8 Escape at last

Chapter 8 Escape at last? Only a week later, Crusoe saw a ship moored close to the island... an English ship! He could hardly believe it, another ship after so long.

Feeling excited, he fetched his telescope. A small boat was coming ashore, full of sailors. But three of them had their hands tied. The sailors took their prisoners to a tree and tied them up. Then they wandered off along the beach.

Friday and Crusoe went down to the beach to see what was going on. Hello there! Can we help you? The prisoners stared at Crusoe. Then one of them spoke. "I'm the captain of that ship," he said. "My sailors mutinied." Some of them rowed us here to abandon us.

"That's terrible!" said Crusoe. Then he smiled. He'd had an idea. "Well, we'll help you to escape... he began, "...if you promise to take us to England." The captain nodded. "Of course," he agreed eagerly.

When the sailors came back from exploring the island, they had a shock. Crusoe, Friday and the prisoners jumped out from behind some bushes and seized them. They stood no chance. "We'll spare your lives if you help us," said Crusoe. The sailors agreed. They didn't have much choice.

Later that night, the captain rowed out to the ship with the few men he could trust. They crept aboard very quietly... and opened fire. Aagh! Stop! We'll hand the ship back. The rebels were taken by surprise. "Stop! We surrender!" they cried.