The Real Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (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.1893 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX. ROBINSON, ATKINS, & CO. ID they release me? Not a bit of it. I had to go on signing declarations of guilt and innocence every day. My brothers' companions were roving traders whom he had come across from time to time. Often they disappeared for days together, leaving me in charge of the executioners and sentinels armed to the teeth. won small sums.' To while away the time, which hung rather heavily on my hands, I produced my cards, and in the stable I found my goat tethered, so that I was able to amuse my guardians. "The first step," thought I, "to liberty." I won small sums from them, and by not pressing for payment I won much more than money from them, that is, their confidence. As to money, I knew I had plenty of that in the hole in the cave, if I could only get at it unobserved and make off with it. Unfortunately for me, my friends informed the chief (I mean my brother) on his return of how I had been passing the time, upon which I was sent for, and ordered to play a game, a Spanish-Dutch game, called Van Trompos, of which I knew something more, I fancy, than most of them. All the sea-chests from the Crazy Jane, containing valuables (except the box with the guineas, sovereigns, and notes in it, the existence of which was still unknown to anyone except myself) were placed out, and I was to play for life, liberty, and fortune. If I won ten games out of twelve I was to be free; if I won twelve I was to be free and presented with sufficient money to take me home, If I lost, my term of servitude was to be prolonged, and my treatment would be more rigorous.; Who can wonder that I tried my best? And succeeded. I was on the point of scoring my ninth game when a stentorian voice shouted, "He's got a second pack in his sleeve. I arrest him " and at th...