Page 37 - An American Robinson Crusoe

would have to swim this to escape. He ran down thither and concealed himself behind a tree and waited for
the fugitive to come up. As he did so, the fleeing savage plunged in and swam across with a few strong
strokes. When he was well on the bank, Robinson presented himself and made signs to him to come to him
and he would help him. The savage was at first almost overcome with astonishment and fright, for Robinson
presented a very unusual sight. The savage at once ran to him and fell down at his feet. Indeed so great was
his fright and distress that he placed one of Robinson's feet upon his neck in sign that he yielded up his life
into his hands. Robinson raised him up and motioned for him to take the lance and help in defence against the
men, now coming up. They hid behind trees and waited for them to swim across the stream. But this they did
not do. When they reached the creek, they could see nothing of their runaway. They very slowly turned and
went back to their companions.

Robinson was well content not to let them know that there was any one on the island. He feared they might
return and destroy his shelter and fields.

Robinson took the savage to his shelter and gave him bread and raisins to eat, and a cup of water to drink. He
was very hungry and ate greedily. After he had eaten, Robinson made signs for him to lie down and sleep, for
the Indian was nearly tired out with his long and swift run.

He was a handsome fellow of his race. His limbs were large, straight and strong. He had a good face. His hair
was long and black, his forehead high, and his eyes bright. His skin was not black, but of an 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 and again 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 Friday at
once, for that was the day on which the great event of his escape had taken place.

Robinson's next care was to fit him out with some clothing. He had by this time several suits made of his
coarse cloth. He soon had Friday dressed in one of the old ones, with a straw or braided hat on his head. He
did not think it safe to allow Friday to sleep with him in the bower. He made a little tent for him inside the
enclosure. This was covered with goatskins and made a very good protection from both heat and rain.

Robinson took care to keep all his knives and weapons near him in the bower. But his fears that Friday might
harm him were unfounded. Friday from the first was faithful to his master. He was sweet and obedient in all
things. He seemed to look upon Robinson with the love of a child for its father and never tired of serving him.

X X X V II

ROBINSON AS A TEACHER

(From Robinson's Diary)

"I began to consider that having now two mouths to feed instead of one, I must provide more ground for my
harvest and plant a larger quantity of corn than I used to plant. So I marked out a larger piece of land and
began to fence it in. Friday worked not only very willingly but very hard. I told him that it was for corn to
make more bread because he was now with me. He let me know that he was grateful for my kindness and
would work much harder if I would tell him what to 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 almost all the things that I called for and of all the places which I wished to send him. I was
careful to teach him all the things I knew. I showed him how to plant and harvest corn, how to gather fibre,
spin yarn and to weave it into cloth. He learned these things quickly and became very skillful in making pots.
He knew something about this because at home he had seen the women make them. He ornamented them with