ROBINSON CRUSOE. 179

The next day I set him to work to beating some corn out,
and sifting it in the manner I used to do, as I observed before ;
and he soon understood how to do it as well as I, especially
after he had seen what the meaning of it was, and that it was
to make bread of ; for after that, I let him see me make my
bread, and bake it too, and _ in a little time, Friday was able to
do all the work for me, as well as I could do it myself,

I began now to consider that having two mouths to feed in-
stead of one, I must provide more ground for my harvest, and
plant a larger quantity of-corn than.I used to do; so I marked
out a larger piece of land, and began the fence in the same
manner as before, in which Friday worked not only very will-
ingly and very hard, but did it very cheerfully: and I told him

. what it was for ; that it was for corn to make more bread, be-
cause he was now with me, and that I might have enough for
him ‘and myself too, He appeared very sensible of that part,
and let me know that he thought I had much more labor upon
me on his account, than I had for myself ; and that he would
work the harder for me, 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 understand the
names of almost everything I had occasion to call for, and of
every place I had to send him to, and talked a great deal to
me ; so that, in short, I began now to have some use for my
tongue again, which, indeed, I had very little occasion for be-
fore. Besides the pleasure of talking to him, I had a singular
satisfaction in the fellow himself: his simple, unfeigned honesty
appeared to me more and more every day, and I began really
to love the creature ; and on his side, I believe he loved me
more than it was possible for him ever to love anything
before.

I had a mind once to try if he had any inclination for his
own country again ; and having taught him English so well that
he could answer me almost any question, I asked him whether
the nation that he belonged to never conquered in battle? At
which he smiled, and said, “Yes, yes, we always fight the
better ;” that is, he meant, always get the better in fight; and
so we began the following discourse :—

Master.—You always fight the better ; how came you to be
taken prisoner then, Friday?

Lriday.—My nation beat much for all that.

Master—How beat? If your nation beat them, how came
you to be taken?

riday—They more many than my nation, in the place