The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-07-06
"RobinsonCrusoe''
By Daniel DefOe

ceedingly hot, | reached my bower
In the evening, and laid me down
In the shade, for | was weary, and
fell asleep.
But Judge you, IL you can, what
a surprise | must be in when | was
walked out of my sleep by a voice
calling me by my name, Robin,
Robin, Robin Crusoe; poor Robin
Crusoe! Where are you, Robin
Crusoe? Where are you? Where
have you been?"
| was at first dreadfully fright
ened and started up in the utmost
CONSERVATION. But no sooner
were my eyes open, but | saw my
Poll sitting on the top of the
hedge, and Immediately knew that
| 1t was he that spoke to me; for
just in such bemoaning language
/ had used to talk to him and
teach him.
However, even tho I knew it
was the parrot, it was a good while
before | could compose myself
But | got over it; and the sound of
Polls voice came to be my great
est consolation
| had now had enough OF ram
bling to sea for some time, and
had enough to do for many days
to sit still and reflect upon the
danger | had been in.
And now / come to a new scene
of my life. 1t happened one day
about noon, going towards my
boat. | was exceedingly surprised
with the print of mans naked
foot on the shore, which was very
plain to be seen in the sand.
| stood as II l had seen an ap-
partition. listened; looked
round me; | could hear nothing
nor see anything. | went up the
shore and down the shore; but
could see no other impression but
that one. | went to It again to see
If there were any more, and to OBJ
serve IL 1t might not be my fancy;
but there was the very print of a
foot-toes, heel and every part of
foot.
When I came to my castle I
fled into 1t like one pursued. I
slept none that night. The farther
| was from the occasion of my
fright, the greater my apprehen-
sions were. But presently con-
cluded that II must be some of the
savages of the mainland, who had
wandered out to sea in their
Icanoes, and had been on shore,
but were gone away to sea, being
as loath. perhaps, to have stayed
In this desolate island as | would
have been to have had them.
Now l began to take courage. I
had not stirred out of my castle
for three days and nights. and be-
gan to 60 abraod again. But to
see with what fear went forward,
how often l looked behind me,
would have made any one think |
was haunted with an evil con-
science.
When was come down the hill
to the shore, was perfectly con-
founded and amazed at seeing the
shore spread with skulls, hands,
feet, and other bones of human
bodies; and particularly l observed
a place where there had been a
fire made, and a circle dug in the
earth like a cockpit, where 1t is
supposed the savage wretches had
sat down to their inhuman feast
ings upon the bodies of their fell
low-creatures. I could not bear to
stay in the place a moment. SO
got me up the hill again with all
the speed I could, and walked on
towards my own habitation.
1t seemed evident to me that the
visits which the savages made
thus to this island were not very
frequent, for 1t was about Is
months before any more of them
came on shore there again-.that
is to say, l neither saw them nor
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 lived uncon-
fortably, by reason of the con-
slant apprehensions of their com
ing upon me by surprise-irom
whence l observe that the expec-
tatfon of evil is more bitter than
the suffering, especially If there is
no room to shake off that expecta-
ton or those apprehenslons.
During all this lime | was in
the numbering humor, and spent
most of my hours, which should