The Eerie Adventures of the Lycanthrope Robinson Crusoe (24 page)

This action put an end to our pursuit of the canoe with the other savages, who were now got almost out of sight. It was happy for us we did not, for it blew so hard within two hours after, and before they could be got a quarter of their way, and continued blowing so hard all night, I could not suppose their boat could live, or that they ever reached their own coast.

Yet at the time I did not know this. As I bethought myself my concerns, Friday's father raised a weak hand and pointed at the great totem of the dark church, the cuttel fish figure of my dreams. He cry’d out many words, which had an awful memory to me, and I did recall across the years those words my parrot Poll had cried out before his death. Altho' now one of these words was not foreign to me, for I had discust it with my man Friday many times, and that word was
Kathooloo
. This did cause me great discomfort, and the beast howl'd within my skin, and I was pleased when the old man let his hand drop and became silent again.

In a quarter of an hour I saw Friday come back again, tho’ not so fast as he went. As he came nearer, I found his pace slacker, because he had something in his hand. When he came up to me, I found he had been to the summer house, which was nearer the dark church than my castle, for an earthen jug to bring his father some fresh water, and he had two more cakes or loaves of bread. The bread he gave me, but the water he carried to his father. The water revived his father more than all the rum or spirits I had given him, for he was just fainting with thirst.

When his father had drank, I called to him to know if there was any water left. He said "Yes," and I bade him give it to the poor Spaniard, who was in as much want of it as his father. I sent one of the cakes to the Spaniard too, who was indeed very weak and was reposing himself upon a not as red place under the shade of a tree, which had one of the old symbols carv'd in its bark. When I saw he sat up and drank and took the bread and began to eat, I went to him and gave him a handful of raisins. He look'd up in my face with all the gratitude and thankfulness that could appear in any countenance, but was so weak, notwithstanding he had so exerted himself in the fight, he could not stand up upon his feet. By way of signs he made it known to me that his name was Olegario, and I gave him my name as well, which brought a relieved smile to his face.

Friday came back to me presently, and we two stepped away to the great totem. It was plain he did not like the thing, for he look'd most reluctant to approach it. "Friday," said I, "do you know this man?"

He shook his head, which I first took as a denial of knowledge, but then reflected that he objected to my calling the cuttel fish figure of the totem a man. "What is this?" I asked.

Friday look'd at me with his large, dark eyes and trembled. "That great Kathooloo," said he, "who sleep and dream beneath the sea."

Tho' I suspected as much, this did make me tremble myself, and I repeat'd the question in the hope I had misunderstood my man, or he had misspoke to me. He said again the name, and seem'd at sorts to be confronted by his former god. After some moments his eyes met mine and he said "All things say O to him."

I was aware of a noise, and saw that the father, Walla-kay, again had his hand point'd at the totem and was repeating his words, altho' now as a penitent man says his prayers.

I spoke to Olegario, the Spaniard, to let Friday help him up if he could. But Friday, a strong fellow, took the man quite up upon his back and carry’d him away to the boat, and set him down upon the gunnel of the canoe with his feet in the inside of it. Then lifting him quite in, Friday set Olegario close to Walla-kay and launched the boat off, and paddled it along the shore faster than I could paddle my empty one. We brought them both safe into our creek an hour later. Friday then went to help our new guests out of the boat, but they were neither of them able to walk, so my poor man knew not what to do.

To remedy this, I went to work in my thought. Calling to Friday to bid them sit down on the bank while he came to me, I soon made a kind of a hand-barrow to lay them on, and Friday and I carried them both up together upon it between us.

But when we got them to the outside of our wall we were at a worse loss than before, for it was impossible to get them over, and I was resolv’d not to break it down. So I set to work again. Friday and I, in about two hours' time, made a very handsome tent, covered with old sails, and above that with boughs of trees, being in the space without our outward fence, and between, that and the grove of young wood which I had planted. Here we made them two beds of such things as I had.

As soon as I had secured my two weak rescued prisoners and given them shelter, I began to think of making some provision for them. The first thing I did, I ordered Friday to take a yearling goat, betwixt a kid and a goat, out of my particular flock to be killed. Then I cut off the hinder-quarter and, chopping it into small pieces, I set Friday to work to boiling and stewing and made them a very good dish of flesh and broth, having put some barley and rice also into the broth. I carry’d it all into the new tent, and having set a table there for them, I sat down and eat my dinner also with them. Friday was my interpreter to his father, and to Olegario too, for he spoke the language of the savages pretty well.

After we had supped, I order’d Friday to take one of the canoes and go and fetch our muskets and other fire-arms, which, for want of time, we had left upon the place of battle. The next day I order’d him to go and burn the dead bodies of the savages, which lay open to the sun and would presently be offensive. I also order’d him to burn the horrid remains of their barbarous feast, which I knew were pretty much, and which I could not think of doing myself. The thought of the dark church and its totem now gave me great apprehensions, for I now suspected there may be more to Friday's god than a meer trick of savage priests.

It was also made clear to me at this time that Walla-kay was both a name and a title, for I did notice this was the same word Friday had used for the old clergy of his people. As we would call a man "captain" or "mate" so did the savages make this one and the same, and some would change names many times in their lives. Thus was Friday's father a priest of sorts, altho' I was not as quick to discredit their beliefs as I once had been, as I have said.

I then began to enter into a little conversation with my two new subjects. First, I set Friday to inquire of his father what he thought of the escape of the savages in that canoe, and whether we might expect a return of them with a power too great for us to resist. Walla-kay's first opinion was the savages in the boat never could live out the storm which blew that night they went off, but must be drowned or driven south to those other shores where they were as sure to be devoured as they were to be drowned. As to what they would do if they came safe on shore, he said he knew not. But it was his opinion they were so frighten’d with the manner of their being attacked, the sudden noise, and the fire, that he believed they would tell the people they were all kill'd by thunder and lightning, and the two which appear'd, viz. Friday and I, were two heavenly furies come down to destroy them, and not men. This he knew, because he heard them all cry out the word tynd-lo, which is the word in their language for a spirit which appears and kills.

In a little time, however, no more canoes appearing, the fear of their coming wore off. I began to take my former thoughts of an escape to the main into consideration, being likewise assured by Walla-kay I might depend upon good usage from their nation, on his account, if I would go. He had questions for me, as well, for he would not believe I had lived on this island for as many years as Friday and I told him.

"He say white mans cannot long live here," said Friday, interpreting his father's words. "This island strong for Kathooloo, weak for white mans. Only we people safe here." At which his father slapt his own chest with his hand, which was much like the hand of his son, tho' be it with longer nails and, I observ'd, more flesh between the long fingers. Walla-kay had the same grey skin as my man Friday, his son, but also a wider mouth above his white beard and larger eyes. He look'd to my eyes much like a grandfather frog, altho' I would never say as such to Friday.

I assured him that my numbers were true, and offer'd to show him my calendar, or post, on which I still mark'd the day every morning. The old man shook his head and made it known again that I could not live here. Then he and Friday enter'd into a long debate which I could not understand, that is to say, in their own language, and many times Friday did gesture at me and at the sky. Walla-kay's eyes open'd wide, which was very wide indeed, and he reach'd out to brush my brow with a fingertip. He then snifft his fingers, as a dog does take a scent, and I did see that he could smell the beast upon me. The old man found this acceptable and did not doubt my word again.

But my thoughts were a little suspended when I had a serious discourse with Olegario, and when I understood there were sixteen more of his countrymen and Portuguese, who, having been cast away, lived there at peace with the savages but were very sore put to it for necessaries and indeed for life.

I asked him all the particulars of their voyage and found they were a Spanish ship, bound from the Rio de la Plata to the Havana, being directed to leave their loading there and to bring back what European goods they could meet with there. They had five Portuguese seamen on board, whom they took out of another wreck. Five of their own men were drown'd when first the ship was lost, and these escaped through infinite dangers and hazards and arrived on the cannibal coast, where they expected to have been devour'd every moment. He told me they had some arms with them, but they were useless for they had neither powder nor ball.

I asked him what he thought would become of them there and if they had formed any design of making their escape. Olegario said they had many consultations about it, but having neither vessel, nor tools to build one, nor provisions of any kind, their councils always ended in tears and despair. I asked him how he thought they would receive a proposal from me which might tend towards an escape, and whether it might not be done. I feared mostly their treachery and ill usage of me if I put my life in their hands. Many is the sailor who would see a man of the beast, as myself, as less than a man and worth no debt or promise, or that they could be even more than hostile to me. Gratitude was no inherent virtue, nor did men always square their dealings by the obligations they had received so much as they did by the advantages they expected. These were my thoughts, altho' I did not explain them all to Olegario at this time. I told him it would be very hard that I should be the instrument of their deliverance and they should afterwards make me their prisoner in New Spain. I had rather be deliver'd up to the savages and be devoured alive than fall into the merciless claws of the priests and be carry’d into the Inquisition.

I added, that otherwise I was persuaded, if they were all here, we might with so many hands build a bark large enough to carry us all away, either to the Brasils, to the islands, or Spanish coast. But if they should carry me by force among their own people, I might be ill used for my kindness to them and make my case worse than it was before.

He answer'd, with a great deal of candour and ingenuousness, their condition was so miserable, and they were so sensible of it, he believed they would abhor the thought of using any man unkindly that should contribute to their deliverance. If I pleased, he would go to them with the old man (for the other savages might be displeased if he return'd alone) and discourse with them about it and return again and bring me their answer. He would make conditions with them upon their solemn oath that they should be absolutely under my leading, as their commander and captain. They should swear upon the holy sacraments and gospel to be true to me, and to be directed wholly and absolutely by my orders till they were landed in such country as I intended. He would bring a contract from them for that purpose. Then he told me he would first swear to me himself that he would never stir from me as long as he lived till I gave him orders. He would take my side to the last drop of his blood if there should happen the least breach of faith among his countrymen. He told me they were all of them very civil, honest men, and they were under the greatest distress imaginable, having neither weapons or cloathes, nor any food, but at the mercy and discretion of the savages. He was sure if I would undertake their relief they would live and die by me.

Upon these assurances, I resolv’d to relieve them, if possible, and to send the old savage and Olegario over to them to treat. But when we had got all things in readiness to go, Olegario himself started an objection, which had so much prudence in it on one hand, and so much sincerity on the other hand, I could not but be very well satisfy’d in it.

By his advice, put off the deliverance of his comrades for at least half a year. The case was thus. He had been with us now about a month, during which time I had let him see in what manner I had provided for my support. He saw what stock of corn and rice I had laid up, which, tho’ it was more than sufficient for myself, it was not sufficient, without good husbandry, for my family now it was increased to four. But much less would it be sufficient if his countrymen, who were, as he said, sixteen still alive, should come over. Least of all would it be sufficient to victual our vessel, if we should build one, for a voyage to any of the Christian colonies of America. So he told me he thought it would be more advisable to let him and the other two dig and cultivate some more land, as much as I could spare seed to sow, and we should wait another harvest, that we might have a supply of corn for his countrymen when they should come. For want might be a temptation to them to disagree.

"You know," said he, "the children of Israel, tho’ they rejoiced at first for their being delivered out of Egypt, yet rebelled even against God himself when they came to want bread in the wilderness."