The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Who Lived Twenty-Eight Years in an Uninhabited Island; With an Account of His Deliverance (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt: ...very much surprised by seeing no less than five canoes all on shore together, on my side of the island, and the savages that belonged to them all landed, and out of my sight. Such a number of them disconcerted my measures; for, seeing so many boats, each of which would contain six, and sometimes more, I could not tell how to order my measures; and much dispirited and perplexed, I lay still in my castle; which, however, I put in a proper posture for an attack: and having formerly provided all that was necessary, was soon ready to enter upon an engagement. Having waited for some time, my impatient temper would let me bear it no longer; I set my guns at the foot of the ladder, and as usual, ascended to the top of the hill; and here, by the assistance of my perspective-glass, I observed no less than thirty in number around a fire, feasting upon what meat they had dressed: how they cooked it, or what it was, I could not then perfectly tell; but they were all dancing and capering about the flames, using many frightful and barbarous gestures. But while, with a curious eye, I was beholding these wretches, my spirits sunk within me, when I perceived them drag two miserable creatures from the boats, to act afresh the dreadful tragedy, as I supposed they had done before. It was not long before one of them fell upon the ground, knocked down, as I suppose, with a club or wooden sword; while two or three others went immediately to work, cutting him open for their cookery, while the last unhappy captive was left by himself, till they were ready for him. The poor creature looked round him with a wishful eye, trembling at the thoughts of death; yet seeing himself a little at liberty, nature, that very moment, as it were, inspired him with hopes of life: he...