# ■ 7 Friday

For two years I never went anywhere without my gun. I felt lonely and afraid，and had many sleepless nights. One night there was a very bad storm，and I thought I heard the sound of guns out at sea. The next morning I looked out，and saw a ship. It was lying on its side not far from the shore. Quickly，I put my little boat in the water and sailed out to it.

There were two dead men on the ship，but no one alive. The bodies of the other sailors were lost in the sea. I took some clothes and tools，and also a box of Spanish gold and silver money. I was a rich man now，but what use was money to me？I could not buy anything with it.

I wanted people，a friend，somebody to talk to…somebody who could help me escape from my island. One morning I woke up and made a plan. 'I'll try to catch one of the prisoners of the wild men，'I said to myself. 'He'll be happy to be alive and perhaps he'll help me to escape. 'I watched day and night，but for a year and a half there were no boats.

Then one day five boats came. There were about thirty men and they had two prisoners. They made their fire on the sand and danced round it. Then they killed one of the prisoners and began to cook their terrible meal. The second prisoner waited under the trees，with two men to watch him. Suddenly，the prisoner turned and ran. The two men ran after him，but the other wild men were busy round the fire and did not see what was happening.

The prisoner ran like a wild goat，and soon I saw that he was coming near the bottom of my hill. As fast as I could，I ran down the hill and jumped out of the trees between the prisoner and the two wild men. I hit the first man with the wooden end of my gun and he fell down，but I had to shoot the second man. The poor prisoner did not move. He was afraid of the noise of my gun.

I called to him and tried to show him that I was friendly. Slowly，he moved nearer to me，but just then the first wild man began to get up from the ground. Then the prisoner spoke and I understood that he wanted my sword. How happy I was to hear words again！I gave him my sword，and at once he cut off the head of his enemy.

Hurriedly，we hid the dead bodies under some leaves，and then left quickly. I took my prisoner to my secret cave on the other side of the island and gave him food and drink. After that，he went to sleep.

He was a fine young man，about twenty-five years old，tall and well－built，with a kind face and a nice smile. He had a brown skin，black hair，bright eyes and strong white teeth. I decided to give him the name of'Man Friday'，because I first saw him on a Friday.

When he woke up in the morning，he ran out to me. I was milking my goats in the field，and he got down on the ground and put his head near my foot. I understood that he was thank－ing me，and I tried to show him that I was his friend.

I began to teach him to speak English，and soon he could say his name，'Master'，and'Yes'and'No'. How good it was to hear a man's voice again！

Later that day we went back to my first house. We went carefully along the beach，but there were no boats and no wild men. Just blood and bones all over the sand. I felt ill，but Fri-day wanted to eat the pieces of men's bodies which were still on the ground. I showed him that this was terrible for me，and he understood.

When we got to my house，I gave Man Friday some trousers，and I made him a coat and a hat. He liked his new clothes very much. Then I made him a little tent to sleep in，but for a few weeks I always took my gun to bed with me. Per－haps Friday was still a wild man and would try to kill me in the night. At first，Friday was very afraid of my gun. Some－times he talked to it，and asked it not to kill him.

Friday was a quick learner and his English got better day by day. He helped me with the goats and with the work in the cornfields，and soon we were good friends. I enjoyed teaching him and，most of all，having a friend to talk to. This was the happiest of all my years on the island.

Friday and I lived together happily for three years. I told him the story of my adventures and about life in England，and he told me about his country and his people. One day we were at the top of the highest hill on the island，and we were looking out to sea. It was a very clear day and we could see a long way. Suddenly，Friday began to jump up and down，very excited.

What's the matter？'I said.

Look，Master，look！'Friday cried. 'I can see my country. Look over there！'

I looked，and there to the north-west，between the sea and the sky，was a long thin piece of land. I learnt later that it was the island of Trinidad，and that my island was in the mouth of the River Orinoco on the north coast of South America.

I began to think again about escape. Perhaps Friday wanted to go home too. Perhaps together we could get to his country. But what then？Would Friday still be my friend，or would his people kill me and eat me？

I took Friday to the other side of the island and showed him my big canoe. It still lay under the trees. It was very old now，and there were holes in the wood.

Could a boat like this sail to your country，Friday？'I asked him.

Oh yes，'he answered. 'A boat like this can carry a lot of food and drink. '

Then we'll make another canoe like it，and you can go home in it，'I said.

But Friday looked very unhappy. 'Why are you angry with me？'he asked. 'What have I done？Why do you want to send me home？'

But I thought you wanted to go home，'I said.

Yes. But you must come with me. Kill me if you want，but don't send me away from you！'

Then I saw that Friday was a true friend，and so I agreed to go with him. We began work on the canoe at once. Friday chose the tree himself—he understood wood better than I did—and we cut it down. We worked hard and in a month the boat was finished. Two weeks later it was in the sea，and we began to get ready for our long journey.

■ 7 星期五

兩年來，沒帶槍我從不四處亂走。我感到孤獨和害怕，許多晚上無法入睡。一個晚上來了一場非常厲害的風暴。我想我聽到海上的槍聲。第二天早晨我往外望去，看到一隻輪船斜擱在離海岸不遠的海面上。我迅速地把我的小船拖下水並朝大船駛去。

船上有兩個死人，但沒有人活著，其他水手的屍體都消失在海上。我帶走一些衣服和工具，還有一箱西班牙金幣和銀幣，現在我成了一個富翁，但這些錢對我有什麼用呢？我用它們什麼也買不到。

我渴望人類，一個朋友，可以談話的人……可以幫助我逃離孤島的人。有天早上我醒來作了個計劃。“我將試圖能救一個那些野人的俘虜，”我自言自語，“他將因為活著而高興，可能他會幫助我逃跑。”我日夜觀望著，但一年半過去了，卻再也沒見到船隻出現。

有一天，海上來了五隻船，大約有30個人和兩個俘虜。他們在沙灘上生火併圍著火跳舞，然後他們殺了一個俘虜並開始煮可怕的食物。另一個俘虜在樹下等候，留有兩個人看守，突然，這個俘虜轉身就跑，兩個人在後面追趕，但其餘的野人圍著火忙著，並沒有看見發生的事。

那俘虜像一隻野山羊在奔跑，不一會兒我看到他已跑到我的山腳下。我儘快地跑下山去，在俘虜和另兩個野人之間的樹叢裡跳出來。我用木製的槍柄擊倒第一個野人，但我卻不得不開槍打死第二個。可憐的俘虜沒有移動，他被槍聲嚇呆了。

我大聲招呼他，努力向他表明我是友好的。他慢慢地向我靠近，但這時第一個野人開始從地上爬起來。然後這俘虜說話了，我明白他需要我的刀。能夠聽到人的語言我是多麼高興啊！我給他我的刀，他立刻砍掉了敵人的腦袋。

我們急忙把屍體藏在了落葉下，然後迅速地離開。我把俘虜帶到島的另一面我隱蔽的洞穴，並給他食物和水，不久，他睡著了。

他是一個可愛的年輕人，大約25歲，身材高大健壯，和善的臉上帶著開心的微笑。他褐色皮膚，黑頭髮，明亮的眼睛和堅固的白牙齒。我決定叫他“僕人星期五”，因為我是在星期五第一次見到他。

當他早上醒來時，他跑到我的身邊。我正在田裡擠羊奶，他跪在地上把他的頭貼在43我的腳邊。我明白他在感謝我，我努力向他表明我是他的朋友。

我開始教他說英語，不久，他能夠說他的名字，“主人”及“是”與“不是”。重新聽到人的聲音是多麼美妙啊！

那天傍晚，我們回到我的第一次建造的房子，我們沿著海濱小心走著，但那兒沒有船和野人，只有血跡和屍骨散落在沙灘上，我感到噁心，但星期五想吃地上的屍體的碎塊，我向他表示這對我來說很可怕，他明白了。

當我們回到房子裡，我給星期五幾條褲子，而且給他做了件外套和一頂帽子，他非常喜歡他的新衣服。然後我給他搭了一座小帳篷睡覺，但一連幾個星期我總是帶槍睡覺，或許因為星期五還是一個野人，也許他會在夜裡殺了我。開始，星期五害怕我的槍，有時他對槍說話，叫槍不要殺死他。

星期五學得很快，他的英語講得一天比一天好。他幫我養山羊和在田地裡幹活，不久我們成了好朋友。我樂於教他，最重要的是有一個朋友可以談話，這是我在島上最快樂的時光。

我和星期五幸福地一起生活了三年，我告訴他我的冒險經歷和在英國的生活，他告訴我有關他的國家及人民。一天，我們站在島的最高的山頂，眺望大海，天氣十分睛朗，我們可以看得很遠。突然，星期五跳上跳下，非常興奮。

“發生了什麼事？”我說。

“看，主人，看哪！”星期五叫起來。“我能看見我的國家。看，就在那兒。”

我看到從這兒往西北，在海天之間，有一片狹長的土地。我後來知道這是特立尼達島，而我的島在南美洲北部海岸的奧裡諾科河的河口。

我又重新開始考慮逃離。也許星期五也想回家。或許我們能一起回到他的國家。但那會怎樣呢？星期五仍會是我的朋友麼？他的夥伴會殺死並吃掉我麼？

我把星期五帶到島的另一邊，向他展示我的龐大的獨木舟。它仍躺在樹下。現在它非常舊，木頭上有些洞。

“星期五，像這樣的船能駛到你的國家嗎？”我問他。

“哦，能，”他回答說。“像這樣的船能裝運許多食物和水。”

“那麼我們將製造差不多的另一隻獨木舟，你就可以乘著它回家了。”我說。

但星期五看起來很不開心。“為什麼你生我的氣呢？”他問。“我做了什麼？為什麼你想送我回家？”

“但我認為你想回家，”我說道。

“是的。但是你一定要和我一起去。假如你想殺我也可以，但不要把我送走！”

此後我發現星期五是一個真誠的朋友，因此我同意和他一起走。我們馬上開始建造獨木舟。星期五親自挑選木頭——他比我更懂得木材的好壞——我們砍倒樹木。我們辛苦地工作，一個月就把船造好了。兩個星期後船下水了，我們開始為長途旅行作準備。