Page:Life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe (2).pdf/6

6 adventure, which yielded me in London, at my return, almost £300.

I was now set up for a Guinea trader; but my friend, to my great misfortune, dying soon after his arrival, I resolved to go the same voyage again, and having left £200 in the hands of my friend’s widow, I embarked in the same vessel. This was one of the most unhappy voyages that ever man made; for as we were steering between the Canary islands and the Afriean shore, we were surprised in the grey of the morning hy a Moorish rover of Salee, who gave ehase to us, with all the sail she could make. Finding that the pirate gained upon us, and would eertainly eome up with us in a few hours, we prepared to fight; our ship having twelve guns, and the pirate eighteen. About three in the afternoon he came up with us, and a very smart engagement ensued; but after having twice cleared the decks of the Moors, and lost three of our men, and had eight wounded, we were obliged to submit, and we were all earried prisoners into Salec, a port belonging to the Moors.

I was kept by the captain of the rover as his own prize, and made his slave.

My master having the long-hoat of our English ship, had a little state room or cabin built in the middle of it, like a barge, with a place hehind it to steer, and haul home the mainsheet, and another hefore, for a hand or two to staud and work tho sails. In this pleasure boat we frequently went out a-fishing; and one day he had appointed to go out with two or threo Moors of distinction, and had therefore sent over night a larger store of provision than usual, and ordered me to get ready two or three fusces with powder and shot, which were on board his ship, for that they designed to have sport at fowling as well as fishing. But in the morning he came on board, telling me that his guest had deelined going, and ordered me, with the man and boy, to sail out with the hoat, and catch somo fish, for his friends were to sup with him.

At this moment tho hopes of deliverance darted into my thoughts; every thing being prepared, we sailed out of tho port to fish; hut purposely catching none, I told Muley that this would not do, aud that we must stand farther off, whieh he agreeing to, we set the sails, and I having the helm, ran tho boat out near a league farther, and then brought her to, as if I would fish; when giving the hoy the helm, I stepped forward, and stooping behind the Moor, took him by surprise, and tossed him overboard into the sea; he arose immediately, for ho swam like a cork, and called to me to take him in; but fetching out one of the fowling pieces, I presented it at him, and told him, that if he came near the boat, I would shoot him, so he