OF ROBINSON CRUSOE. 261

 

hostages for the fidelity of those five; and that, if they proved unfaith-
ful in the execution, the five hostages should be hanged in chains alive
upon the shore.

This looked severe, and convinced them that the governor was in
earnest; however, they had no way left but to accept it; and it was
now the business of the prisoners, as much as of the captain, to per-
suade the other five to do their duty.

Our strength was now thus ordered for the expedition:—1. The
* captain, his mate, and passenger. 2. Then the two prisoners of the
first gang, to whom, having their characters from the captain, I had
given their liberty, and trusted them with arms. 8. The other two
whom I kept till now in my bower pinioned; but, upon the ae 8
motion, had now been released. 4. These five released at last;
that they were twelve in all, besides five we kept prisoners in the cave
for hostages. [

I asked the captain if he was willing to venture with these hands
on board the ship: for, as for me and my man Friday, I did not think
it was proper for us to stir, having seven men left behind ; and it was
employment enough for us to keep them asunder, and supply them
with victuals. ;

As to the five in the cave, I resolved to keep them fast; but Friday
went twice a day to them, to supply them with necessaries; and |
made the other two carry provisions to a certain distance, where Fri-
day was to take it.

When I showed myself to ‘the two hostages, it was with the captain,
who told them I was the person the governor had ordered to look after
them, and that it was the governor’s pleasure that they should not
stir anywhere but by my direction; that if they did, they should be
fetched into the castle, and be laid in irons; so that as we never suf-
fered them to see me as governor, so I now appeared as another per-
son, and spoke of the governor, the garrison, the castle, and the like,
upon all occasions.

The captain now had no difficulty before him, but to furnish his two
boats, stop the breach of one, and man them: he made his passenger
captain of one, with four other men; and himself and his mate, and
five more, went in the other; and they contrived their business very: »
well, for they came up to the ship about midnight. As soon as they
came within call of the ship, he made Robinson hail them, and tell
them he had brought off the men and the boat, but that it was a long
time before they had found them, and the like, holding them in a chat
till they came to the ship’s side; when the captain and- the mate, .
entering first with their arms, immediately knocked down the second