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！'Mymasterlikedtoshootseabirdsandsothereweregunsontheboat.Quickly，Itookoneoftheseguns.MoelywasswimmingaftertheboatandIshoutedtohim：Gobacktotheshore！Youcanswimthere—it'snottoofar.Iwon'thurtyou，butifyoucomeneartheboat，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.wewereafraid，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！'Hewasright！Wecalledandshoutedandsailedourlittleboatasfastaswecould.Buttheshipdidnotseeus.ThenIrememberedthegunswhichmadealotofsmoke.Afewminuteslaterthe
shipsawusandturned.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…butalsobored.Onedaysomefriendscametomeandsaid，'We'regoingtoAfricatodobusiness.Whydon'tyoucomewithus？We'llallberichafterthisjourney！'HowstupidIwas！Ihadaneasy，comfortablelifeinBrazil，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.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.ThenIdecidedtotakesomeofitbacktotheshorewithme.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，Iwenttosleepinmynewhome.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.Shipsdidnotoftencomedownthiscoast，andIsaidtomyself，'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.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，everythingwasgreen，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.AmonthlaterIsawsomethingbrightgreenthere，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，notmyprison，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.Iwasmoreandmoreafraid.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.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.Thiswentonforabouttwohours，andthen
theygotintotheirboatsandsailedaway.Iwentdowntotheshoreandsawthebloodofthedeadmenonthesand.'Thenexttimetheycome，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，butforayearandahalftherewerenoboats.Thenonedayfiveboatscame.Therewereaboutthirtymenandtheyhadtwoprisoners.Theymadetheirfireonthesandanddancedroundit.Thentheykilledoneoftheprisonersandbegantocooktheirterriblemeal.Thesecondprisonerwaitedunderthetrees，withtwomentowatchhim.Suddenly，theprisonerturnedandran.Thetwomenranafterhim，buttheotherwildmenwerebusyroundthefireanddidnotseewhatwashappening.Theprisonerranlikeawildgoat，andsoonIsawthathewascomingnearthebottomofmyhill.AsfastasIcould，Irandownthehillandjumpedoutofthetreesbetweentheprisonerandthetwowildmen.Ihitthefirstmanwiththewoodenendofmygunandhefelldown，butIhadtoshootthesecondman.Thepoorprisonerdidnotmove.Hewasafraidofthenoiseofmygun.IcalledtohimandtriedtoshowhimthatIwasfriendly.Slowly，hemovednearertome，butjustthenthefirstwildmanbegantogetupfromtheground.ThentheprisonerspokeandIunderstoodthathewantedmysword.HowhappyIwastohearwordsagain！Igavehimmy
sword，andatoncehecutofftheheadofhisenemy.Hurriedly，wehidthedeadbodiesundersomeleaves，andthenleftquickly.Itookmyprisonertomysecretcaveontheothersideoftheislandandgavehimfoodanddrink.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.ThenImadehimalittletenttosleepin，butforafewweeksIalwaystookmyguntobedwithme.Per－hapsFridaywasstillawildmanandwouldtrytokillmeinthenight.Atfirst，Fridaywasveryafraidofmygun.Some－timeshetalkedtoit，andaskeditnottokillhim.FridaywasaquicklearnerandhisEnglishgotbetterdaybyday.Hehelpedmewiththegoatsandwiththeworkinthecornfields，andsoonweweregoodfriends.Ienjoyedteachinghimand，mostofall，havingafriendtotalkto.Thiswasthehappiestofallmyyearsontheisland.FridayandIlivedtogetherhappilyforthreeyears.Itoldhimthestoryofmyadventuresand
aboutlifeinEngland，andhetoldmeabouthiscountryandhispeople.Onedaywewereatthetopofthehighesthillontheisland，andwewerelookingouttosea.Itwasaverycleardayandwecouldseealongway.Suddenly，Fridaybegantojumpupanddown，veryexcited.'What'sthematter？'Isaid.'Look，Master，look！'Fridaycried.'Icanseemycountry.Lookoverthere！'Ilooked，andtheretothenorth-west，betweentheseaandthesky，wasalongthinpieceofland.IlearntlaterthatitwastheislandofTrinidad，andthatmyislandwasinthemouthoftheRiverOrinocoonthenorthcoastofSouthAmerica.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.Butyoumustcomewithme.Killmeifyouwant，butdon'tsendmeawayfromyou！'
ThenIsawthatFridaywasatruefriend，andsoIagreedtogowithhim.Webeganworkonthecanoeatonce.Fridaychosethetreehimself—heunderstoodwoodbetterthanIdid—andwecutitdown.Weworkedhardandinamonththeboatwasfinished.Twoweekslateritwasinthesea，andwebegantogetreadyforourlongjourney.8EscapefromtheislandIwasnowinmytwenty—seventhyearontheisland，andIdidnotwanttobethereforanotheryear.Weworkedhardtogetthecornin，andtomakealotofbread.Wehaddriedfruitandsaltedmeat，andbigpotstokeepwaterin.OneeveningFridaywentouttolookforaturtleformeatandeggs.Butinlessthananhourhewasback，andhelookedveryafraid.'Master！Master！'hecried.'There'sagreatshipneartheisland，andmenarecomingtotheshoreinaboat！'Ijumpedupandranwithhimdowntotheshore.Tomygreatsurprise，IsawthatitwasanEnglishship！Butwhywasithere？Englishshipsnevercamethisway.Perhapstheywerepirates！'Don'tletthemseeyou，Friday！'Icalled.'We'llhideinthetreesandwatch.'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.''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.I'msurethatsomeofthemwillhelpme.'Justthenwesawanotherboat，whichwascomingfromtheshiptotheshore.Thereweretenmeninit，andtheyallhadguns.Weranintothetreesandwaited.
Itwasalonghardfight，butbynowitwasdarkandthishelpedusverymuch.Weranhereandthereinthetrees，call-ingandshouting.Theseamencouldnotseeusanddidnotknowhowmanymentheywerefighting.Intheendthefirstofficershoutedtothem：'Putdownyourgunsandstopfightng！Thecaptainhasfiftyislandpeopletohelphim.Wecankillyouall！'Sotheseamenstoppedfightingandwetooktheirguns.Threeofthemenagreedtocomebacktothecaptain，andweputtheothersinmycave.FridayandIstayedtowatchtheprisoners，whilethecaptainandhismenwentbacktofightfortheship.Allnightwelistenedtothesoundofgunsandshouting，butinthemorning，whenthesuncameup，thecaptainwasmasterofhisshipagain.Iwentdowntotheshoretomeethim.'Mydearfriend，'hecried，'There'syourship！I'lltakeyoutotheendsoftheworldinit！'Iputmyarmsroundhim，andwelaughedandcriedtogether.HowhappyIwastoleavetheialand！MygoodfriendFridaycamewithme，ofcourse，butweleftthemutineersontheisland.Wedecidednottokillthem；theycouldbeginanewlifeontheisland.Ishowedthemmythreehouses，mycornfieldsandmygoats，andallmytools.Theirlifewouldheeasybecauseofallmyhardworkforsomanyyears.Andso，onthenineteenthofDecember1689-aftertwen-ty-sevenyears，twomonthsandnineteendays-Isaidgood-byetomyislandandsailedhometoEngland.9HomeinEnglandWhenIcamebacktoEngland，Ifeltlikeastrangerinthecountry.Manythingswere
different，andnotmanypeoplerememberedme.IwenthometoYork，butmyfa-therandmotherweredead，andalsomytwobrothers.Ididfindthetwosonsofoneofmybrothers.TheywerehappytolearnthatIwasalive，andIwaspleasedtofindsomefamily.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'tyoucomewithme？'Andso，in1694，Iwenttoseaagain，andhadmanymoread-ventures.PerhapsonedayI'llwriteanotherbookaboutthem.Theseawasroughanddangerous.illThewinddropped.ThecaptainofashipPirate
Prisoners
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