The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 407 pages of information about The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801).

The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 407 pages of information about The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801).
countenance change at this, till of a sudden three men were ordered to look after the boat, while the other seven leapt on shore in order to search for their companions; and, indeed, they came to the brow of the hill, near my ancient castle, from whence they could see to a great distance in the woods, and there shooting and hallooing till tired and weary, they at length seated themselves under a spreading tree.  My opinion was, that nothing could be done till night, when I might use some artifice to get them all out of the boat; but of a sudden they started up, and made to the sea-side; hereupon I ordered Friday and the Captain’s mate to go over the creek, and halloo as loud as they could, and so decoying them into the woods, come round to me again.  And this, indeed, had good effect; for they followed the noise, till coming westward to the creek, they called for their boat to carry them over, and taking one of the men out of her, left two to look after her, having fastened her to the stump of a little tree on shore.  Hereupon immediately the Captain and our party passing the creek, out of their sight, we surprised them both, by the Captain’s knocking down one, and ordering the other in surrender upon pain of death, and who being the honestest of them all, sincerely joined with us.  By this time it was pretty late; when the rest returning to there boat, which they found aground in the creek, the tide out, and the men gone, they ran about wringing their hands, crying it was an enchanted island, and that they should be all murdered by spirits or devils.  My men would willingly have fallen upon them, but I would not agree to hazard any of our party.  But to be more certain, Friday & the Captain crawled upon their hands & feet, as near as possible; and when the boatswain approached in sight, so eager was the Captain, that he fired and killed him on the spot; Friday wounded the next man, and a third ran away.  Hereupon I advanced with, my whole army:  and, it being dark, I ordered the man we had surprised in the boat, to call them by their names, and to parley with them.  Accordingly he called out aloud, Tom Smith, Tom Smith! He answered, Who’s that?  Robinson! answered the other. For God’s sake Tom, surrender immediately, or you’re all dead men.  Who must we surrender to? says Smith. To our captain and fifty men here, who have taken me prisoner, wounded Will Frye, and killed the boatswain.  Shall we have quarter then? said he.  Hereupon the Captain calls out, You Smith, you know my voice, surrender immediately, and you shall all have your lives granted, except Will Atkins.  Hereupon Atkins cries out, What have I done Captain, more than the rest, who have been as bad as me? But that was a lie, for he was the person that laid hold of him, and bound him.  However, he was ordered to submit to the governor’s mercy, for such was I called.  And so, laying down their arms, we bound them all, and seized on their boat.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.