312 ROBINSON CRUSOE.

They had not gone far, but that from a rising ground they
could see the little army of their enemies come on directly to
their habitation, and, in a moment more, could see all their huts
and household stuff flaming up together, to their great grief
and mortification ; for they had a very great loss, to them irre-
trievable, at least for some time. They kept their station for a
while, till they found the savages, like wild beasts, spread them-
selves all over the place, rummaging every way, and every place
they could think of, in search of prey ; and in particular for the
people, of whom now it plainly appeared they had intelligence,

The two Englishmen seeing this, thinking themselves not
secure where they stood, because it was likely some of the wild
people might come that way, and they might come too many
together, thought it proper to make another retreat about half
amile farther ; believing, as it afterwards happened, that the
farther they strolled, the fewer would be together,

Their next halt was at the entrance into a very thick-grown
part of the woods, and where an old trunk of a tree stood,
which was hollow and vastly large ; and in this tree they both
took their standing, resolving to see there what might offer.
They had not stood there long before two of the savages ap-
peared running directly that way, as if they already had notice
where they stood, and were coming up to attack them 3 anda
little way farther they espied three more coming after them, and
five more beyond them, all coming the same way ; besides which,
they saw seven or eight more at a distance, running another
way ; for, in a word, they ran every way, like sportsmen beating
for their game.

The poor men were now in great perplexity whether they
should stand and keep their posture, or fly ; but, after a very
short debate with themselves, they considered, that if the sav-
ages ranged the country thus before help came, they might per-
haps find out their retreat in the woods, and then all would be
lost ; so they resolved to stand them there, and if they were too
many to deal with, then they would get up to the top of the
tree, from whence they doubted not to defend themselves, fire
excepted, as long as their ammunition lasted, though all the sav-
ages that were landed, which was near fifty, were to attack
them.

Having resolved upon this, they next considered whether
they should fire at the first two, or wait for the three, and so
take the middle party, by which the two and the five that fol-
lowed would be separated : at length they resolved to let the
first two pass by, unless they should spy them in the tree, and