?&~£g»oooocoQOooooooooooooc»oaocooOOOCOOOOOOOO.#J.-Jt 54-5S Ig3-t ROBINSON CRUSOE. T was born of a respectable family in the city of York, where ray father, who was a native of Bremen, settled, after having gained a hand- some estate by merchandise. My heart was very early filled with rambling thoughts, and on the 1st of September, 1651, I went on board a ship for Africa, and set sail without letting my father and mother know the route I had taken. But no sooner was the ship out of the Humber, than the wind began to blow and the sea to rise in a most terrible manner. I was extremely sick, and I firmly resolved, if it pleased God to set me on dry land, that I would return to my parents, implore their forgiveness, and bid a final adieu to my wandering inclinations. This was one of the most unhappy voyages evei made; for we were surprised one morning by a rover of Sallee, which gave chase to us. A very ROBINSON CRUSOE. smart engagement ensued, but we were obliged to submit, and were all carried prisoners into Sallee, a port belonging to the Moors. My master having the long-boat of our Eng- lish ship, had a little cabin built in the middle of it like a barge; and as I was dexterous at fishing, he frequently sent me out with a Moor whom he called Muley. One day we sailed out of the port to fish, when, giving the boy the helm, I stepped forward, and stooping behind the Moor, took him by surprise, and tossed him overboard. He rose immediately, and called to me to take him in; but fetching one of the fowling-pieces, I presented it at him, and told him that I would shoot him if he came near, for I was resolved to have my liberty. * So he turned about, and,.* as the sea was calm, he no doubt reached the shore in safety. ROBINSON CRUSOE. I turned to the boy, whom they called Xury, and said to him," Xury, if you will be faithful to me, I will make you a great man; but, if you will not, I must throw you into the sea too." The boy smiled, and spoke so innocently, that I could not mistrust him. It no sooner got dark, than I steered to the south, and made such sail, that by the end of the next day, we got beyond the emperor of Morocco's dominions. The next morning we saw two wild beasts come running with great swiftness from the mountains. The people, who were black and quite naked, were terribly afraid, and fled. The beasts, without attempting to fall upon the negroes, plunged into the se§. One of them came nearer to our boat than we expected. 1 fired and shot him through the head, when he made towards the shore, but. died before he could reach it. It 13 impossible ROBINSON CRUSOE. to describe the astonishment of the negroes at the firing of the gun. But when they saw the ani- mal dead, they dragged it to land, and found that it was a fine leopard, most beautifully spot- ted. We made signs to the negroes for the skin, and allowed them to eat the flesh. About ten days afterwards, we discovered a Portuguese Tessel, and on our coming near I offered all that I possessed to the captain of the ship, but he told me that he would take nothing from me. We had very good weather for twelve days; but after we had crossed the Line, a violent hurricane drove us quite out of our course. In this distress one of our men called out, "Land!" and the ship struck against a sand-bank. We took to the boat, and after we had rowed a league and a half, a wave came rolling a-stern of us, and overset the boat at once, so that oat ROBINSON CRUSOE. of sixteen, none escaped but myself. I got upon my feet, and making towards the shore I clambered up the cliffs, and got to land. Being much fatigued, I climbed up a tree, and slept comfortably till the morning. When I awoke, it was broad day, and the storm had abated. I swimmed to the ship, and to my great joy saw that all the provisions were dry; and being well disposed to eat, I filled my pockets, and ate as I went about other things. I found several spare yards and planks with which I madea raft. I emptied three of the seam ens' chests, and also let down the carpenter's chest, all of which I pla- ced on my raft, and after much labour got it safe- ly landed. I then went in search of a place where to fix my dwelling, and before I set up my tent/ I drew a half circle before a hollow place, which, extended about twenty yards, and drove laxgf ROBINSON CRUSOE. piles into the ground sharpened at the end; and the entrance I made by a short ladder to go over the top, and when I was in I lifted it over after me, so that I was quite secure. — One morning I was exceedingly terrified with the print of a man's naked foot on the sand. I hurried home to my cave, fancying every tree and bush to be a savage; and I had no sleep that night. Soon after this, while I was cutting fire-wood to bate some earthenware pots I had contrived to make, I beheld at the end of a dark cavity behind a think branch of underwood, two rolling shining eyes. The sight struck me with a cold sweat; but trusting in Providence, I proceeded forward with a flaming fire-brand, and perceived it to be a monstrous he-goat dying with old age. Fears of the savages again disturbed my peace, and whilst I was looking out one morning ROBINSON CRUSOE. very early I saw five canoes on shore, and no fewer than thirty savages dancing round a fire. I soon after saw two miserable wretches dragged out of the canoes, one of them was immediately knocked down, but the other starting from them, ran with incredible swiftness along the sands towards me. Of the three that followed but two entered the water, the other returning back. I hastily fetched my guns from the foot of the ladder, and taking a short cut down the hill, I clapped myself in the way between the pursued and the pursuers; then rushing at once on the foremost, knocked him down with the stock of my piece; the other was fitting his bow to shoot me, upon which I shot him dead directly. The poor savage who had fled was so terrified at the noise of my piece, though he saw his enemies fallen, that'he stood stock still, but seemed rather 8 ROBINSON CRUSOE. inclined to fly than come forward. However, when I gave him signs of encouragement, he | %ame near, and I took him away, to my cave at Jrhe farther part of the island. Here I gave him bread, a bunch of raisins to eat, and a draught of jwater, which he wanted much ; and having re* freshed him I began to speak to him, and to teach him to speak to me; and first made him know that his name should be Friday, which was the day whereon I saved his life. I taught him to say Master, and let him know that was to be my name. The next day I gave him clothes, at which he seemed pleased. I was now entered into the 27th year of my captivity, when, one morning, Friday came run- ning, and before I had time to speak, cried, "O Massa! Massa! O sorrow! yonder there be one, two, three canoe!" Having hung my great sword naked by my side, and made Friday assist in loading what fire-arms we had, which consisted of four guns and two pistols, I took my glass, and went up to the side of the hill, when I saw twenty-one sa- vages, three prisoners., and three canoes. I saw a white man bound upon the sand, whom Friday said they intended to murder next. Having thus learnt their force I entered the wood, with Friday beside me, till we came near them. They were about the fire, eating the flesh of one of their prisoners. This filled me with horror; and going behind a tree we both fired, and killed four and wounded three at the first volley, while the Indians were panic-struck at receiving so unexpected a salute. Improving on their fright, ROBINSON CRUSOE. we poured in a second volley with such effect, that we killed two more, and wounded several, while the air re-echoed with the yells of these affrighted savages, who fled in great terror. The white man proved to be a Spaniard, and whilst Friday untied the flags which bound his legs, he thanked me for his deliverance. We pursued them to the beach, and did such execution among them, that out of twenty-one only four escaped; even those I should have de- stroyed, but on jumping into one of their canoes, which I made Friday also do, in order to pursue them, our attention was arrested by discovering a man lying bound in the canoe. He was an Indian, and I ordered Friday to speak to him; but when the poor fellow looked him in the face, and heard him speak, he uttered a wild and dis- cordant scream; he embraced him, then cried, and put his head into his bosom, then danced, sung, and cried again. It was some time before I could learn the cause of his emotion; but at length becoming more calm, he informed m# that it was his own dear father! Some days ai- ter Friday came running into the hut, almost 10 ROBINSON CRUSOE. Jm § ^=1 f 4/ p^^j 1 ^F fcRfrS^ Jrll fc^==l QT^p "=^ W ^■P $pf^l ^TTTr^s^gF 1 Sill Sjsf^ 3*kJ breathless, exclaiming, " O Massa! Massa ! a ship! a ship!" Overjoyed at this news, I took up my glass, and ascended the hill, when to my no small surprise, I beheld an English ship lying at anchor some distance from the shore. The joy that I felt on this occasion can be more easiiy felt than described. Soon after, they sent one of their boats on shore, and eleven men landed, three of whom seemed to be prisoners. Resolving to preserve the ill-fated captives, I and my man concealed ourselves among some bushes, so that we could secretly observe all that passed. At length the sailors left their captives, and strolled into an adjacent wood. Embold- ened by their absence, I ventured to the cap- tives, and asked who they were. One of them informed me that he was captain of the ship we saw lying at anchor; that his men b&d mutined, ROBINSON CRUSOE, 11 and condemned him and his two companions to death, or if their lives were spared, they were to be left on this desolate island. I told them not to fear, and I would undertake their deliver- ance. We followed the mutineers into the wood, and forced them to surrender. At mid night we towed to the ship, and, having got quietly on board, we killed the rebel captain and the mate, and the rest surrendered. Next day I went on board, taking with me my man Friday, my dog, and my parrot. Thus I left this solitary island, after living upon it for twenty-eight years. We had not left the island three days, when we saw a great number of canoes filled with negroes, who came very near us, on which we made signs for them to put back, which they did. I ordered Friday to speak to them, when instantly they discharged jg ROBINSON CRUSOE. a great flight of airows, and killed poor Friday, no other man being in their sight. I gave them a broadside, which overset many of their canoes, and the rest fled quickly out of sight. After a prosperous voyage, we landed in Old England, after I had been absent from my native country thirty-seven years. On my arri- val at York, I was very much grieved to hear that both my parents were dead; but I was somewhat consoled when I fouud that they had forgiven me, and left me all their property, if ever I should return to enjoy it. Having for so many years had a life of hardship and misfor- tune, I learnt to know the blessing of ending my days in peace, and the necessity of being prepared to depart from this to another and a better world. Printed by Thomas Richardson. T »**t. ,¥000000000000000 0000000000 00000000000000 00$ RICHARDSON'S ooaratfasr ®& &j8wm0000^^