Робинзон Крузо
Visit of Mutineers
UponthisIresolvedtodiscovermyselftothem,andlearnsomethingoftheircondition. ImmediatelyImarchedinthefigureasabove,mymanFridayatagooddistancebehindme,asformidableforhisarmsasI,butnotmakingquitesostaringaspectre-likefigureasIdid.
IcameasnearthemundiscoveredasIcould,andthen,beforeanyofthemsawme,IcalledaloudtotheminSpanish, "Whatareye,gentlemen?"
Theystartedupatthenoise,butwereoftentimesmoreconfoundedwhentheysawme,andtheuncouthfigurethatImade. Theymadenoansweratall,butIthoughtIperceivedthemjustgoingtoflyfromme,whenIspoketotheminEnglish. "Gentlemen,"saidI,"donotbesurprisedatme; perhapsyoumayhaveafriendnearyou,whenyoudidnotexpectit." "Hemustbesentdirectlyfromheaven,then,"saidoneofthemverygravelytome,andpullingoffhishatatthesametimetome,"forourconditionispastthehelpofman. ""Allhelpisfromheaven,sir,"saidI. "Butcanyouputastrangerinthewayhowtohelpyou,foryouseemtometobeinsomegreatdistress? Isawyouwhenyoulanded;andwhenyouseemedtomakeapplicationstothebrutesthatcamewithyou,Isawoneofthemliftuphisswordtokillyou."
Thepoorman,withtearsrunningdownhisface,andtrembling,lookinglikeoneastonished,returned, "AmItalkingtoGod,orman?Isitarealman,oranangel?" "Beinnofearaboutthat,sir,"saidI. "IfGodhadsentanangeltorelieveyou,hewouldhavecomebetterclothed,andarmedafteranothermannerthanyouseemein. Praylayasideyourfears; Iamaman,anEnglishman,anddisposedtoassistyou,yousee. Ihaveoneservantonly;wehavearmsandammunition; tellusfreely,canweserveyou? Whatisyourcase?"