried him and his two companions into my little fortified
castle, shewed them all my conveniences, and refreshed them with such
provisions as I could afford. When this was over, we began to consider
about regaining the ship: he said, that there were twenty-six hands on
board, who knowing their lives were forfeited by the law, for conspiracy
and mutiny, were so very hardened, that it would be dangerous for our
small company to attack them. This was a reasonable inference indeed;
but something we must resolve on, and immediately, put in execution:
we, therefore heaved the boat upon the beach so high that she could not
shoot off at high water mark, and broke a hole in her not easily to be
stopped; so that all the signals they gave for the boat to come on board
were in vain. This obliged them to send another boat ashore, with ten
men armed, whose faces the Captain plainly descried, the boatswain being
the chief officer; but he said there were three honest lads among them,
who were forced into the conspiracy. Hereupon I gave him fresh courage
(for I had perceived he was in concern): In the mean while securing our
prisoners, except two, whom we took to our assistance, we thought
ourselves able enough to adventure a battle. When the sailors landed,
and beheld their boat in that condition, they not only hallooed, but
fired for their companions to hear, yet they received no answer. This
struck them with horror and amazement, thinking their companions were
murdered, they made as if they would return to the ship. I could
perceive the Captain's countenance change at this, till of a sudden
three men were ordered to look after the boat, while the other seven
leapt on shore in order to search for their companions; and, indeed,
they came to the brow of the hill, near my ancient castle, from whence
they could see to a great distance in the woods, and there shooting and
hallooing till tired and weary, they at length seated themselves under a
spreading tree. My opinion was, that nothing could be done till night,
when I might use some artifice to get them all out of the boat; but of a
sudden they started up, and made to the sea-side; hereupon I ordered
Friday and the Captain's mate to go over the creek, and halloo as loud
as they could, and so decoying them into the woods, come round to me
again. And this, indeed, had good effect; for they followed the noise,
till coming westward to the creek, they called for their boat to carry
them over, and taking one of the men out of her, left two to look after
her, having fastened her to the stump of a little tree on shore.
Hereupon immediately the Captain and our party passing the creek, out of
their sight, we surprised them both, by the Captain's knocking down one,
and ordering the other in surrender upon pain of death, and who being
the honestest of them all, sincerely joined with us. By this time it was
pretty late; when the rest returning to there boat, which they found
aground in the creek, the tide out, and the men gone, they ran about
wringing their hands, crying it was an enchanted island, and that they
should be all murdered by spirits or devils. My men would willingly have
fallen upon them, but I would not agree to hazard any of our party. But
to be more certain, Friday & the Captain crawled upon their hands &
feet, as near as possible; and when the boatswain approached in sight,
so eager was the Captain, that he fired and killed him on the spot;
Friday wounded the next man, and a third ran away. Hereupon I advanced
with, my whole army: and, it being dark, I ordered the man we had
surprised in the boat, to call them by their names, and to parley with
them. Accordingly he called out aloud, _Tom Smith, Tom Smith!_ He
answered, _Who's that? Robinson!_ answered the other. _For God's sake
Tom, surrender immediately, or you're all dead men. Who must we
surrender to?_ says Smith. _To our captain and fifty men here, who have
taken me prisoner, wounded Will Frye, and killed the boatswain. Shall we
have quarter then?_ said he. Hereupon the Captain calls out, _You Smith,
you know my voice, surrender immediately, and you shall all have your
lives granted, except Will Atkins_. Hereupon Atkins cries out, _What
have I done Captain, more than the rest, who have been as bad as me?_
But that was a lie, for he was the person that laid hold of him, and
bound him. However, he was ordered to submit to the governor's mercy,
for such was I called. And so, laying down their arms, we bound them
all, and seized on their boat.
After this, the Captain expostulated with them, telling them that the
governor was an Englishman, who might execute them there; but he thought
they would be sent to England, except Will Atkins, who was ordered to
prepare for death next morning. Hereupon Atkins implored the Captain to
intercede for his life, and the rest begged they might not be sent to
England. This answered our project for seizing the ship. For after
sending Atkins and two of the worst fast bound to the cave, and the rest
being committed to my bower, I sent the Captain to treat with them in
the, governor's name, offering them pardon if they would assist in
recovering the ship. Upon which they all promised to stand by him till
the last drop of their blood; and whoever acted treacherously, should be
hanged in chains upon the beach. They were all released on these
assurances: and then the Captain repaired to the other boat, making his
passenger Captain of her, and gave him four men well armed; while
himself, his mate, and five more, went in the other boat. By midnight
they came within call of the ship, when the Captain ordered Robinson to
hale her, and tell them that with great difficulty they had found the
men at last. But while they were discoursing, the Captain, his mate and
the rest entered, and knocked down the second mate and carpenter,
secured those that were upon the deck, by putting them under hatches,
while the other boat's crew entered and secured the forecastle; they
then broke into the round-house, where the mate after some resistance,
shot the pirate captain through the head, upon which all the rest
yielded themselves prisoners. And thus the ship being recovered, the
joyful signal was fired, which I heard with the greatest joy imaginable:
nor was it long before he brought the ship to an anchor at the creek's
mouth, where, coming to me unawares, _There_, says he _my dearest friend
and deliverer, there is your ship, and we are your servants_: a comfort
so unspeakable, as made me swoon in his arms while, with gratitude to
Heaven, we were tenderly embracing each other.
Nothing now remaining, but to consult what we should do with the
prisoners, whom he thought it was not safe to take on board. Hereupon
concerting with the Captain, I dressed myself in one of his suits, and
sending for them, told them, that I was going to leave the island with
all my people, if they would tarry there, their lives should be spared;
if not, they should be hanged at the first port they came at. They
agreed to stay. Hereupon I told them my whole story, charging them to be
kind to the Spaniards that were expected, gave them, all my arms, and
informing them of every thing necessary for their subsistence, I and my
man Friday went on board. But the next morning two of the men came
swimming to the ship's side, desiring the Captain to take them on board,
though he hanged them afterwards, complaining mightily how barbarously
the others used them. Upon which I prevailed with the Captain to take
them in; and being severely whipt and pickled, they proved more honest
for the future, and so I bid farewell to this island, carrying along
with me my money, my parrot, umbrella, and goat-skin cap; setting sail
December 12, 1686, after twenty-eight years, two months, and nineteen
days residence, that same day and month that I escaped from Sallee;
landing in England, June 11, 1687, after five and thirty years absence
from my own country; which rendered me altogether a stranger there.
Here I found my first Captain's widow alive, who had buried a second
husband, but in very mean circumstances, and whom I made easy upon his
account. Soon after I went down to Yorkshire, where all my family were
expired, except two sisters, and as many of one of my brother's
children. I found no provision had been made for me, they concluding I
had been long since dead; so that I was but in a very slender station.
Indeed the Captain did me a great kindness, by his report to the owners,
how I had delivered their ship on the Desolate Island, upon which they
made me a present of 200£. sterling. I next went to Lisbon, taking my
man Friday with me, and there arriving in April, I met the Portuguese
Captain who had taken me on board on the African coast; but, being
ancient, he had left off the sea, and resigned all his business to his
son, who followed the Brazil trade. So altered both of us were, that we
did not know each other at first, till I discovered myself more fully to
him. After a few embraces, I began to enquire of my concerns; and then
the old gentleman told me that it was nine years since he had been at
Brazil, where my partner was then living, but my trustees were both
dead; that he believed I should have a good account of the product of my
plantation; that the imagination of my being lost, had obliged my
trustees to give an estimate of my share to the procurator fiscal, who,
in case of my not returning, had given one third to the king & the rest
to the monastery of St. Augustine: but if I put in my claim, or any one
for me, it would be returned, except the yearly product which was given
to the poor. I then desired him to tell me what improvement he thought
had been made of my plantation, and whether he imagined it was worth my
while to look after it? he answered, he did not know how much it was
improved; but this he was certain of, that my partner was grown vastly
rich upon his half of it; and, that he had been informed, that the kind
had 200 moidores per annum of his third part. He added, that the
survivors of my trustees were nervous of an ingenuous character; that my
partner could witness my title, my name being registered in the country,
by which means I should indefensibly recover considerable sums of money,
but, answered, I, how could my trustees dispose of my effects, when I
made you only my heir? This, said he, was true but, there being no
affidavit made of my death he could not act as my executor. However, he
had ordered his don,(then at Brazil), to act by procuration upon my
account, and he had taken possession of my sugar-house, having accounted
himself for eight years with my partner and trustees for the profits, of
which he would give me a very good account.
And, indeed, this he performed very faithfully in a few days, making
himself indebted to me 470 moidores of gold, over and above what had
been lost at sea, after I had left the place. And then he recounted to
me what misfortune he had gone through, which forced my money out of his
hands, to buy part in a new ship-but says he, _you shall not want, take
this; and, when my son returns, every farthing shall be paid you._ Upon
which he put into my hand a purse of 150 moidores in gold, as likewise
the instrument, containing the title to the ship which his son was in,
and which he offered as security for the remainder. But really when I
saw so much goodness, generosity, tenderness, and real honesty, I had
not the heart to accept it, for fear he should straiten himself upon my
account. _It is true,_ said he, _it may be so; but then the money is
yours, not mine, and you may have the greatest occasion for it._
However, I returned fifty of them back again, promising that I would
freely forgive him the other hundred when I got my effects into my
hands, and that I designed to go myself for that purpose. But he told me
he could save me that trouble, and so caused me to enter my name with a
public notary, as likewise my affidavit, with a procuration affixed to
it; and this he ordered me to send in a letter to one of his
acquaintance, a merchant in Brazil; and, indeed, nothing could be more
faithfully and honourably observed; for, in seven months time, I had a
very faithful account of all my effects, what sums of money were raised,
what expended, and what remained for myself! In a word I found myself
to be worth 5000£. sterling, and 1000 per annum. Nor was this all, for
my partner congratulated me upon my being alive, telling me how much my
plantation was improved; what Negroes were at work, and how many _Ave
Marias_ he had said to the Virgin Mary for my preservation, desiring me
to accept kindly some presents he had sent me, which I found showed the
greatest generosity.