ther." They at
once began a long conversation, each one told his story. Suddenly Friday
jumped up and said, "How foolish I am, I have not thought to give my
father anything to eat and drink. He must be nearly starved." And away
he ran toward the shelter and was soon back with food and water to
drink.

[Illustration: FRIDAY AND HIS FATHER]

Robinson learned through Friday from his father that the white man was a
Spaniard, that he had been captured by the tribe that had a battle with
Friday's people. The Spaniard was one of sixteen men that had been saved
by Friday's people from a wrecked ship. So weak were the prisoners that
they could not walk to the shelter. Robinson and Friday made a litter
and carried them one after the other. When once there, Friday prepared
some rich rice soup. The prisoners ate heartily and in a few days were
strong enough to go about the island.

XLI

DELIVERANCE AT LAST

Friday had not forgotten the plan for going to his home. He would often
mention it and spent hours talking about it during the long rainy
season. But now that the Spaniard and Friday's father had come into the
family, Robinson felt he must change his plans a little. He felt very
sorry for the Spaniards left in Friday's country. They did not have
enough to eat and were sick and sad besides. He talked the matter over
with the Spaniard many times. They at last planned to send for them. The
Spaniard and Friday's father were to go. Robinson was for doing it at
once. But the Spaniard advised delay. "How can we get food for ourselves
and fifteen others? Your small store will soon be used up," he argued.
Robinson at last saw that this difficulty must be overcome. There was
just one thing to do, and this, to delay their departure until a new
crop of corn could be raised. This would take six months.

But at it they went. The four men could do much and work fast. They
cleared more ground and planted all the seed corn they could spare from
their store. Besides this they sowed about twelve bushels of barley they
had gotten in the ship.

The care for so much crop, its harvesting and storing away, kept them
very busy for the season. Robinson not only did this, but also increased
his flock of goats by catching kids and putting them in his pasture. He
gathered, too, all the grapes he could and dried them on the branches of
trees.

At the end of the harvesting season, they made ready their boat. They
filled it with all the brea