returning him the hundred moidores, and not only forgiving him all he
owed me, I allowed him yearly a hundred more, and fifty to his son,
during their lives. And now being resolved to go to England, I returned
letters of thanks to the Prior of St. Augustine, and in particular to my
old partner, with very suitable presents. By the Captain's advice, I was
persuaded to go by land to Calais, and there take passage for England:
when, as it happened, I got a young English gentleman, a merchant's son
at Lisbon, to accompany me, together with two English, and two
Portuguese gentleman: so that with a Portuguese servant, an English
sailor, and my man Friday, there were nine of us in number.
Thus armed and equipped, we set out, and came to Madrid, when the summer
decaying, we hasted to Navarre, where we were informed that there was
scarcely any passing, be reason of the prodigious quantity of snow; so
that we were obliged to abide near twenty days at Pamoeluria, and at
last to take a guide to conduct us safe towards Tholouse. And now twelve
other gentlemen joining with us, together with their servants, we had a
very jolly company. Away our guide led us by frightful mountains, and
through so many intricate mazes and windings, that we insensibly passed
them, which, as we travelled along, ushered us into the prospect of the
fruitful and charming provinces of Languedoc and Galcoigne.
But now came on two adventures, both tragical and comical. First, our
guide was encountered by three wolves and a bear, who set upon him and
his horse, and wounded him in three places; upon which my man, riding up
to his assistance, shot one of them dead upon the spot, which made the
others retire into the woods. But the pleasantest adventure was, to
behold my man attack the bear. 'Tis such a creature, that if you let him
alone, he will never meddle with you, and this my man very well knew,
and so begging leave of me in broken English, he told us, _he would make
good laugh_. 'Why, you silly fool,' said I, 'he'll eat you up at a
mouthful.' _Eatee me up,_ replied he, by way of scorn, _me not only
eatee him, but make much good laugh._ Upon which, pulling off his boots,
he claps on his pumps, and running after the monstrous beast, he called
out, that he wanted to discourse with him, and then throwing stones on
purpose to incense him, the beast turns about in fury, and, with
prodigious strides, shuffles after him. But though he was not swift
enough to keep up pace with Friday, who made up to us as it were for
help; yet being angry, 'You dog,' said I, 'immediately take horse, and
let us shoot the creature.' But he cried, _Dear master, no shoot, me
make you laugh much._ And so he turned about, making signs to follow,
while the bear ran after, till coming to a great oak, he ascended in a
minute, leaving his gun, at the bottom of it. Nor did the bear make any
difficulty of it, but ascended like a cat, though his weight was very
great. You must consider I was not a little amazed at the folly of my
man, as not perceiving any thing to occasion our laughter, till such
time as we rode up nearer, and beheld the bear mounted upon the oak, on
the beginning of the same branch, to which Friday clung at the farther
end, where the bear durst not come. Hereupon Friday cried out, _Now
master, me make much laugh, me make bear dance._ Upon which he fell a
shaking the bough, which made the creature look behind him, to see how
he could retreat. Then as if the bear had understood his stammering
English, _Why you no come farther, Mr. Bear_ said he, _pray, Mr. Bear
come farther_; and then indeed we all burst into a laughter; especially
when we perceived Friday drop like a squirrel upon the ground, leaving
the beast to make the best of his way down the tree. And now thinking it
the most convenient time to shoot the creature, Friday cried out, _O
dear master, no shoot, me shoot by and by_; when taking up the gun, _me
no shoot yet_, said he _me make one more much laugh._ And accordingly he
was as good as his word; for the creature descending backwards from the
tree very leisurely, before he could lay one foot on the ground, Friday
shot him through the ear, stone dead; and looking to see whether we were
pleased, he burst out into a hearty laughter, saying, _So we kill de
bear in my country, not with the gun, but with much long arrows._ Thus
ended our diversion, to our great satisfaction; especially in a place
where the terrible howlings struck us with a continual terror. But the
snows now growing very deep, particularly on the mountains, the ravenous
creatures were then obliged to seek for sustenance in the villages, were
coming by surprise on the country people, killed several of them,
besides a great number of their sheep and horses.
Our guide told us, we had yet one more dangerous place to pass by; and
if their were any more wolves in the country, there we should find them.
This was a small plain encompassed with woods, to get through a long
lane to the village where we were to lodge. When we entered the wood,
the sun was within half an hour of setting: and a little after it was
set, we came into the plain, which was not above two furlongs over, and
then we perceived five great wolves cross the road, without taking
notice of us, and so swift as though they were pursuing after their
prey. Hereupon our guide, believing there were more coming, desired us
to be on our guard. Accordingly our eyes were very circumspect, till
about half a league farther, we perceived a dead horse, and near a dozen
of wolves devouring its carcase. My man Friday fain would have fired at
them, but I would not permit him; nor had we gone half over the plain,
but we heard dreadful howlings in a wood on our left, when presently we
saw an hundred come up against us, as though they had been an
experienced army. This obliged us to form ourselves in the best manner;
and then I ordered that every other man should fire, that those who did
not, might be ready to gave a second volley, should they advance upon
us; and then every man should make use of his pistols. But there was no
necessity for this; for the enemy being terrified stopped at the noise
of the fire; four of them were shot dead, and, several others being
wounded; went bleeding away, as we could very plainly discover by the
snow. And now remembering what had been often told me, that such was the
majesty of a man's voice, as to strike terror even in the fiercest
creatures, I ordered all our companions to halloo as loud as possible;
and in this notion I was not altogether mistaken; for they immediately
turned about upon the first halloo, and began to retire; upon which,
ordering a second volley in their rear, they galloped into the woods
with great precipitation.
Thus we had some small time to load our pieces again, and then made all
the haste we could on our way; but we had not rode far, before we were
obliged to put ourselves in a posture of defence as before, being
alarmed with a very dreadful noise in the same wood, on our left hand,
the same way as we were to pass, only that it was at some distance from
us. By this time the darksome clouds began to spread over the elements,
and the night growing very dusky, made it so much the more to our
disadvantage; but still the noise increasing, we were fully assured,
that it was the howling and the yelling of those ravenous creatures;
when presently three troops of wolves on our front appeared in sight, as
though a great number of them had a design to surround us, and devour us
in spite of fate. But as they did not fall upon us immediately, we
proceeded on our journey in as swift a manner as the roads would permit
our horses, which was only a large trot. It was in this manner we
travelled, till such a time as we discovered another wood, and had the
prospect of its entrance through which were to pass, at the farthest
side of the plain. But surely none can express the terror we were in,
when approaching the lane, we perceived a confused number of the
fiercest wolves, standing, as it were guarding its entrance. Nor were we
long in this amazement, before another occasion of horror presented
itself; for suddenly we heard the report of a gun at another opening in
the wood and, looking that way, out ran a horse bridled and saddled,
flying with the greatest swiftness, and no less than sixteen or
seventeen wolves pursuing after him, in order to devour the poor
creature; and unquestionably they did so, after they had run him down,
not being able to hold out that swiftness with which he at first
escaped them.
When we rode up to that entrance from whence the horse came forth, there
lay the carcases of another horse & two men, mangled and torn by these
devouring wolves; and undoubtedly one of these men was the person who
fired the gun which we had heard, for the piece lay by him; but alas!
most of the upper part of his body and his head were entombed in the
bowels of these ravenous creatures.
What course to take, whether to proceed or retreat, we could not tell;
but it was not long before the wolves themselves made us to come to a
resolution; for such numbers surrounded us, every one of whom expected
their prey, that were our bodies to be divided among them, there would
not be half a mouthful a-piece. But happy, very happy it was for us,
that but a little way from the entrance, there lay some very large
timber trees, which I supposed had been cut down and laid there for
sale: amongst which I drew my little troop, placing ourselves in a line
behind one long tree, which served us for a breast work, when desiring
them to alight, we stood in a triangle, or three fronts, closing our
bodies in the centre, the only place where we could preserve them.
Never certainly was there a more furious charge than what the wolves
made upon us in this place: and the sight of the horses, which was the
principal prey they aimed at, provoked their hunger, and added to their
natural fierceness. They came on us with a most dreadful noise, that
made the woods ring again: and beginning to mount the pieces of timber,
I ordered every man to fire, as before directed: and, indeed, so well
did they take their aim, that they killed several of the wolves at the
first volley; but still we were obliged to keep a continual firing, by
reason they came on like devils, pushing one another with the greatest
fury. But our second volley something abated their courage, when
stopping a little, we hoped they would have made the best of their way,
however, it did not prove so, for others made a new attempt upon us; and
though in four firings, we killed seventeen or eighteen of them, laming
twice as many, yet they several times successively came on, as though
they valued not their lives for the sake of their prey.
Unwilling was I to spend our last shot too suddenly, and therefore
calling my other servant, and giving him a horn of powder, bid him lay a
large train quite along the timber, which he did, while Friday was
charging my fusee and his own, with the greatest dexterity. By this time
the wolves coming up the timber, I set fire to the train, by snapping a
discharged pistol close to the powder. This so scorched and terrified
them, that some fell down, and others jumped in among us: but there
were immediately dispatched, when all the rest, frighted with the
light, which the darksome night caused to appear more dreadful, began at
length to retire; upon which ordering our last pistols to be fired at
once, giving at the same time a great shout, the wolves were obliged to
have recourse to their swiftness, and turn tail; and then we sallied out
upon twenty lame ones, cutting them in pieces with our swords, which
obliged them to howl lamentably, to the terror of their fellows, who
resigned to us the field as victorious conquerors. And, indeed, I
question whether Alexander king of Macedonia, in any of his conquests,
had more occasion for triumph than we had; for he was but attacked with
numerous armies of soldiers; whereas our little army was obliged to
combat a legion of devils, as it were, worse than the cannibals, who,
the same moment they had slain us, would have sacrificed us, to satisfy
their voracious appetites.
Thus ended our bloody battle with the beasts, having killed threescore
of them, and saved our lives from their fury. We still had a league
further to go, when, as we went, our ears were saluted with their most
unwelcome howlings, and we expected every moment another attack. But, in
an hour's time, we arrived at the town where we were to lodge; and here
we found the place strictly guarded, and all in terrible confusion, as
well they might, for fear of the bears and wolves breaking into the
village, in order to prey upon their cattle and people. The next morning
we were obliged to take a new guide, by reason the other fell very bad
of his wounds, which he had received as before mentioned. After we had
reached Tholouse, we came into a warm, pleasant, and fruitful country,
not infested with wolves, nor any sort of ravenous creatures: and when
we told our story there, they much blamed our guide, for conducting us
through the forest at the foot of the mountains, in such a severe
season, when the snow obliged the wolves to seek for shelter in the
woods. When we informed them in what manner we placed ourselves, and the
horses in the centre, they exceedingly reprehended us, and told us, it
was an hundred to one, but we had been all destroyed; for that it was
the very sight of the horses, their so much desired prey, that made the
wolves more ragingly furious than they would have been, which was
evident, by their being at other times really afraid of a gun; but then
being exceedingly hungry and furious upon that account, their eagerness
to come at the horses made them insensible of their danger; and that, if
we had not, by a continual fire, and at last by the cunning stratagem of
the train of powder, got the better of them, it had been great odds if
their number had not overpowered us; besides, it was a great mercy we
alighted from our horses, and fought them with that courage and conduct,
which, had we failed to do, every man of us, with our beasts, had been
devoured: and, indeed, this was nothing but truth; for never in my life
was I so sensible of danger, as when three hundred, devils came roaring
upon us, to shun whose unwelcome company, if I was sure to meet a storm
every week; I would rather go a thousand leagues by sea.
I think I have, nothing uncommon in my passage through France to take
notice of, since other travellers of greater learning and ingenuity,
have given more ample account than my pen is able to set forth. From
Tholouse I travelled to Paris, from thence to Calais, where I took
shipping, and landed at Dover the 14th of January, in a very
cold season.
Thus come to the end of my travels, I soon discovered my new found
estate, and all the bills of exchange I had were currently paid. The
good ancient widow, my only privy counsellor, thought no pains nor care
too great to procure my advantage, nor had I ever occasion to blame her
fidelity, which drew from me an ample reward. I was for leaving my
effects in her hands, intending to set out for Lisbon, and so the
Brazils; but as in the Desolate Island I had some doubt about the Romish
religion, so I knew there was little encouragement to settle there,
unless I would apostatize from the orthodox faith, or live in continual
fear of the Inquisition. Upon this account I resolved to sell my
plantation; and, for that intent, I wrote to my old friend at Lisbon,
who returned to me an answer to my great satisfaction; which was, that
he could sell it to good account; however, if I thought it convenient to
give him liberty to offer it in my name to the two merchants, the
survivors of my trustees residing at the Brazils, who consequently knew
its intrinsic value, having lived just upon the spot, and who I was
sensible were very rich, and therefore might be the more willing to
purchase it: he did not in the least doubt, but that I should make four
or five thousand pieces of eight more of it, than I could, if I disposed
of it in any other manner whatsoever.
You may be sure I could not but agree with this kind and ingenuous
proposal; and immediately I sent him an order to offer it to them, which
he accordingly did; so that about eight months after, the ship being in
that time returned, he gave me a satisfactory account, that they not
only willingly accepted the offer, but that they had also remitted
33,000 pieces of eight to a correspondence of their own at Lisbon, in
order to pay for the purchase.
Hereupon, in return, I signed the instrument of sale, according to form,
which they had sent from Lisbon, and returned it again to my old friend,
he having sent me, for me estate, bills of three hundred and
twenty-eight thousand pieces of eight, reserving the payment of one
hundred moidores per annum, which I had allowed him during life,
likewise: fifty to his son during life also, according to my faithful
promise, which the plantation was to make good as a rent charge.
And thus having led my reader to the knowledge of the first parts of my
life so remarkable for the many peculiar providences that attended it,
floating in the ocean of uncertainty and disappointment, of adversity
and prosperity, beginning foolishly, and yet ending happily; methinks
now that I am come to a safe & pleasant haven, it is time to cast out my
anchor, &c, laying up my vessel, bid, for a while, adieu to foreign
adventures. I had no other concerns to look after but the care of my
brother's two sons, which, with the good widow's persuasions, obliged me
to continue at home seven years. One of these children I bred up a
gentleman, and the other an experienced sailor, remarkable for his
courage and bravery. Besides this, I married a virtuous young
gentlewoman, of a very good family, by whom I had two sons and one
daughter. But my dear and tender wife leaving this earthly stage (as in
the second part of my life you will hear) which rent my soul as it were
asunder, my native country became weary and tiresome to me; and my
nephew happening to come from sea, tempted me to venture another voyage
to the East Indies, which I did in the year 1694, at which time I
visited my island, and informed myself of every thing that happened
since my departure.
One might reasonably imagine, that what I had suffered, together with an
advanced age, and the fear of losing not only what I had gotten, but my
life also, might have choaked up all the seeds of youthful ambition and
curiosity, and put a lasting period to my wandering inclinations. But as
nothing but death can fully allay the active part of my life, no less
remarkable for the many various contingencies of it, you will next
perceive how I visited my little kingdom, saw my successors the
Spaniards, had an account of the usage they met with from the
Englishmen, agreeing and disagreeing, uniting and separating, till at
last they were subjected to the Spaniards, who yet used them very
honorably, together with the wonderful and successful battles over the
Indians who invaded, and thought to have conquered the island, but were
repelled by their invincible courage and bravery, having taken eleven
men and five woman prisoners by which at my return, I found about twenty
young children on my little kingdom. Here I staid twenty days, left them
supplies of all necessary things, as also a carpenter and smith, and
shared the islands into parts, reserving the whole property to myself.
Nor will you be insensible, by the account of these things, of several
new adventures I have been engaged in, the battles I have fought, the
deliverances I have met with; and while, in the surprising relation of
such remarkable occurrences, I shall describe many of God's kindest
providences to me in particular, no less conspicuous in the same
goodness, power, and majesty of our great creator, shown one way or
other, over the face of the earth, if duly adverted to.
THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF
ROBINSON CRUSOE.
_Wherein are contained several strange and surprising accounts of his
travels, and his most remarkable transactions both by sea and by land;
with his wonderful vision of the angelic world_.
* * * * *
When we consider the puissant force of Nature and, what mighty influence
it has many times over the temper of the mind, it will be no such great
wonder to think, that my powerful reason should be overcome by a much
stronger inclination. My late acquired kingdom ran continually in my
thoughts all the day, and I dreamed of it in the night: nay, I made it
the continual subject of my talk, even to impertinence, when I was
awake. I had such vapours in my head, that I actually supposed myself at
my castle; that I not only perceived Friday's father the old Spaniard,
and the wicked sailors, but that I talked and discoursed with them about
their manner of living; that I heard the things related to me, which I
found afterwards to be true; & that I executed my judgments with the
greatest severity upon the offenders. And, indeed, this anticipating all
the pleasing joys of my life, scarcely afforded me one pleasant hour: my
dear and tender wife could not but take notice of it, which drew those
affectionate speeches from her: _My dear,_ said she, _I am really
persuaded that some secret impulse from Heaven occasions in you a
determination to see the island again; nor am I less sensible, but your
being engaged to me and these dear children is the only hinderance of
your departure. I know my dear, if I were in the grave, you would not
long continue at home; prevent not your happiness on my account, whose
only comfort centres in you. All that I can object is, that such an
hazardous undertaking is no way consistent with a person of your years;
but if you are resolved to go,_ added she, weeping, _only permit me to
bear you company, and that is all that I desire._
Such endearing tenderness, graced with the most innocent and yet most
powerful charms, brought me insensibly into my right understanding; and
when I considered all the transactions of my life, and particularly my
new engagement, that I had now one child already born, and my wife big
of another; and that I had no occasion to seek for more riches, who
already was blessed with sufficiency, with much struggling I altered my
resolutions at last, resolving to apply myself to some business or
other, which might put a period to such wandering inclinations. Hereupon
I bought a little farm in the county of Bedford, with a resolution to
move thither; upon this there was a pretty convenient house surrounded
with land, very capable of improvement, which suited my temper, as to
planting, managing, and cultivating. Nor was I long before I entered
upon my new settlement, having bought ploughs, harrows, carts, waggons,
horses, cows, and sheep; so that I now led the life of a country
gentleman, and as happy in my retirement as the greatest monarch in the
world. And what made me think my happiness the greater was, that I was
in the middle state of life, which my father had so often recommended,
much resembling the felicity of a rural retirement, which is elegantly
described by the poet in these lines:
_Free from all vices, free from care,
Age has no pain, and youth no snare._
But, in the midst of this my happiness, I was suddenly plunged in the
greatest sorrow that I could possibly endure; for when I least expected
it, my dear and tender wife was forced to submit to the irresistable
power of Death, leaving this transitory life for a better. It is
impossible for me to express the beauties of her mind, or the loveliness
of her person; neither can I too much lament her loss, which my latest
breath shall record; her influence was greater over me, than the powers
of my own reason, the importunities of friends, the instructions of a
father, or the melting tears of a tender and disconsolate mother; in a
word, she was the spirit of all my affairs, and the centre of my
enterprizes. But now, since the cruel hand of Death had closed my
dearest's eyes, I seemed in my thoughts a stranger to the world; my
privy counsellor being gone, I was like a ship without a pilot, that
could only run before the wind. And when I looked around me in this busy
world, one party labouring for bread, and the other squandering away
their estates; this put me in mind how I had lived in my little kingdom,
where both reason and religion dictated to me, that there was something
that certainly was the reason and end of life, which was far superior to
what could be hoped for on this side the grave. My country delights were
now as insiped and dull, as music and science to those who have neither
taste nor ingenuity. In short, resolving to leave off house-keeping, I
left my farm, and in a few months returned to London.