The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-16


a. sign of life about her. He boarded her,
but saved very little, as she broke up
soon. In a chest that he salved he found
more than a thousand pieces of eight,
besides much other gold, and he added 1t
to the money in the cave, though he
knew not what to do with 1t. and he
would have given it all for a pair OF
shoes and stockings.
About year and a half after that Rob
inson Crusoe was vastly frightened by
seeing five great canoes land on his side
of the island, where savages never had
been before. ABOUT 80 men came to the
beach, dragging two prisoners. One. was
smitten dead Immediately and cut up be-
fore Crusoe could decide what to do.
Suddenly the second prisoner leaped I'D
and ran. Crusoe was terrified when he
saw that the man was heading straight
for his habitation, but the next moment
he resolved to save him. Snatching two
guns, he ran toward the fugitive, who
was pursued by two men. He knocked
down the first pursuer with his musket
butt. but had to shoot the second be-
cause he aimed an arrow at him.
The fugitive seemed almost dead with
fear when the gun exploded, and crept to
Crusoe trembling, kneeling every few
steps. When he came close he kneeled,
kissed the ground, laid his head on the
earth and placed Robinson Crusoe's foot
on his neck
So Robinson Crusoe found his man Fri
day, for thus, in memory of the day, he
named the comedy. tawny young savage
whom he had saved. Luckily the fight
had occurred out of sight of the other
savages, and after their feast they pad
died away to sea, without even searching
for their companions, much to Robinson
Crusoes grateful surprise.
Friday proved to he an Mt pttn1 WI
learned to call Crusoe Master and wor-
shipped him, so that he was servant and
friend both. Friday told Crusoe that he
was a Carib, who had been taken prison.
er during a war with another Carib tribe
He was surprised at Robinson Crusoe's
disgust at cannibalism and explained in
genuously that 1t was the custom of all
the tribes to eat prisoners captured in war.
However Crusoe soon taught him to alb
hor human flesh.
Friday informed his master that the
great land he had seen once in the west
was the island of Trinidad, which was In
habited by savages like himself This
news awoke anew his desire to escape
from his island. delightful though it had
become, and with Fridays aid, he sue
ceeded in building boat large enough for
such a voyage.
Before they could start another band of
savages landed. Crusoe saw with aston
lsnHlealt lIlat one OF the prisoners was
white man. Friday and he attacked the
cannibais at once and they were so stupe-
fed by the sound of firearms that they
tumbled into their canoes and fed to sea,
leaving their prisoners unframed.
While Crusoe united the white man,
Friday went into frenzy of joy over
the other prisoner, who turned out to be
his own father. The white man proved
10 be a Spaniard. one of II others who had
been wrecked on the mainland and lived
with Fridays tribe.
After few days the Spaniard and Fri
days father set off in the boat to find
the other WHITE men and carry Them to
Crusoes island, where they might build
g. vessel sufficient to carry them all to
Brazil.
But Robinson Crusoe vas to be re-
turned to the civilized world in q manner
more expeditions. A few days after tho
two had departed an English ship put into
the island in distress, her crew having
mutinied. By his help the mutineers were
beaten, and when the vessel sailed again
she carried away him and his man Fri
day. Robinson Crusoe had been on the
island Is years months and IS days.
His parents were dead, but bis Brazil
estate had. been administered faithfully
for him by his partners in the Inflated
Guinea coast enterprise. Though they
considered him dead, they had decided
10 holu MS property as IL ne sui HNeu'
and he found himself a rich man.
He visited his island once more after
some years and found the Spaniards liv-
Ing there In happiness and content, being
satisfied to stay In land OF plenty rather
than to venture on the seas again.
Poor Friday was killed near the Brazils.
and Crusoe sailed around the world. meet
ing with many strange adventures in
China, Siberia and Russia, but none as
strange as those which had led to his resi-
dence on the desert island. At last, hav-
ing lived a life of infinite variety for
70 years, he felt that he had learned
sufficiently to know the value of retire.
ment, and he settled down in England
TO end his days in peace.
Next Sundays one-page classic will be
Captain Fracasse," by Theophile eau
tier.