Робинзон Крузо
Wreck of a Spanish Ship
Iwasindeedterriblysurprisedatthesight,andsteppedshortwithinmygrove,notdaringtogooutlestImightbesurprised; andyetIhadnomorepeacewithin,fromtheapprehensionsIhadthatifthesesavages,inramblingovertheisland,shouldfindmycornstandingorcut,oranyofworksandimprovements,theywouldimmediatelyconcludethattherewerepeopleintheplace,andwouldthennevergiveovertilltheyhadfoundmeout. InthisextremityIwentbackdirectlytomycastle,pulleduptheladderafterme,andmadeallthingswithoutlookaswildandnaturalasIcould.
ThenIpreparedmyselfwithin,puttingmyselfinapostureofdefence. Iloadedallcannon,asIcalledthem,thatistosay,mymuskets,whichweremounteduponmynewfortification,andallmypistols,andresolvedtodefendmyselftothelastgasp; notforgettingseriouslytocommendmyselftotheDivineprotection,andearnestlytopraytoGodtodelivermeoutofthehandsofthebarbarians. AndinthispostureIcontinuedabouttwohours;butbegantobemightyimpatientforintelligenceabroad,forIhadnospiestosendout.
Aftersittingawhilelonger,andmusingwhatIshoulddointhiscase,Iwasnotabletobearsittinginignoranceanylonger; sosettingupmyladdertothesideofthehillwheretherewasaflatplace,asIobservedbefore,andthenpullingtheladderupafterme,Isetitupagain,andmountedtothetopofthehill; andpullingoutmyperspective-glass,whichIhadtakenonpurpose,Ilaidmedownflatonmybellyontheground,andbegantolookfortheplace. Ipresentlyfoundtherewasnolessthanninenakedsavagessittingroundasmallfiretheyhadmade,nottowarmthem,fortheyhadnoneedofthat,theweatherbeingextremehot,but,asIsupposed,todresssomeoftheirbarbarousdietofhumanfleshwhichtheyhadbroughtwiththem,whetheraliveordead,Icouldnotknow.
