Робинзон Крузо
Rescue of Prisoners From Cannibals
Uponthewhole,asIfoundbyallhisdiscourseasettledaffectiontome,andthatnothingshouldparthimfromme,soIfoundallthefoundationofhisdesiretogotohisowncountrywaslaidinhisardentaffectiontothepeople,andhishopesofmydoingthemgood; athingwhich,asIhadnonotionofmyself,soIhadnottheleastthoughtorintentionordesireofundertakingit. ButstillIfoundastronginclinationtomyattemptinganescape,asabove,foundedonthesuppositiongatheredfromthediscourse,viz.,thattherewereseventeenbeardedmenthere; and,therefore,withoutanymoredelayIwenttoworkwithFriday,tofindoutagreattreepropertofell,andmakealargeperiagua,orcanoe,toundertakethevoyage. Thereweretreesenoughintheislandtohavebuiltalittlefleet,notofperiaguasandcanoes,butevenofgoodlargevessels. ButthemainthingIlookedatwas,togetonesonearthewaterthatwemightlaunchitwhenitwasmade,toavoidthemistakeIcommittedatfirst.
AtlastFridaypitcheduponatree,forIfoundheknewmuchbetterthanIwhatkindofwoodwasfittestforit; norcanItell,tothisday,whatwoodtocallthetreewecutdown,exceptthatitwasverylikethetreewecallfustic,orbetweenthatandtheNicaraguawood,foritwasmuchofthesamecolorandsmell. Fridaywasforburningtheholloworcavityofthistreeout,tomakeitforaboat,butIshowedhimhowrathertocutitoutwithtools; which,afterIhadshowedhimhowtouse,hedidveryhandily; andinaboutamonth’shardlaborwefinishedit,andmadeitveryhandsome; especiallywhen,withouraxes,whichIshowedhimhowtohandle,wecutandhewedtheoutsideintothetrueshapeofaboat. Afterthis,however,itcostusnearafortnight’stimetogetheralong,asitwere,inchbyinch,upongreatrollersintothewater; butwhenshewasin,shewouldhavecarriedtwentymenwithgreatease.
