Page:Life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe (3).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 African shore, we were surprised in the grey of the morning by a Moorish rover of Salee, who gave chase to us, with all the sail she could make. Finding that the pirate gained upon us, and would certainly come up with us in a few hours, we prepared to fight; our ship having twelve guns, and the pirato 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 carried prisoners into Salee, 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-boat of our English ship, had a little state room or cabin built in the middle of it, like a barge, with a place behind it to steer, and haul home the mainsheet, and another before, for a hand or two to stand and work the sails. In this pleasure boat we frequently went out a-fishing ; and one day he had appointed to go out with two or three 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 fusees 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 declined going, and ordered me, with the man and boy, to sail out with the boat, and catch some fish, for his friends were to sup with him. At this moment the hopes of deliverance darted into my thoughts ; every thing being prepared, wo sailed out of tho port to fish ; but purposely catching none, I told Muley that this would not do, and that we must stand farther off, which he agreeing to, we set the sails, and I having the helm, ran the boat out near a league farther, and then brought her to, as if I would fish; when giving the boy 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 he swam like a cork, and called to mo 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 ho