Робинзон Крузо
A Cave Retreat
AsinmypresentconditiontherewerenotreallymanythingswhichIwanted,soindeedIthoughtthatthefrightsIhadbeeninaboutthesesavagewretches,andtheconcernIhadbeeninformyownpreservation,hadtakenofftheedgeofmyinventionformyownconveniences. AndIhaddroppedagooddesign,whichIhadoncebentmythoughtstoomuchupon;andthatwas,totryifIcouldnotmakesomeofmybarleyintomalt,andthentrytobrewmyselfsomebeer. Thiswasreallyawhimsicalthought,andIreprovedmyselfoftenforthesimplicityofit; forIpresentlysawtherewouldbethewantofseveralthingsnecessarytothemakingmybeerthatitwouldbeimpossibleformetosupply. As,first,caskstopreserveitin,whichwasathingthat,asIhaveobservedalready,Icouldnevercompass; no,thoughIspentnotmanydays,butweeks,nay,months,inattemptingit,buttonopurpose. Inthenextplace,Ihadnohopstomakeitkeep,noyeasttomakeitwork,nocopperorkettletomakeitboil; andyetallthesethingsnotwithstanding,Iverilybelieve,hadnotthesethingsintervened,ImeanthefrightsandterrorsIwasinaboutthesavages,Ihadundertakenit,andperhapsbroughtittopass,too; forIseldomgaveanythingoverwithoutaccomplishingitwhenIoncehaditinmyheadenoughtobeginit.
Butmyinventionnowrunquiteanotherway; for,nightanddayIcouldthinkofnothingbuthowImightdestroysomeofthesemonstersintheircruel,bloodyentertainment,and,ifpossible,savethevictimtheyshouldbringhithertodestroy. Itwouldtakeupalargervolumethanthiswholeworkisintendedtobe,tosetdownallthecontrivancesIhatched,orratherbroodedupon,inmythought,forthedestroyingthesecreatures,oratleastfightingthemsoastopreventtheircominghitheranymore.