XXXV
A DISCOVERY
Robinson could not forget his boat. It seemed a companion. "It maybe the means of my escape from this place," he thought. He took frequentjourneys across the island to where his little boat lay in the cove.He would start out in the morning and walk over to the west side ofthe island, take his boat and have a pleasant little sail. He alwaysreturned home before dark, for to tell the truth, Robinson was acoward. He was as timid as a hare. He was afraid of everything andspent many nights without sleep because of fear.
It was while on one of his visits to his boat that Robinson made adiscovery that changed his whole life. It happened one day, aboutnoon, when he was going toward his boat that he, with great surprise,saw the print of a man's naked foot on the shore in the sand. He stoodlike one rooted to the ground. He could not move, so great was hissurprise and fear. He listened, looked around, but could hear and seenothing. He went up to a little hill to look further, but nothing wasin sight. There was but the one footprint. There was no doubt aboutit, there it was, foot, toes, heel and every part of a foot. Robinsontried to think how it might have gotten there, but he could not. Itwas a mystery. He was greatly afraid and started at once for hisshelter. He ran like one pursued. At every little way he would lookbehind to see if anyone was following him.
Never a frightened rabbit ran to his hiding place with more terrorthan Robinson ran to his cave. He did not sleep that night for fearand remained in his shelter for three days, never venturing out. Buthis food was growing short and his goats needed to be milked. Hefinally with a thousand wild fancies forced himself to go about hisduties.
But he could not get the footprint out of his mind. He spent many sadand fearful days thinking about it. "How could it have gotten there?Whose was it? Was the owner savage or not? What did he want on theisland?" were some of the questions that haunted him.
"Perhaps," he thought one day, "I just imagined I saw a footprint,or perhaps it was one of my own that I have made when going to sailmy boat." He took courage at this and began to go about the islandagain. But he went in great fear, always looking behind him. He wasalways ready to run at the first sign of danger. He had made himselfa large, strong, new bow and plenty of arrows. He carried these ina quiver he had made from his cloth. He fashioned too a sharp-pointed,lance-like weapon which he hurled with a kind of sling. In his belthe carried some new sharpened stone knives. He had found a better kindof rock out of which to make his knives. It resembled glass and couldbe brought to a fine, keen edge.
Armed thus, he began to have more confidence. He had a strong desireto see the footprint again and make up his mind about it. He wishedto measure it. In this way he could tell certainly whether it was achance print of his own foot or not. So, after a few days, he againventured across the island. Alas, on measuring the print it was muchlarger than his own! There could no longer be any doubt that itbelonged to someone else.
Again great fear fell on poor Robinson. He shook with cold and fright.He resolved to make himself more secure against attack.
He cut and carried willow stakes and set them in a thick hedge aroundin front of his shelter. This was outside the first and enclosed it.In a season or two these had grown to such a height as to shut outall view of his home from sight to one coming to it from the front.
His flock of goats gave him many troubled thoughts. His goats werehis greatest treasure. From them he obtained without trouble his meat,his milk and butter.
"What if they were discovered and killed or carried away?" He resolvedto divide his herd into three parts and secrete these in separatefenced pastures in different parts of the island. His herd of goatsnow numbered twenty-five. He made thorough search about the islandfor the most secluded and best hidden spots where he could fence ina pasture.
One day as he was exploring on the west side of the island to findanother open space for a goat field, he thought he spied away out tosea a boat. He looked long and anxiously and yet he was not sure thatit was a boat he saw. But how easy, thought Robinson, for the peopleof the mainland, which must be at no great distance to the westward,to come across to this side of the island in fair weather. He thoughttoo, how fortunate he was to have been cast on the east side of theisland. For there he had his shelter in the very safest part.
As he was coming down from a hill where he had gone to get a betterview of the sea he made another discovery. About him everywhere atthe foot of the hill were bones of all kinds. Near by too, were charcoaland ashes. There could be no mistake, the place was visited by humanbeings. These were very likely savages. Everything showed that theycame for the purpose of feasting and not for plundering. It was verylikely that they neither sought anything on the island nor expectedit.
WATCHING FOR SAVAGES]
This thought greatly relieved Robinson. He returned home in a verythankful and composed state of mind. He had now been on the islandalmost eighteen years and had not been discovered. Yet, no doubt, theisland had been visited many times by the savages since he had beenthere.
In a short time his fear of discovery wore off and he began to livejust as he did before his discovery.
He took, however, greater precaution against surprise. He alwayscarried his bow and arrows, his lance and knives. He was also verycareful about making a great smoke from his fire. He burned a greatquantity of wood in a pit and made charcoal. With this material hehad a fine fire with a very little smoke. Every day also he went tothe top of the hill back of his shelter in order to discover if possiblethe approach of savages.
XXXVI
THE LANDING OF THE SAVAGES
Another year passed by, Robinson longed more and more to get away fromthe island. Year after year he had hoped and watched in vain for apassing ship. Every day he would scan the waters that held himprisoner for the welcome sight of a sail. He had been disappointed.Now his only hope was to escape to the mainland in some way. He fearedthe savages. He had heard stories of their being cannibals. But ifthey could come to his island in their canoes against the prevailingwind, why could he not get to the mainland with it in his favor?
Strange as it may be, Robinson began to wish for the return of thesavages. He hoped to watch them at a distance and find out somethingabout their customs. More especially he wished that he might captureone of them. He had two reasons for this. In the first place he wouldhave a companion. He pictured fondly how he would teach him gentlemanners and the English speech. And, too, the companion would be ableto help him. Besides this he longed above all to know more of themainland and whether it would be safe to go there. He wanted to findout in what kind of boat they made the voyage. He thought that if hehad such a person he would have someone to show him the way to reachthe land.
The more he thought, the more anxious he became to see the savageson the island. He thought so much about it by day that he dreamed aboutit at night. One night he dreamed that the savages came, drew theirboats upon the shore and began to prepare their feast. As he watchedthem one of their number broke away from his fellows and came straighttoward his hiding-place. Robinson thought he rushed out, drove awaythose that followed the fleeing man and rescued him. This dream madea deep impression upon him and made him await the coming of the savageswith great hopes and eagerness.
It was more than eighteen months after he had formed this plan ofcapturing one of the savages before the savages made their appearance.Robinson was surprised one morning to see no less than five canoesdrawn up on the shore at a point on his side of the island about twomiles below his shelter, to the south. The people that had come inthem were on shore and out of sight. Robinson went back to his shelterto make his plans. He made up his mind that he would be foolish toattack them. There must be twenty-five or thirty of them. He finallywent to a point where he could see farther inland and soon caughtsight of a crowd of about thirty savages. They were naked and dancingaround and around in a circle. All the while they were singing andmaking hideous noises. There was a fire in the center of the ring ofsavages. "They are cooking their feast,
" thought Robinson. "Maybe Ican surprise them while they eat and rush in and seize one." But thisseemed too great a risk to run. He had no weapons but his bow andarrows, his lance and knife. What could he do against so great anumber?
But fortune favored his plans. As he gazed at them from his safedistance he saw one of their number break away from the rest and runwith utmost speed directly toward his hiding-place. At once two othersavages pursued him. They had no weapons but clubs. They ran withgreat swiftness, but the man in front was steadily gaining ground.
Robinson now to tell the truth was dreadfully frightened to see thesavage run directly toward him and his shelter. He kept his place,however, and watched the race. The man running away ran along theshore and would soon come to the little creek that emptied into thesea below his home. Robinson saw that the savage would have to swimthis to escape. He ran down thither and concealed himself behind atree and waited for the fugitive to come up. As he did so, the fleeingsavage plunged in and swam across with a few strong strokes. When hewas well on the bank, Robinson presented himself and made signs tohim to come to him and he would help him. The savage was at first almostovercome with astonishment and fright, for Robinson presented a veryunusual sight. The savage at once ran to him and fell down at hisfeet. Indeed so great was his fright and distress that he placed oneof Robinson's feet upon his neck in sign that he yielded up his lifeinto his hands. Robinson raised him up and motioned for him to takethe lance and help in defence against the men, now coming up. Theyhid behind trees and waited for them to swim across the stream. Butthis they did not do. When they reached the creek, they could see nothingof their runaway. They very slowly turned and went back to theircompanions.
Robinson was well content not to let them know that there was any oneon the island. He feared they might return and destroy his shelterand fields.
Robinson took the savage to his shelter and gave him bread and raisinsto eat, and a cup of water to drink. He was very hungry and ategreedily. After he had eaten, Robinson made signs for him to lie downand sleep, for the Indian was nearly tired out with his long and swiftrun.
He was a handsome fellow of his race. His limbs were large, straightand strong. He had a good face. His hair was long and black, hisforehead high, and his eyes bright. His skin was not black, but ofan olive color. His teeth were fine set and as white as ivory.
He slept about an hour; when he awoke he came running to Robinson andagain made signs to him that he was his slave. "You saved my life,"he seemed to say, "and now I will serve you." Robinson named him Fridayat once, for that was the day on which the great event of his escapehad taken place.
Robinson's next care was to fit him out with some clothing. He hadby this time several suits made of his coarse cloth. He soon had Fridaydressed in one of the old ones, with a straw or braided hat on hishead. He did not think it safe to allow Friday to sleep with him inthe bower. He made a little tent for him inside the enclosure. Thiswas covered with goatskins and made a very good protection from bothheat and rain.
Robinson took care to keep all his knives and weapons near him in thebower. But his fears that Friday might harm him were unfounded. Fridayfrom the first was faithful to his master. He was sweet and obedientin all things. He seemed to look upon Robinson with the love of achild for its father and never tired of serving him.
XXXVII
ROBINSON AS A TEACHER
(From Robinson's Diary)
"I began to consider that having now two mouths to feed instead ofone, I must provide more ground for my harvest and plant a largerquantity of corn than I used to plant. So I marked out a larger pieceof land and began to fence it in. Friday worked not only verywillingly but very hard. I told him that it was for corn to make morebread because he was now with me. He let me know that he was gratefulfor my kindness and would work much harder if I would tell him whatto do.
"This was the pleasantest year of all the life I led in this place.Friday began to talk pretty well and understood the names of almostall the things that I called for and of all the places which I wishedto send him. I was careful to teach him all the things I knew. Ishowed him how to plant and harvest corn, how to gather fibre, spinyarn and to weave it into cloth. He learned these things quickly andbecame very skillful in making pots. He knew something about thisbecause at home he had seen the women make them. He ornamented themwith figures of birds and flowers. I taught him about the true God.But as for writing he could never do much with this. I had no booksand could not make him understand the importance of writing. He beganto talk a great deal to me. This delighted me very much. I began tolove him exceedingly. He was so very honest and faithful.
"After I had taught him English I tried one day to find out whetherhe had any wish to return to his own country and as I talked to himabout it I saw his face light up with joy and his eye sparkle. Fromthis I had no doubt but that Friday would like to be in his own countryagain. This for a time made me sad, to think how eagerly he wouldleave me to be among his savage friends. 'Do you not wish you wereback in your own country, Friday?' I said to him one day. 'Yes,' hesaid, 'I be much O glad to be back in my country.' 'What would youdo there,' said I? 'Would you turn wild again and do as the savagesdo?' He shook his head and said very gravely, 'No, no, Friday tellthem to live good. He tell them to plant corn and live like white mans.'
"One day when we were on the top of a hill on the west side of theisland, Friday suddenly began to jump and dance about in great glee.I asked him what the matter was. 'O, joy, O glad,' he said; 'theremy country!' The air was so clear that from this place, as I had beforediscovered, land could be distinctly seen looking westward.
"I asked him how far it was from our island to his country and whethertheir canoes were ever lost in coming and going. He said that therewas no danger. No canoes were ever wrecked and that it was easy toget back and forth. I asked him many things about his people and country.He told me that away to the west of his country there lived 'whitemans like you.' I thought these must be the people of Central America,and asked him how I might come from this island and get among thesewhite men. He made me understand that I must have a large boat as bigas two canoes.
"I resolved at once to begin to make a boat large enough for us topass over to the land we could see lying to the west and if possibleto go on to the white man's country Friday told me about. It took usnearly two months to make our boat and rig her out with sails, masts,rudder, and anchor. We had to weave our sails and twist our rope. Weburned out the canoe from a large fallen log. We used a great stonetied securely to the end of a strong rope for an anchor.
"When we had the boat in the water, Friday showed great skill inrowing or paddling it.
ROBINSON AND FRIDAY SAILING THE BOAT]
"He had managed boats ever since he was old enough, but he did notknow how to handle a sail or rudder. He learned very quickly, however,to sail and steer the boat and soon was perfectly at home in it.
"We made our boat safe by keeping it in the little cove at the mouthof the creek. I had Friday to fetch rocks and build a dock or placefor landing. But the rainy season was now coming on and we must waitfor fair weather. In the meantime I planned to lay by such quantitiesof food as we would need to take along."
XXXVIII
ANOTHER SHIPWRECK
One evening Robinson sat in his shelter thinking of his plans toescape to Friday's country. He was sad. For, after all, this placewas very dear to him. It was the only home he had. Had he not madeeverything with his own hands? It was doubly dear to him on thisaccount. He thought how it would grieve him to leave his goats, hisfields, and the many comforts he had here.
He had been telling Friday of his home in New York. He told him ofthe great city, and of its many wonderful sights. He told him of hiscountry and people, of his flag and its history. All these thingsbrought back memories of his boyhood and he wondered what changes hadcome in his long absence. Friday, with wonderful intelligence,listened to all Robinson told him. He was delighted in hearingRobinson tell of the wonders
of the great world, for he had neverknown anything about it. As they talked Robinson noticed the approachof a storm. The sky was getting black with clouds. The winds wereblowing a hurricane. The waves were coming in mountain high. Itreminded him of the eventful night now twenty-five years ago when hisship was tossed up on the shore like an egg shell and broken topieces.
Suddenly there was a sound that made Robinson start from his seat withthe wildest alarm. Was it the sound of a cannon from the ocean or theterrible crash and roar of the water on the rocks of the coast? Thereit is again; it is a cannon! Some ship is in distress! This is itssignal! Robinson ran out and down to the shore with Friday at hisheels.
"O master!" said Friday, "can we not help? If they only knew theisland was here and how to steer into the harbor beyond the point ofland on the south."
Robinson was so excited that he scarcely knew what he was doing. Heran up and down the shore calling wildly, but the awful roar of thesea and wind drowned his cries. Suddenly his thoughts came to him."Quick, Friday, get some fire in a pot. We will run to the point,gather grass and wood, and make a fire there. Maybe we can guide theminto the harbor."
They soon had a great beacon light sending its welcome greeting farover the sea. The pilot of the ship saw it and steered his ship nearerand nearer. Robinson was ready to shout for joy as the ship seemedabout to make the harbor. The ship had her sails torn in shreds andher rudder broken. It was hard to steer her in such a gale. Onrounding the point, she was blown on the rocks. With a frightful crashwhich could be heard above the din of the storm she struck and heldfast. Robinson could hear the cries of the men and the orders of theofficers. They were trying to get boats ready to put off, but suchwas the confusion of the storm and the enormous waves breaking overthe deck that it could not be done quickly. Before the men could geta boat into the sea, and get into it, the ship gave a lurch to oneside as though about to sink. All the men jumped for one boat. It wasoverburdened. The wind tossed it about. The sea soon filled it andit went down and all were lost.