Calico Illustrated Classics: The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
chapter 2 Pirates My decision to return to the sea was sealed when I came upon my friend and his father one day My friend introduced us and shared the story of how I came to sea Young man said the father you ought never to go to sea anymore You are not meant to be a seafaring man The man sounded entirely too much like my father for my liking I felt my backbone stiffen and my chin rise You have seen the same token I said Will you quit the sea My case is different he replied The sea is my calling 10
I believe it is mine as well I insisted I’ll not turn away from it no matter the predictions of you or my father Then you make a choice that endangers anyone fool enough to sail with you he said backing away I would not set my foot in the same ship with you for a thousand pounds I was now determined to sail I searched for another voyage that might appeal to me I met the master of a ship that had recently come from Africa and was preparing to return The master was honest and kind He took a liking to me and we talked at length about my desire to see the world You may ship with me he said I’ll show you the world and the fortunes a young man of courage can make I agreed and followed his directions perfectly I turned to relatives to collect forty pounds to buy trinkets and toys These I took aboard when we sailed 11
The sail was smooth to the coast of Africa The master spent many hours teaching me about navigation record keeping and other such bits of seaman’s craft I soaked up his knowledge like a sponge and we grew as close as family Not only did the voyage educate me but it enriched me as well I returned to London with five pounds of gold dust I had settled upon my life’s calling I would be a merchant and sail with my friend growing richer with each trip The ship’s master took me home with him I met his fine wife and we made plans for the next sail Unfortunately before our plans could come to be the kind man died I left the bulk of my earnings with his widow in safekeeping and shipped out again as a merchant It was the same ship but sadly not the same master And with the loss of my good friend my luck seemed to slip away as well Near the northern African shore we were set upon by a Turkish pirate ship We tried to 12
outrun the pirates but they had the faster ship We fired upon them with our twelve small cannons and they returned fire with their eighteen cannons and smaller guns as well The pirate ship sailed close and sixty men jumped over to board us We fought back We even tossed powder chests which exploded and scattered deadly bits of nails and scrap iron The pirates hacked at our rigging They killed three of our bravest men and wounded more Finally we surrendered and were taken aboard their ship as prisoners We were carried to the pirate base at Sallee Then the captives were taken to be presented to the Moorish emperor I alone stayed as the pirate captain’s prize And so I began my life as a slave 13
