Робинзон Крузо
Wreck of a Spanish Ship
Theyhadtwocanoeswiththem,whichtheyhadhauledupupontheshore; andasitwasthentideofebb,theyseemedtometowaitforthereturnofthefloodtogoawayagain. Itisnoteasytoimaginewhatconfusionthissightputmeinto,especiallyseeingthemcomeonmysidetheisland,andsonearmetoo. ButwhenIobservedtheircomingmustbealwayswiththecurrentoftheebb,Ibeganafterwardstomoresedateinmymind,beingsatisfiedthatImightgoabroadwithsafetyallthetimeofthetideofflood,iftheywerenotonshorebefore; andhavingmadethisobservation,Iwentabroadaboutmyharvest-workwiththemorecomposure.
AsIexpected,soitproved; forassoonasthetidemadetothewestward,Isawthemalltakeboat,androw(orpaddle,aswecallit)allaway. Ishouldhaveobserved,thatforanhourandmorebeforetheywentoff,theywenttodancing; andIcouldeasilydiscerntheirposturesandgesturesbymyglasses. Icouldnotperceive,bymynicestobservationbutthattheywerestarknaked,andhadnottheleastcoveringuponthem;butwhethertheyweremenorwomen,thatIcouldnotdistinguish.
AssoonasIsawthemshippedandgone,Itooktwogunsuponmyshoulders,andtwopistolsatmygirdle,andmygreatswordbymyside,withoutascabbard,andwithallthespeedIwasabletomakeIwentawaytothehillwhereIhaddiscoveredthefirstappearanceofall. AndassoonasIgotthither,whichwasnotlessthantwohours(forIcouldnotgoapace,beingsoloadenwitharmsasIwas),Iperceivedtherehadbeenthreecanoesmoreofsavagesonthatplace;andlookingoutfarther,Isawtheywereallatseatogether,makingoverforthemain.
