--2DownthecoastofAfricaFortwolongyearsIlivedthelifeofaslave.Iworkedinescape,butitwasneverpossible.Ithoughtaboutitdayandnight.Mymasterlikedtogofishinginalittleboat,andhealwaystookmewithhim.AmancalledMoely,andayoungboyalsowentwithus.Onedaymymastersaidtous,'Someofmyfriendswanttogofishingtomorrow.Gettheboatready.'Soweputalotoffoodanddrinkontheboat,andthenextmorning,wewaitedformymasterandhisfriends.Butwhenmymasterarrived,hewasalone.'Myfriendsdon'twanttogofishingtoday,'hesaidtome.'ButyougowithMoelyandtheboy,andcatchsomefishforoursuppertonight.''Yes,master,'Iansweredquietly,butinsideIwasexcited.'PerhapsnowIcanescape,'Isaidtomyself.Mymasterwentbacktohisfriendsandwetooktheboatouttosea.Foratimewefishedquietly,andthenImovedcarefullybehindMoelyandknockedhimintothewater.'Swim!'Icried.'Swimtotheshore!'-.word.zl-
--Mymasterlikedtoshootseabirdsandsothereweregunsontheboat.Quickly,Itookoneoftheseguns.MoelywasswimmingaftertheboatandIshoutedtohim:Gobacktotheshore!Youcanswimthere—it'snottoofar.Iwon'thurtyou,butifyoueneartheboat,I'llshootyouthroughthehead!'SoMoelyturned,andswambacktotheshoreasquicklyashecould.ThenIsaidtotheboy,'Xury,ifyouhelpme,I'llbeagoodfriendtoyou.Ifyoudon'thelpme,I'llpushyouintotheseatoo.'ButXurywashappytohelpme.'I'llgoallovertheworldwithyou,'hecried.IwantedtosailtotheCanaryIslands,butIwasafraidtogotoofarfromtheshore.Itwasonlyasmallboat.Andsowesailedonsouthforsomedays.Wehadverylittlewater,anditwasdangerouscountryhere,withmanywildanimals.Wewereafraid,butweoftenhadtogoonshoretogetmorewater.OnceIusedaguntoshootawildanimal.Idon'tknowwhatanimalitwas,butitmadeagoodmeal.Forabouttenortwelvedayswesailedonsouth,downthecoastofAfrica.Thenonedaywesawsomepeopleontheshore—strange,wildpeople,whodidnotlookfriendly.Bynowwehadverylittlefood,andWereallyneededhelp.wewere-.word.zl-
--afraid,butwehadtogoonshore.Atfirst,theywereafraidofus,too.Perhapswhitepeoplenevervisitedthiscoast.Wedidnotspeaktheirlanguage,ofcourse,soweusedourhandsandfacestoshowthatwewerehungry.Theycamewithfoodforus,butthentheymovedawayquickly.Wecarriedthefoodtoourboat,andtheywatchedus.Itriedtothankthem,butIhadnothingtogivethem.Justthentwobigwildcatscamedowntotheshorefromthemountains.Ithinktheywereleopards.Thepeoplewereafraidofthesewildcats,andthewomencriedout.Quickly,Itookagun,andshotoneoftheanimals.Thesecondwildcatranbackupintothemountains.GunswerenewtotheseAfricanpeople,andtheywereafraidoftheloudnoiseandthesmoke.Buttheywerehappyaboutthedeadwildcat.Igavethemthemeatofthedeadanimal,andtheygaveusmorefoodandwater.Wenowhadalotoffoodandwater,andwesailedon.ElevendayslaterwecameneartheCapeVerdeIslands.Wecouldseethem,butwecouldn'tgetnearbecausetherewasnowind.Wewaited.SuddenlyXurycalledtome,'Look,aship!'-.word.zl-
--Hewasright!Wecalledandshoutedandsailedourlittleboatasfastaswecould.Buttheshipdidnotseeus.ThenIrememberedthegunswhichmadealotofsmoke.Afewminuteslatertheshipsawusandturned.Whenwewereontheship,thePortuguesecaptainlistenedtomystory.HewasgoingtoBrazilandagreedtohelpme,buthewantednothingforhishelp.'No,'hesaid,whenItriedtopayhim.'Perhaps,oneday,someonewillhelpmewhenIneedit.'Buthegavememoneyformyboat,andforXury,too.Atfirst,IdidnotwanttosellXuryasaslave,afterallourdangerousadventurestogether.ButXurywashappytogotothecaptain,andthecaptainwasagoodman.'Intenyears'time,'hesaid,'Xurycangofree.'WhenwearrivedinBrazilthreeweekslater,IsaidgoodbyetothecaptainandXury,lefttheship,andwenttobeginanewlife.3ThestormandtheshipwreckIstayedinBrazilandworkedhardforsomeyears.BythenIwasrich…butalso-.word.zl-
--bored.Onedaysomefriendscametomeandsaid,'We'regoingtoAfricatodobusiness.Whydon'tyouewithus?We'llallberichafterthisjourney!'HowstupidIwas!Ihadaneasy,fortablelifeinBrazil,but,ofcourse,Iagreed.Andso,in1659,Iwenttoseaagain.Atfirst,allwentwell,butthentherewasaterriblestorm.Fortwelvedaysthewindandtheraindidn'tstop.Welostthreemeninthesea,andsoontheshiphadholesinitssides.'We'reallgoingtodiethistime,'Isaidtomyself.Thenonemorningoneofthesailorssawland,butthenextminuteourshiphitsomesandjustunderthesea.Theshipcouldnotmoveandwewerereallyindangernow.Theseawastryingtobreaktheshipintopieces,andwehadverylittletime.Quickly,weputaboatintotheseaandgotofftheship.Buttheseawasveryroughandourlittleboatcouldnotliveforlonginthatwildwater.Halfanhourlatertheangryseaturnedourboatoverandwewereallinthewater.Ilookedroundformyfriends,butIcouldseenobody.Iwasalone.ThatdayIwaslucky,andtheseacarriedmetotheshore.Icouldnotseetheland,onlymountainsofwaterallaroundme.Then,suddenly,Ifeltthegroundundermyfeet.Anothermountainofwatercame,pushedmeupthebeach,andIfellonthewetsand.-.word.zl-
--AtfirstIwasverythankfultobealive.Slowly,Igottomyfeetandwenthigheruptheshore.Fromthere,Ilookedouttosea.Icouldseeourship,butitwaswreckedandtherewasno-bodynearit.Therewasnobodyinthewater.Allmyfriendsweredead.Iwasalive,butinastrangewildcountry,withnofood,nowater,andnogun.ItwasdarknowandIwastired.Iwasafraidtosleepontheshore.Perhapstherewerewildanimalsthere.SoIwentupintoatreeandIstayedthereallnight.4AnewlifeonanislandWhendaycame,theseawasquietagain.Ilookedforourshipand,tomysurprise,itwasstillthereandstillinonepiece.'IthinkIcanswimtoit,'Isaidtomyself.SoIwalkeddowntotheseaandbeforelong,Iwasattheshipandwasswimmingroundit.ButhowcouldIgetontoit?Intheend,Igotinthroughaholeintheside,butitwasn'teasy.Therewasalotofwaterintheship,butthesandundertheseawasstillholdingtheshipinoneplace.Thebackoftheshipwashighoutofthewater,andIwasverytnankfulforthisbe-causealltheship'sfoodwasthere.IwasveryhungrysoIbe-gantoeatsomethingatonce.ThenIdecidedtotakesomeofitbacktothe-.word.zl-
--shorewithme.ButhowcouldIgetitthere?Ilookedaroundtheship,andafterafewminutes,Ifoundsomelongpiecesofwood.Itiedthemtogetherwithrope.ThenIgotthethingsthatIwantedfromtheship.Therewasabigboxoffood—rice,andsaltedmeat,andhardship'sbread.Ial-sotookmanystrongknivesandothertools,theship'ssailsandropes,paper,pens,books,andsevenguns.NowIneededalittlesailfromtheship,andthenIwasready.Slowlyandcarefully,Iwentbacktotheshore.Itwasdifficulttostopmythingsfromfallingintothesea,butintheendIgoteverythingontotheshore.NowIneededsomewheretokeepmythings.Thereweresomehillsaroundme,soIdecidedtobuildmy-selfalittlehouseononeofthem.Iwalkedtothetopofthehighesthillandlookeddown,Iwasveryunhappy,becauseIsawthenthatIwasonanisland.Thereweretwosmalleris-landsafewmilesaway,andafterthat,onlythesea.Justthesea,formileaftermileaftermile.Afteratime,Ifoundalittlecaveinthesideofahill.Infrontofit,therewasagoodplacetomakeahome.So,Iusedtheship'ssails,rope,andpiecesofwood,andafteralotofhardworkIhadaveryfinetent.Thecaveatthebackofmytentwasagoodplacetokeepmyfood,andsoIcalleditmy'kitchen'.Thatnight,Iwentto-.word.zl-
--sleepinmynewhome.ThenextdayIthoughtaboutthepossibledangersontheis-land.Weretherewildanimals,andperhapswildpeopletoo,onmyisland?Ididn'tknow,butIwasveryafraid.SoIdecidedtobuildaverystrongfence.Icutdownyoungtreesandputthemintheground,inahalfcirclearoundthefrontofmytent.Iusedmanyoftheship'sropestoo,andintheendmyfencewasasstrongasastonewall.Nobodycouldgetoverit,throughit,orroundit.Makingtentsandbuildingfencesishardwork.Ineededmanytoolstohelpme.SoIdecidedtogobacktotheshipagain,andgetsomemorethings.Iwentbacktwelvetimes,butsoonaftermytwelfthvisittherewasanotherterriblestorm.Thenextmorning,whenIlookedouttosea,therewasnoship.WhenIsawthat,Iwasveryunhappy.'WhyamIalive,andwhyareallmyfriendsdead?'Iaskedmyself.'Whatwillhap-pentomenow,aloneonthisislandwithoutfriends?HowcanIeverescapefromit?'ThenItoldmyselfthatIwaslucky—luckytobealive,luckytohavefoodandtools,luckytobeyoungandstrong.ButIknewthatmyislandwassomewhereoffthecoastofSouthAmerica.Shipsdidnotoftenedownthiscoast,andIsaidto-.word.zl-
--myself,'I'mgoingtobeonthisislandforalongtime.'So,onalongpieceofwood,Icutthesewords:ICAMEHEREON30THSEPTEMBER1659Afterthat,Idecidedtomakeacutforeachday.5LearningtolivealoneIstillneededalotofthings.'Well,'Isaid,'I'mgoingtohavetomakethem.'So,everyday,Iworked.Firstofall,Iwantedtomakemycavebigger.Icarriedoutstonefromthecave,andaftermanydays'hardworkIhadalargecaveinthesideofthehill.ThenIneededatableandachair,andthatwasmynextjob.Ihadtoworkonthemforalongtime.Ialsowantedtomakeplacestoputallmyfood,andallmytoolsandguns.ButeverytimeIwantedapieceofwood,Ihadtocutdownatree.Itwaslong,slow,difficultwork,andduringthenextmonthsIlearnttobeverycleverwithmytools.Therewasnohurry.Ihadallthetimeintheworld.Ialsowentouteveryday,andIalwayshadmygunwithme.SometimesIkilledawildanimal,andthenIhadmeattoeat.-.word.zl-
--Butwhenitgotdark,IhadtogotobedbecauseIhadnolight.Icouldn'treadorwritebecauseIcouldn'tsee.Foralongtime,Ididn'tknowwhattodo.Butintheend,Ilearnthowtousethefatofdeadanimalstomakealight.Theweatheronmyislandwasusuallyveryhot,andtherewereoftenstormsandheavyrain.ThenextJune,itrainedallthetime,andIcouldn'tgooutveryoften.Iwasalsoillforsomeweeks,butslowly,Igotbetter.WhenIwasstronger,Ibegantogooutagain.ThefirsttimeIkilledawildanimal,andthesecondtimeIcaughtabigturtle.IwasontheislandfortenmonthsbeforeIvisitedotherpartsofit.DuringthosemonthsIworkedhardonmycaveandmyhouseandmyfence.NowIwasreadytofindoutmoreabouttherestoftheisland.First,Iwalkedalongthesideofalittleriver.There,Ifoundopengroundwithouttrees.Later,Icametomoretreeswithmanydifferentfruits.Idecidedtotakealotofthefruit,andtoputittodryinthesunforatime.ThenIcouldkeepitformanymonths.ThatnightIwenttosleepinatreeforthesecondtime,andthenextdayIwentonwithmyjourney.SoonIcametoanopeninginthehills.Infrontofme,everything-.word.zl-
--wasgreen,andtherewereflowerseverywhere.Therewerealsoalotofdiffer-entbirdsandanimals.Isawthatmyhousewasontheworstsideoftheisland.ButIdidn'twanttomovefromthere.Itwasmyhomenow.Istayedawayforthreedays,andthenIcamehome.ButIoftenwentbacktotheother,greenersideoftheisland.Andsomylifewenton.EverymonthIlearnttodoortomakesomethingnew.ButIhadtroublesandaccidentstoo.Oncetherewasaterriblestormwithveryheavyrain.Theroofofmycavefellin,andnearlykilledme!Ihadtobuilditupagainwithmanypiecesofwood.Ihadalotoffoodnow.Icookeditoverafireordrieditinthesun.SoIalwayshadmeatduringtherainymonthswhenIcouldnotgooutwithagun.Ilearnttomakepotstokeepmyfoodin.ButIwantedverymuchtomakeaharder,strongerpot—apotthatwouldnotbreakinafire.Itriedmanytimes,butIcouldnotdoit.ThenonedayIwaslucky.Imadesomenewpotsandputtheminaveryhotfire.Theychangedcolour,butdidnotbreak.Ileftthemthereformanyhours,andwhentheywerecoldagain,Ifoundthattheywerehardandstrong.ThatnightIwasveryhappy.Ihadhotwaterforthefirsttimeontheisland.Bythen,Ialsohadmyownbread.Thatwasluck,too.OnedayIfoundalittlebag.Weuseditontheship,tokeepthechickens'foodin.Therewasstillsomeofthefoodinthebag,andIdroppedsomeofitontotheground.AmonthlaterIsaw-.word.zl-
--somethingbrightgreenthere,andaftersixmonthsIhadaverysmallfieldofcorn.Iwasveryexcited.PerhapsnowIcouldmakemyownbread!Itwaseasytosay,butnotsoeasytodo.Itisalotofworktomakebreadfromcorn.Manypeopleeatbread,buthowmanypeoplecantakecornfromafieldandmakebreadoutofitwithouthelp?Ihadtolearnandtomakemanynewthings,anditwasayearbeforeIcookedandatemyfirstbread.DuringallthistimeIneverstoppedthinkingaboutescape.WhenItravelledacrosstotheothersideoftheisland,Icouldseetheotherislands,andIsaidtomyself,'PerhapsIcangettherewithaboat.PerhapsIcangetbacktoEnglandoneday.'SoIdecidedtomakemyselfaboat.Icutdownabigtree,andthenbegantomakealongholeinit.Itwashardwork,butaboutsixmonthslater,Ihadaveryfinecanoe.Next,Ihadtogetitdowntothesea.HowstupidIwas!Whydidn'tIthinkbeforeIbeganwork?Ofcourse,thecanoewastooheavy.Icouldn'tmoveit!Ipulledandpushedandtriedeverything,butitdidn'tmove.Iwasveryunhappyforalongtimeafterthat.Thathappenedinmyfourthyearontheisland.InmysixthyearIdidmakemyselfasmallercanoe,butIdidnottrytoes-capeinit.Theboatwastoosmallforalongjourney,andIdidnotwanttodieatsea.Theislandwasmyhomenow,notmy-.word.zl-
--prison,andIwasjusthappytobealive.Ayearortwolater,Imademyselfasecondcanoeontheothersideoftheisland.Ialsobuiltmyselfasecondhousethere,andsoIhadtwohomes.Mylifewasstillbusyfrommorningtonight.Therewereal-waysthingstodoortomake.Ilearnttomakenewclothesformyselffromtheskinsofdeadanimals.Theylookedverystrange,itistrue,buttheykeptmedryintherain.Ikeptfoodandtoolsatbothmyhouses,andalsowildgoats.Thereweremanygoatsontheisland,andImadefieldswithhighfencestokeepthemin.Theylearnttotakefoodfromme,andsoonIhadgoat'smilktodrinkeveryday.Ialsoworkedhardinmycornfields.Andsomanyyearswentby.6AfootprintThen,oneyear,somethingstrangeandterriblehappened.Ioftenwalkedalongtheshore,andonedayIsawsomethinginthesand.Iwentovertolookatitmorecare-fully,andstoppedinsuddensurprise.Itwasafootprint—thefootprintofaman!Whocouldthisbe?Afraid,Ilookedaroundme.Ilistened.Iwaited.Nothing.Iwas-.word.zl-
--moreandmoreafraid.Perhapsthismanwasoneofthosewildpeoplewhokilledandateothermen!Ilookedeverywhere,buttherewasnobody,andnootherfoot-print.Iturnedandhurriedhome.'There'ssomeoneonmyis-land,'Isaidtomyself.'Perhapsheknowsaboutme…Per-hapshe'swatchingmenowfrombehindatree…Perhapshewantstokillme.'ThatnightIcouldn'tsleep.ThenextdayIgotallmygunsreadyandIputmorewoodandyoungtreesaroundmyhouse.Nobodycouldseemenow.But,afterfifteenyearsaloneontheisland,Iwasafraid,andIdidnotleavemycaveforthreedays.Intheend,Ihadtogoouttomilkmygoats.ButfortwoyearsIwasafraid.IstayednearmyhomeandIneverusedmygunsbecauseIdidn'twanttomakeanoise.Icouldnotforgetthefootprint,butIsawandheardnothingmore,andslowlyIbegantofeelhappier.Oneday,ayearlater,Iwasoveronthewestsideoftheis-land.FromthereIcouldseetheotherislands,andIcouldalsoseeaboat,farouttosea.'Ifyouhaveaboat,'Ithought,'it'seasytosailacrosstothisisland.Perhapsthatexplainsthefoot-print—itwasavisitorfromoneoftheotherislands.'Ibegantomovemorefreelyaroundtheislandagain,andbuiltmyselfathirdhouse.-.word.zl-
--Itwasaverysecretplaceinacave.'Nowildmanwilleverfindthat,'Isaidtomyself.ThenoneyearsomethinghappenedwhichIcanneverforget.Iwasagainonthewestsideoftheislandandwaswalk-ingalongtheshore.Suddenly,Isawsomethingwhichmademefeelill.Therewereheads,arms,feet,andotherpiecesofmen'sbodieseverywhere.Foraminute,Icouldn'tthink,andthenIunderstood.Sometimestherewerefightsbetweenthewildmenontheotherislands.Thentheycameheretomyislandwiththeirprisoners,tokillthem,cookthem,andeatthem.Slowly,Iwenthome,butIwasveryangry.Howcouldmendothis?FormanymonthsIwatchedcarefullyforthesmokefromfires,butIdidn'tseeanything.Somehowthewildmencameandwent,andIneversawthem.Iwasangryandafraid.Iwantedtoshootthemall,butthereweremanyofthemandon-lyoneofme.'PerhapsIcanshoottwoorthree,'Isaidtomy-self,'butthentheywillkillandeatme.'Then,onemorninginmytwenty-thirdyearontheisland,IwasoutinmyfieldsandIsawthesmokefromafire.Quickly,Iwentupthehilltowatch.Therewereninemenaroundthefire,andtheywerecookingtheirterriblefood.Thenthesewildmendancedroundthefire,singingandshouting.Thiswentonfor-.word.zl-
--abouttwohours,andthentheygotintotheirboatsandsailedaway.Iwentdowntotheshoreandsawthebloodofthedeadmenonthesand.'Thenexttimetheye,I'mgoingtokillthem,'Isaidangrily.7FridayFortwoyearsIneverwentanywherewithoutmygun.Ifeltlonelyandafraid,andhadmanysleeplessnights.Onenighttherewasaverybadstorm,andIthoughtIheardthesoundofgunsoutatsea.ThenextmorningIlookedout,andsawaship.Itwaslyingonitssidenotfarfromtheshore.Quickly,Iputmylittleboatinthewaterandsailedouttoit.Thereweretwodeadmenontheship,butnoonealive.Thebodiesoftheothersailorswerelostinthesea.Itooksomeclothesandtools,andalsoaboxofSpanishgoldandsilvermoney.Iwasarichmannow,butwhatusewasmoneytome?Icouldnotbuyanythingwithit.Iwantedpeople,afriend,somebodytotalkto…somebodywhocouldhelpmeescapefrommyisland.OnemorningIwokeupandmadeaplan.'I'lltrytocatchoneoftheprisonersofthewildmen,'Isaidtomyself.'He'llbehappytobealiveandperhapshe'llhelpmetoescape.'Iwatcheddayandnight,butforayearanda-.word.zl-
--halftherewerenoboats.Thenonedayfiveboatscame.Therewereaboutthirtymenandtheyhadtwoprisoners.Theymadetheirfireonthesandanddancedroundit.Thentheykilledoneoftheprisonersandbegantocooktheirterriblemeal.Thesecondprisonerwaitedunderthetrees,withtwomentowatchhim.Suddenly,theprisonerturnedandran.Thetwomenranafterhim,buttheotherwildmenwerebusyroundthefireanddidnotseewhatwashappening.Theprisonerranlikeawildgoat,andsoonIsawthathewasingnearthebottomofmyhill.AsfastasIcould,Irandownthehillandjumpedoutofthetreesbetweentheprisonerandthetwowildmen.Ihitthefirstmanwiththewoodenendofmygunandhefelldown,butIhadtoshootthesecondman.Thepoorprisonerdidnotmove.Hewasafraidofthenoiseofmygun.IcalledtohimandtriedtoshowhimthatIwasfriendly.Slowly,hemovednearertome,butjustthenthefirstwildmanbegantogetupfromtheground.ThentheprisonerspokeandIunderstoodthathewantedmysword.HowhappyIwastohearwordsagain!Igavehimmysword,andatoncehecutofftheheadofhisenemy.Hurriedly,wehidthedeadbodiesundersomeleaves,andthenleftquickly.Itook-.word.zl-
--myprisonertomysecretcaveontheothersideoftheislandandgavehimfoodanddrink.Afterthat,hewenttosleep.Hewasafineyoungman,abouttwenty-fiveyearsold,tallandwell-built,withakindfaceandanicesmile.Hehadabrownskin,blackhair,brighteyesandstrongwhiteteeth.Idecidedtogivehimthenameof'ManFriday',becauseIfirstsawhimonaFriday.Whenhewokeupinthemorning,heranouttome.Iwasmilkingmygoatsinthefield,andhegotdownonthegroundandputhisheadnearmyfoot.Iunderstoodthathewasthank-ingme,andItriedtoshowhimthatIwashisfriend.IbegantoteachhimtospeakEnglish,andsoonhecouldsayhisname,'Master',and'Yes'and'No'.Howgooditwastohearaman'svoiceagain!Laterthatdaywewentbacktomyfirsthouse.Wewentcarefullyalongthebeach,buttherewerenoboatsandnowildmen.Justbloodandbonesalloverthesand.Ifeltill,butFri-daywantedtoeatthepiecesofmen'sbodieswhichwerestillontheground.Ishowedhimthatthiswasterribleforme,andheunderstood.Whenwegottomyhouse,IgaveManFridaysometrousers,andImadehimacoatandahat.Helikedhisnewclothesverymuch.ThenImadehimalittletentto-.word.zl-
--sleepin,butforafewweeksIalwaystookmyguntobedwithme.Per-hapsFridaywasstillawildmanandwouldtrytokillmeinthenight.Atfirst,Fridaywasveryafraidofmygun.Some-timeshetalkedtoit,andaskeditnottokillhim.FridaywasaquicklearnerandhisEnglishgotbetterdaybyday.Hehelpedmewiththegoatsandwiththeworkinthecornfields,andsoonweweregoodfriends.Ienjoyedteachinghimand,mostofall,havingafriendtotalkto.Thiswasthehappiestofallmyyearsontheisland.FridayandIlivedtogetherhappilyforthreeyears.ItoldhimthestoryofmyadventuresandaboutlifeinEngland,andhetoldmeabouthiscountryandhispeople.Onedaywewereatthetopofthehighesthillontheisland,andwewerelookingouttosea.Itwasaverycleardayandwecouldseealongway.Suddenly,Fridaybegantojumpupanddown,veryexcited.'What'sthematter?'Isaid.'Look,Master,look!'Fridaycried.'Icanseemycountry.Lookoverthere!'Ilooked,andtheretothenorth-west,betweentheseaandthesky,wasalongthinpieceofland.IlearntlaterthatitwastheislandofTrinidad,andthatmyislandwasinthemouthoftheRiverOrinocoonthenorthcoastofSouthAmerica.-.word.zl-
--Ibegantothinkagainaboutescape.PerhapsFridaywantedtogohometoo.Perhapstogetherwecouldgettohiscountry.Butwhatthen?WouldFridaystillbemyfriend,orwouldhispeoplekillmeandeatme?ItookFridaytotheothersideoftheislandandshowedhimmybigcanoe.Itstilllayunderthetrees.Itwasveryoldnow,andtherewereholesinthewood.'Couldaboatlikethissailtoyourcountry,Friday?'Iaskedhim.'Ohyes,'heanswered.'Aboatlikethiscancarryalotoffoodanddrink.''Thenwe'llmakeanothercanoelikeit,andyoucangohomeinit,'Isaid.ButFridaylookedveryunhappy.'Whyareyouangrywithme?'heasked.'WhathaveIdone?Whydoyouwanttosendmehome?''ButIthoughtyouwantedtogohome,'Isaid.'Yes.Butyoumustewithme.Killmeifyouwant,butdon'tsendmeawayfromyou!'-.word.zl-
--ThenIsawthatFridaywasatruefriend,andsoIagreedtogowithhim.Webeganworkonthecanoeatonce.Fridaychosethetreehimself—heunderstoodwoodbetterthanIdid—andwecutitdown.Weworkedhardandinamonththeboatwasfinished.Twoweekslateritwasinthesea,andwebegantogetreadyforourlongjourney.8EscapefromtheislandIwasnowinmytwenty—seventhyearontheisland,andIdidnotwanttobethereforanotheryear.Weworkedhardtogetthecornin,andtomakealotofbread.Wehaddriedfruitandsaltedmeat,andbigpotstokeepwaterin.OneeveningFridaywentouttolookforaturtleformeatandeggs.Butinlessthananhourhewasback,andhelookedveryafraid.'Master!Master!'hecried.'There'sagreatshipneartheisland,andmenareingtotheshoreinaboat!'Ijumpedupandranwithhimdowntotheshore.Tomygreatsurprise,IsawthatitwasanEnglishship!Butwhywasithere?Englishshipsnevercamethisway.Perhapstheywerepirates!'Don'tletthemseeyou,Friday!'Icalled.'We'llhideinthetreesandwatch.'-.word.zl-
--Therewereelevenmenintheboat,butthreeofthemwereprisoners.Theirarmsweretiedwithrope,buttheirlegswerefreeandtheycouldwalk.Theothersailorspushedthethreeprisonersupthebeach,laughingandshoutingandhittingthem.Thensomeofthemsatdownonthesandandbegantodrink.Otherswalkedawaytolookattheisland,andtwomenstayedtowatchtheboat.Thethreeprisonerswalkedslowlya-longthebeachandsatdownunderatree,notfarfromus.Theylookedveryunhappy.Veryquietly,Icameupbehindthemthroughthetrees,andcalledouttotheminEnglish.'Don'tbeafraid,'Isaid.'I'manEnglishman.PerhapsIcanhelpyou.'Thethreementurnedandlookedatme.Theydidnotansweratonce;theyweretoosurprised.PerhapstheythoughtIwasawildmanmyself,inmystrangehome—madeclothesofanimals'skins,andwithmylonghairandbeard.Thentheold-eastmanspoke.'Iamthecaptainofthatship,'hesaid,'andthesetwomenaremyfirstandsecondofficers.Lastnighttherewasamutiny,andtheseamentooktheshipfromme.Nowthey'regoingtoleavethethreeofushere,todieonthisisland.'-.word.zl-
--'Dethesemutineershaveguns?''Onlytwo,'heanswered,'andthey'veleftthoseontheboat.''Allrigh,'Isaid.'We'llfightthem,butifwegetyourshipbackforyou,youmusttakemebacktoEngland.'Thecaptainagreedimmediatelyandthankedmeverywarm-lyformyhelp.Fridayranbacktomyhousetogetalltheguns,andthecaptainandImadeaplan.Thefirstpartwaseasybecausetheseamenwerenotreadyforafight.Weshotthetwomenattheboat,andthecaptainshotanotherman.Thisman,TomSmith,wastheworstofthemallandhebeganthemutinyontheship.Thenthecap-taintalkedtotheotherfivemen,andtheyagreedtohelphim.Theydidnotreallywanttobemutineers,buttheywereafraidofTomSmith.'Now,'Isaidtothecaptain,'wemustgetbackyourship.Howmanymenareonit?''Twenty-six,'thecaptainreplied,'andtheywillfighthardbecausetheywon'twanttogohome.Itisdeathforallmuti-neersinEngland.Butnotallthemenarebad.-.word.zl-
--I'msurethatsomeofthemwillhelpme.'Justthenwesawanotherboat,whichwasingfromtheshiptotheshore.Thereweretenmeninit,andtheyallhadguns.Weranintothetreesandwaited.Itwasalonghardfight,butbynowitwasdarkandthishelpedusverymuch.Weranhereandthereinthetrees,call-ingandshouting.Theseamencouldnotseeusanddidnotknowhowmanymentheywerefighting.Intheendthefirstofficershoutedtothem:'Putdownyourgunsandstopfightng!Thecaptainhasfiftyislandpeopletohelphim.Wecankillyouall!'Sotheseamenstoppedfightingandwetooktheirguns.Threeofthemenagreedtoebacktothecaptain,andweputtheothersinmycave.FridayandIstayedtowatchtheprisoners,whilethecaptainandhismenwentbacktofightfortheship.Allnightwelistenedtothesoundofgunsandshouting,butinthemorning,whenthesuncameup,thecaptainwasmasterofhisshipagain.Iwentdowntotheshoretomeethim.'Mydearfriend,'hecried,'There'syourship!I'lltakeyoutotheendsoftheworld-.word.zl-
--init!'Iputmyarmsroundhim,andwelaughedandcriedtogether.HowhappyIwastoleavetheialand!MygoodfriendFridaycamewithme,ofcourse,butweleftthemutineersontheisland.Wedecidednottokillthem;theycouldbeginanewlifeontheisland.Ishowedthemmythreehouses,mycornfieldsandmygoats,andallmytools.Theirlifewouldheeasybecauseofallmyhardworkforsomanyyears.Andso,onthenineteenthofDecember1689-aftertwen-ty-sevenyears,twomonthsandnineteendays-Isaidgood-byetomyislandandsailedhometoEngland.9HomeinEnglandWhenIcamebacktoEngland,Ifeltlikeastrangerinthecountry.Manythingsweredifferent,andnotmanypeoplerememberedme.IwenthometoYork,butmyfa-therandmotherweredead,andalsomytwobrothers.Ididfindthetwosonsofoneofmybrothers.TheywerehappytolearnthatIwasalive,andIwaspleasedtofindsomefamily.-.word.zl-
--AftersomemonthsIdecidedtogodowntoLisboninPortu-gal.IhadfriendstherewhocouldhelpmetosellmylandinBrazil,andIneededthemoney.Fridaycamewithme.Hewasalwaysagoodandtruefriendtome.InLisbonIfoundthePortuguesecaptain,whotookmeinhisshiptoBrazil,allthoseyearsago.Itwasgoodtoseehimagain,andhehelpedmewithmybusiness.SoonIwasreadytogohomeagain—byland.Nomoreadventuresanddangersbyseaforme!Itwasalong,hardjourney.WehadtocrossthemountainsbetweenSpainandFranceinwinter,andthesnowwasdeep.PoorFridaywasveryafraidofthesnow.Inhiscountryitwasalwayshot,andhedidnotlikecoldweather.BackinEnglandIfoundahouseandbegantoliveaquietlife.Mytwonephewscametolivewithme.Theyoungeronewantedtobeasailor,andsoIfoundhimaplaceonaship.Af-terawhileImarried,andhadthreechildren,twosonsandadaughter.Thenmywifedied,andmynephew,whowasnowthecaptainofaship,camehometoseeme.HeknewthatIdidnotreallylikeaquietlife.'Ihaveafineship,uncle,'hesaid.'I'mgoingouttotheEastIndies-India,Malaya,thePhilippines…Whydon'tyouewithme?'Andso,in1694,Iwenttoseaagain,andhadmanymoread-ventures.Perhapsone-.word.zl-
--dayI'llwriteanotherbookaboutthem.Theseawasroughanddangerous.illThewinddropped.ThecaptainofashipPiratePrisoners-.word.zl-