I gave the young man I had rescued (救) bread and water. He was tired out and fell quickly asleep.
I guessed his age at around twenty-six. He was tall and strong and looked kind, especially when he smiled. He slept only about a half. Again he made gestures (手势) to show that he was grateful to me.
We communicated by gestures at first. Soon he showed himself much better at learning my language than I was at learning his. I told him I'm Robinson. I called him Friday, for it was on a Friday that I rescued him. He quickly learned "yes" and "no" and the names of many things.
At first, I didn't completely trust Friday and he was separated from me in another room. But soon I found it unnecessary. Nobody would be more loyal than Friday. He seemed almost to consider me like a father. Friday was also willing to help in any way.
For the next three years, I taught Friday to use all my tools. I took him to see everything I had made. Friday was quick to help with the work on the island. One day, I showed Friday the ruin of the wreck (沉船). I explained that I had come upon the island the same way. That was when Friday told me the most amazing thing. He saw such a wreck before, not far from his home.
"We rescue the white men from drown. "he said.
I asked him how many men they had rescued, and he showed me on his fingers — seventeen. I was surprised at the idea of a group of Europeans so close. I took Friday to the highest point of the island where other lands could be seen. He began jumping and dancing.
（取材于扬州市"五个一百工程"指定阅读书目《鲁滨逊漂流记》）
