216 ROBINSON CRUSOE.

the same place where the other had landed, and where the
boat lay ; by this means, I say, we had a full view of them, and
the captain knew the persons and characters of all the men in
the boat, of whom, he said, there were three very honest
fellows, who, he was sure, were led into this conspiracy by the
rest, being overpowered and frightened; but that as for the
boatswain, who it seems was the chief officer among them, and
all the rest, they were as outrageous as any of the ship’s crew,
and were no doubt made desperate in their new enterprise ;
and terribly apprehensive he was that they would be too pow-
erful for us. I smiled at him, and told him that men in our
circumstances were past the operation of fear; that seeing
almost every condition that could be was better than that
which we were supposed to be in, we ought to expect that the
consequence, whether death or life, would be sure to be a de-
liverance. I asked him what he thought of the circumstances
of my life, and whether a deliverance were not worth venturing
for? “And where, sir,” said I, “is your belief of my being
preserved here on purpose to save your life, which elevated you
alittle while ago? For my part,” said I, “ there seems to be
but one thing amiss in all the prospect of it.” ‘What is that?”
says he. “Why,” said I, “it is, that, as you say, there are
three or four honest fellows among them, which should be
spared ; had they been all of the wicked part of the crew, I
should have thought God’s providence had singled them out
to deliver them into your hands ; for depend upon it, every
man that comes ashore is our own, and shall die or live as they
behave to us.” As I spoke this with a raised voice and cheer-
ful countenance, I found it greatly encouraged him ; so we set
vigorously to our business.

We had, upon the first appearance of the boats coming’ from
the ship, considered of separating our prisoners ; and we had
indeed, secured them effectually. Two of them, of whom the
captain was less assured than ordinary, I sent with F riday, and
one of the three delivered men, to my cave, where they were
remote enough, and out of danger of being heard or discovered,
or of finding their way out of the woods, if they could have
delivered themselves: here they left them bound, but gave
them provisions ; and promised ‘them, if they continued there
quietly, to give them their liberty in a day or two ; but if they
attempted their escape, they should be put to death without
mercy. They promised faithfully to bear their confinement
with patience, and were very thankful that they had such good
usage as to have provisions and light left them; for Friday