268 ROBINSON CRUSOE.

delivered, if we were in the like or any other extremity; that
we had done nothing for them but what we betieved they would
have done for us, if we had been in their case, and they in
ours ; but that we took them up to save them, not to plunder
them ; and it would be a most barbarous thing to take that
little from them which they had saved out of the fire, and then
set them on shore and leave them ; that this would be first to
save them from death, and then kill them ourselves ; save them
from drowning, and abandon them to starving ; and, therefore,
I would not let the least thing be taken from them. As to
setting them on shore, I told them, indeed, that was an exceed-
ing difficulty to us, for that the ship was bound to the East
Indies ; and though we were driven out of our course to the
westward a very great way, and perhaps were directed by
Heaven on purpose for their deliverance, yet it was impossible
for us wilfully to change our voyage on their particular account ;
nor could my nephew, the captain, answer it to the freighters,
with whom he was under charter to pursue his voyage by
way of Brazil; and all I knew we could do for them was, to
put ourselves in the way of meeting with other ships homeward
bound from the West Indies, and get them a passage, if possible,
to England or France

The first part of the proposal was so generous and kind,
they could not but be very thankful for it; but they were in
very great consternation, especially for the passengers, at the
notion of being carried away to the East Indies ; they then
entreated me, that as I was driven so far to the westward before
1 met with them, [ would, at least, keep on the same course to
the Banks of Newfoundland, where it was probable I might
meet with some ship or sloop that they might hire to carry them
back to Canada, from whence they came.

I thought this was but a reasonable request on their part,
and therefore I inclined to agree to it; for, indeed, I con-
sidered that to carry this whole company to the East Indies,
would not only be an intolerable severity upon the poor people,
but would be ruining our whole voyage, by devouring all our
provisions ; so [ thought it no breach of charter-party, but what
an unforeseen accident made absolutely necessary to us, and in
which no one could say we were to blame ; for the laws of God
and nature would have forbid that we should refuse to take
up two boats full of people, in such a distressed condition ;
and the nature of the thing, as well respecting ourselves as the
poor people, obliged us to set them on shore somewhere or
other for their deliverance. So I consented that we would