OF ROBINSON CRUSOE. 451

 

which sailing near the shore, in its way from China, had sent their
boat on shore for fresh water; that he durst not come to that part of
the shore where the boat was, but made shift in the night to take in
the water further off, and swimming a great while, at last the ship’s
boat took him up.

He then told us, that he went to Batavia, where two of the seamen
belonging to the ship had arrived, having deserted the rest in their
travels; and gave an account, that the fellow who had run away with
the ship, sold her at Bengal to a set of pirates, which were gone a
cruizing in her; and that they had already taken an English ship, and
two Dutch ships, very richly laden.

This latter part we found to concern us directly; and though we
knew it to be false, yet, as my partner said very well, if we had fallen
into their hands, and they had such a prepossessioh against us before-
hand, it had been in vain for us to have defended ourselves, or to hope
for any good quarters at their hands; especially considering that our
accusers had been our judges, and that we could have expected no-
thing from them but what rage would have dictated, and ungoverned
passion have executed; and, therefore, it was his opinion, we should
go directly back to Bengal, from whence we came, without putting in
at any port whatever; because there we could give an account of our-
selves, and could prove where we were when the ship qt in, whom we
bought her of, and the like; and, which was more than all the rest,
if we were put to the necessity of bringing it before the proper judges,
we should be sure to have some justice; and not be hanged first and
judged afterwards.

I was some time of my partner’s opinion; but after a little more
serious thinking, I told him, I thought it was a very great hazard for
us to attempt returning to Bengal, for that we were on the wrong side
of the Straits of Malacca; and that if the alarm was given, we should
be sure to be waylaid on every side, as well by the Dutch of Batavia
as the English elsewhere ; that if we should be taken, as it were, run-
ning away, we should even condemn ourselves, and there would want
no more evidence to destroy us. I also asked the English sailor’s
opinion, who said, he was of my mind, and that we should certainly be
taken.

This danger @ little startled my partner, and all the ship’s com-
pany ; and we immediately resolved to go away to the coast of Ton-
yuin, and so on to China; and from thence, pursuing the first design,

 

 

 

as to trade, find some way or other to dispose of the ship, and come-"

 

back in some of the vessels of the country, such as we could get. * make
This was approved of, as the best method for our security; and accord-