618 CRUSOE'S PROPOSAL TO HES FRIEND,

eastle at Moscow, However, it came into my thought, that 1
might certainly be made an instrument to procure the escape of
this excellent person, and that whatever hazard Toran, T would
certainly try if Teould carry him off Upon this T took an ocea-
sion one evening to tell him my thoughts: T represented to him
that it: was very easy for mo to carry him away, there heing no
euard over him in the country, and as Twas not going to Moscow,
but. to Archangel, and that T went in the nature of a caravan, by
whieh To owas not obliged to lie in the stationary towns i the
desert, but could encamp every night where T would, we might
easily pass uninterrupted to Archangel, where T would immediately
secure him on board an Bnglish or Duteh ship, and carry him off
safe along with me; and as to his subsistence, and other particulars,
it should be my care till he could better supply himself,

He heard me very attentively, and looked: earnestly on me all
the while TE spoke. Nay, T could see in his very face that what |
said put. his spirits into an exceeding ferment; his colour frequently
changed, his eyes looked red, and his heart. tluttered, that it might
be even perceived in his countenance; nor could he immediately
answer me when Thad done, and, as it were, expected what he would
say to it; but after he had paused a little he embraced me, and
said, © Low unhappy are we, unguarded creatures as we are, that even
our greatest acts of friendship are made snares to us, and we are
made tempters of one another! My dear friend,” said he, “your
offer is so sincere, has such kindness in it, is so disinterested in
itself, and is so calculated for my advantage, that T must. have very
little knowledge of the world, if T did not both wonder at it, and
acknowledge the obligation | have upon me to you for it: but did
you believe T was sincere in what Thave so often said to you of my
contempt of the world? Did you believe IT spoke my very soul to
you, and that Thad really obtained that degree of felicity here,
that had placed me above all that the world could give me, or do
forme? Did you believe Twas sincere, when | told you L would
not go back, if Twas recalled even to all that once LT was in the
court, with the favour of the ezar, my master ? Did you believe
me, my friend, to be an honest man, or did you think me to bea
boasting hypocrite?” Here he stopped, as if he would hear what