Author : Daniel Defoe
Publisher : Theclassics.Us
Page : 96 pages
File Size : 42,6 Mb
Release : 2013-09
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1230471421
The Works of Daniel Defoe Volume 2 by Daniel Defoe Pdf
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... We had a prisoner indeed, but the creature was so sullen, that he would neither eat or speak; and we all fancied he would starve himself to death. But I took a way to cure him; for I made them take him and turn him into the longboat, and made him believe they would toss him into the sea again, and so leave him where they found him if he would not speak. Nor would that do; but they really did throw him into the sea, and came away from him; and then he followed them, for he swam like a cork, and called to them in his tongue, though they knew not one word of what he said. However, at last they took him in again, and then he began to be more tractable; nor did I ever design they should drown him. We were now under sail again; but I was the most disconsolate creature alive, for want of my man Friday, and would have been very glad to have gone back to the island to have taken one of the rest from thence for my occasion, but it could not be; so we went on. We had one prisoner, as I have said; and 't was a long while before we could make him understand anything; but in time our men taught him some English, and he began to be a little tractable. Afterwards we inquired what country he came from, but could make nothing of what he said; for his speech was so odd, all gutturals, and spoke in the throat in such a hollow odd manner, that we could never form a word from him; and we were all of opinion that they might speak that language as well if they were gagged as otherwise; nor could we perceive that they had any occasion either for teeth, tongue, lips, or palate, but formed their words just as a hunting-horn forms a tune with an open throat. He told us, however, some time after, when we taught him to speak a little English, that they were going, ..