Page:The life and strange surprizing adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, mariner- who lived eight and twenty years all alone in an un-inhabited island on the coast of America (IA lifestrangesurpr01defo).pdf/35

 thing behind him, I took him by surprize with my Arm under his Twist, and tost him clear over board into the Sea; he rise immediately, for he swam like a Cork, and call'd to me, begg'd to be taken in, told me he would go all over the World with me; he swam so strong after the Boat that he would have reach'd me very quickly, there being but little Wind; upon which I stept into the Cabin, and fetching one of the Fowling-pieces, I presented it at him, and told him, I had done him no hurt, and if he would be quiet I would do him none: But said I, you swim well enough to reach the Shore, and the Sea is calm, make the best of your Way to Shore and I will do you no harm, but if you come near the Boat I'll shoot you thro' the Head; for I am resolved to have my Liberty; so he turn'd himself about and swam for the Shore, and I make no doubt but he reach'd it with Ease, for he was an excellent Swimmer.

I could have been content to ha' taken this Moor with me, and ha' drown'd the Boy, but there was no venturing to trust him: When he was gone I turn'd to the Boy, who they call'd Xury, and said to him, Xury, if you will be faithful to me I'll make you a great Man, but if you will not stroak your Face to be true to me, that is, sware by Mahomet and his Father's Beard, I must throw you into the Sea too; the Boy smil'd in my Face and spoke so innocently that I could not mistrust him; and swore to be faithful to me, and go all over the World with me.

While I was in View of the Moor that was swimming, I stood out directly to Sea with the Boat, rather stretching to Windward, that they might think me gone towards the Straits-mouth (as indeed any one that had been in their Wits must ha' been suppos'd to do) for who would ha' suppos'd we were sail'd