登陆注册
5380100000051

第51章

I was indeed terribly surpriz'd at the Sight, and stepp'd short within my Grove, not daring to go out, least I might be surpriz'd; and yet I had no more Peace within, from the Apprehensions I had, that if these Savages in rambling over the Island, should find my Corn standing, or cut, or any of my Works and Improvements, they would immediately conclude, that there were People in the Place, and would then never give over till they had found me out: In this Extremity I went back directly to my Castle, pull'd up the Ladder after me, and made all Things without look as wild and natural as I could.

Then I prepar'd my self within, putting my self in a Posture of Defence;

I loaded all my Cannon, as I call'd them; that is to say, my Muskets, which were mounted upon my new Fortification, and all my Pistols, and resolv'd to defend my self to the last Gasp, not forgetting seriously to commend my self to the Divine Protection, and earnestly to pray to God to deliver me out of the Hands of the Barbarians; and in this Posture I continu'd about two Hours; but began to be mighty impatient for Intelligence abroad, for I had no Spies to send out.

After sitting a while longer, and musing what I should do in this Case, I was not able to bear sitting in Ignorance any longer; so setting up my Ladder to the Side of the Hill, where there was a flat Place, as I observ'd before, and then pulling the Ladder up after me, I set it up again, and mounted to the Top of the Hill; and pulling out my Perspective Glass, which I had taken on Purpose, I laid me down flat on my Belly, on the Ground, and began to look for the Place; I presently found there was no less than nine naked Savages, sitting round a small Fire, they had made, not to warm them; for they had no need of that, the Weather being extreme hot; but as I suppos'd, to dress some of their barbarous Diet, of humane Flesh, which they had brought with them, whether alive or dead I could not know.

They had two Canoes with them, which they had haled up upon the Shore; and as it was then Tide of Ebb, they seem'd to me to wait for the Return of the Flood, to go away again; it is not easy to imagine what Confusion this Sight put me into, especially seeing them come on my Side the Island, and so near me too; but when I observ'd their coming must be always with the Current of the Ebb, I began afterwards to be more sedate in my Mind, being satisfy'd that I might go abroad with Safety all the Time of the Tide of Flood, if they were not on Shore before: And having made this Observation, I went abroad about my Harvest Work with the more Composure.

As I expected, so it prov'd; for as soon as the Tide made to the Westward , I saw them all take Boat, and row (or paddle as we call it) all away: I should have observ'd, that for an Hour and more before they went off, they went to dancing, and I could easily discern their Postures, and Gestures, by my Glasses: I could not perceive by my nicest Observation, but that they were stark naked, and had not the least covering upon them; but whether they were Men or Women, that I could not distinguish.

As soon as I saw them shipp'd, and gone, I took two Guns upon my Shoulders, and two Pistols at my Girdle, and my great Sword by my Side, without a Scabbard, and with all the Speed I was able to make, I went away to the Hill, where I had discover'd the first Appearance of all; and as soon as I gat thither, which was not less than two Hours (for I could not go apace, being so loaden with Arms as I was) I perceiv'd there had been three Canoes more of Savages on that Place; and looking out farther, I saw they were all at Sea together, making over for the Main.

This was a dreadful Sight to me, especially when going down to the Shore, I could see the Marks of Horror, which the dismal Work they had been about had left behind it, viz.The Blood, the Bones, and part of the Flesh of humane Bodies, eaten and devour'd by those Wretches, with Merriment and Sport: I was so fill'd with Indignation at the Sight, that I began now to premeditate the Destruction of the next that I saw there, let them be who, or how many soever.

It seem'd evident to me, that the Visits which they thus make to this Island, are not very frequent; for it was above fifteen Months before any more of them came on Shore there again; that is to say, I neither saw them, or any Footsteps, or Signals of them, in all that Time; for as to the rainy Seasons, then they are sure not to come abroad, at least not so far; yet all this while I liv'd uncomfortably, by reason of the constant Apprehensions I was in of their coming upon me by Surprize; from whence I observe, that the Expectation of Evil is more bitter than the Suffering, especially if there is no room to shake off that Expectation, or those Apprehensions.

During all this Time, I was in the murthering Humour; and took up most of my Hours, which should have been better employ'd, in contriving how to circumvent, and fall upon them, the very next Time I should see them;

especially if they should be divided, as they were the last Time, into two Parties; nor did I consider at all, that if I kill'd one Party, suppose Ten, or a Dozen, I was still the next Day, or Week, or Month, to kill another, and so another, even ad infinitum , till I should be at length no less a Murtherer than they were in being Man-eaters; and perhaps much more so.

I spent my Days now in great Perplexity, and Anxiety of Mind, expecting that I should one Day or other fall into the Hands of these merciless Creatures;

and if I did at any Time venture abroad, it was not without looking round me with the greatest Care and Caution imaginable; and now I found to my great Comfort, how happy it was that I provided for a tame Flock or Herd of Goats; for I durst not upon any account fire my Gun, especially near that Side of the Island where they usually came, least I should alarm the Savages; and if they had fled from me now, I was sure to have them come back again, with perhaps two or three hundred Canoes with them, in a few Days, and then I knew what to expect.

同类推荐
  • 禅秘要法经

    禅秘要法经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 摄大乘论本

    摄大乘论本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 道德真经注

    道德真经注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 韩湘子全传

    韩湘子全传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 食色绅言

    食色绅言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 补肾助阳科学养生滋补食谱

    补肾助阳科学养生滋补食谱

    当今世界,随着人们生活节奏的加快,高强度、高效率的生活现状,使众多忙于工作、精神压力大的人们越来越吃不消,因而前所未有地重视起自身保健了。化学药物的毒副作用,使人们“重返大自然”的心理越来越强,在这一背景下药膳食疗这一独特的中华文化宝库的奇葩,越来越显示出她深厚的底蕴和夺目的光彩,为此我们精心编写了这本《补肾助阳科学养生滋补食谱》,希望读者能在获得美味可口的佳肴同时,也滋补了身体,祛除了疾病,拥有健康、快乐的人生。
  • The Cruise of the Jasper B

    The Cruise of the Jasper B

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 黄帝内经与四季养生

    黄帝内经与四季养生

    在说起中国的传统文化的时候,大家都会想到孔子、老子等人,很少有人想到黄帝。事实上,中华文明上下五千年就是从黄帝算起的,而且黄帝给我们留下了《黄帝内经》,它与《山海经》、《易经》并称为上古时期的三大奇书。《黄帝内经》这个书名,最早见于《汉书·艺文志》。《汉书·艺文志·方伎略》中,有“黄帝内经十八卷”的记载。《黄帝内经》从结构上分为《素问》和《灵柩》两部分,各九卷。《素问》主要是对生命的体质、生命的本质追问,是黄帝与岐伯等臣之间在进行的发问、探讨。灵柩,就是说神灵的关键,生命的枢纽。
  • 倾城锋芒颠覆天下

    倾城锋芒颠覆天下

    锋芒一出,谁与争锋?她是一个传奇,一个立于世间顶端的强者!介绍某亚的新文《闲妻“太”无良》:——————————————————————————亲们一直期待狂世傲颜能够继续写下去,某亚深思了一下,打算把文进行大修,在暑假时重新上传,就是绝色狂颜里的狂世傲颜卷!感谢当初亲们的大力支持!某亚这次绝不会重蹈覆辙了!此文和绝色狂颜是两个独立的故事,没有任何关系的!而且作为对以前订阅过的亲补偿,全文前三十万为公众章节,谢谢大家捧场!狂世傲颜简介:她,东临大陆十大世家之一的嫡女,体弱多病,懦弱无能,习武资质奇差无比,生来丑颜!在武者为尊的东临大陆上处处遭人耻笑,指腹为婚的未婚夫鄙视不屑,被迫退婚……所爱之人再三羞辱与她,唯有父母宠溺,却也因她的废物而成为笑柄……++++++++++++她,西风大陆的武道顶尖强者,女扮男装,从小小的藩王世子到权势滔天的当朝摄政王!背负着家族的血海深仇,一步一步走上权力的巅峰,终成一代风云霸者!帝王的阴谋,心腹的背叛,政变的发生,动手之时被暗算而死……当惊才绝艳的她穿越到废柴无能的世家嫡女又会发生怎样的变化?体弱多病的她因为再三的羞辱而一命呜呼,再度睁开眼之时,又是如何让众人不屑一顾的目光变为痴迷与崇敬?+++++++++++++女主自语:我从来就不是个好人,别人敬我一分我敬他一尺,若是他人羞辱于我我必要对方付出百倍的代价来讨回,而对于我在意的人的羞辱我同样会让他求生不得求死不能!总有一天我定要立于这世界的巅峰俯视众人,将世间风华尽握于手,我以南辰如风之名起誓!—————————————————————————————————十年的倾心相恋,十年的温情漫漫,却不过是一场早有预谋的骗局!她,凤氏之女,才惊天下,是世人称赞的不世奇才!生女当生凤九歌,养女当如凤九歌,她以纤纤素手翻手为云覆手为雨!锋芒一出,谁与争锋?她是一个传奇,一个立于世间顶端的强者!她助他得皇位,他却赐与她一杯毒酒,名曰功高震主!甚至将谋逆的罪名加于她身!那日,艳阳高照,鼓乐阵阵,是那人迎娶他姐姐之时。而她,身处破落的冷宫,不甘的饮下毒酒,嘴角的鲜血缓缓流下,她发誓,若是可以她要卷土重归,将这对狗男女送下地狱!+++++++重生后,她依旧风华万千,傲然立于强者顶端!她一身不羁,剑指贪慕皇位另娶他人的恋人咽喉。
  • 美国秘密情报档案

    美国秘密情报档案

    CIA(美国中央情报局)和FBI(美国联邦调查局)是美国最负盛名的两个秘密情报组织,从他们最初的雏形到今天已经整整发展了300年。在这300年的时间里,两个机构为美国全世界战略作出了卓绝贡献。从美国的独立战争到二战,几乎在各个地方都能看到他们的身影,即使是华盛顿、林肯等人也对美国的秘密情报组织赞不绝口。今天,在越来越多的专业人员和特工加入后,美国的情报机构已经肩负起维护美国安全决策、刺探别国事务、进行机密资料整理分析等重要职责,继续在美国的军政界发挥着极其重要的作用。
  • 重生之嫡女毒妃

    重生之嫡女毒妃

    一夜大火,湮尽前生,得天怜悯,她重生归来,前世为棋,终被丢弃,今生她定一展芳华。斗嫡姐,撕庶妹,弃渣男,这是她今世活着的唯一目的,却不想何时竟引起了那总是一身红衣的妖孽皇子的注意……
  • 逆天王妃:王爷,定萌约

    逆天王妃:王爷,定萌约

    双十年华的她本是让人闻之色变的商业奇才,却被亲人奸计所害,自尽而亡。重生之后,成为昭阳国京师首富之嫡女,一场南北茶王之争让她如鱼得水,可惜好景不长,亲生娘亲竟然对她神憎鬼厌,她早被安排冲喜六王爷来换取家族茶叶经营官权。“王爷,咱们做个交易吧?”她朱唇轻启,他愕然。“我助你夺得江山。”石破惊天的话从她红唇中溢出,他如五雷轰顶。有钱能使鬼推磨,万金洒尽江山自来。昔日咄咄逼人的强势女,偏要入宫玩一场长袖善舞、八面玲珑的游戏。三年之约,他还来不及龙袍加身,她却嫣然一笑,道:“陛下,还记得当年我们的交易吗?臣妾要的是江山”……
  • 盗侠

    盗侠

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 新概念作文获奖者作品精选范本·20周年特别纪念版(B卷)

    新概念作文获奖者作品精选范本·20周年特别纪念版(B卷)

    久负盛名的新概念作文大赛已经举办了二十年。这些一等奖得主后来有许多一直活跃在文学创作领域,他们既代表了新概念作文大赛的成就与风采,也可以说代表了当代中国青少年文学创作的超高水准。本丛书是历届一等奖获得者的全新作品集20周年特别纪念版,分为AB两卷。这些作品,激情飞扬,典雅动人,对于青春文学爱好者来说,是不可多得的阅读经典。新概念作文像一股春风给中国青少年文学创作注入了活力。它呈现出少男少女在成长蜕变过程中的美好和痛苦,也展现了一个丰富多彩的文字世界。通过阅读,对扩大青少年的阅读视野,丰富青少年的见识,以及提高文学素养、写作水平大有裨益。
  • 校园故事

    校园故事

    无数事实、经验和理性已经证明:好故事可以影响人的一生。而以我们之见,所谓好故事,在内容上讲述的应是做人与处世的道理,在形式上也应听得进、记得住、讲得出、传得开,而且不会因时代的变迁而失去她的本质特征和艺术光彩。为了让更多的读者走进好故事,阅读好故事,欣赏好故事,珍藏好故事,传播好故事,我们特编选了一套“故事会5元精品系列”以飨之。其选择标准主要有以下三点:一、在《故事会》杂志上发表的作品。二、有过目不忘的艺术感染力。三、有恒久的趣味,对今天的读者仍有启迪作用。愿好故事伴随你的一生!