I had once a Mind to have gone to the Brasils, and have settled my self there; for I was, as it were, naturaliz'd to the Place; but I had some little Scruple in my Mind about Religion, which insensibly drew me back, of which I shall say more presently. However, it was not Religion that kept me rom going there for the present; and as I had made no Scruple of being openly of the Religion of the Country, all the while I was among them, so neither did I yet; only that now and then having of late thought more of it, (than formerly) when I began to think of living and dying among them, I began to regret my having profess'd my self a Papist, and thought it might not be the best Religion to die with.

But, as I have said, this was not the main thing that kept me from going to the Brasils, but that really I did not know with whom to leave my Effects behind me; so I resolv'd at last to go to England with it, where, if I arrived, I concluded I should make some Acquaintance, or find some Relations that would be faithful to me; and according I prepar'd to go for England with all my Wealth.

In order to prepare things for my going Home, I first, the Brasil Fleet being just going away, resolved to give Answers suitable to the just and faithful Account of things I had from thence; and first to the Prior of St. Augustine I wrote a Letter full of Thanks for their just Dealings, and the Offer of the 872 Moidores, which was indisposed of, which I desir'd might be given 500 to the Monastery, and 372 to the Poor, as the Prior should direct, desiring the good Padres Prayers for me, and the like.

I wrote next a Letter of Thanks to my two Trustees, with all the Acknowledgment that so much Justice and Honesty call'd for; as for sending them any Present, they were far above having any Occasion of it.

Lastly, I wrote to my Partner, acknowledging his Industry in the Improving the Plantation, and his Integrity in encreasing the Stock of the Works, giving him Instructions for his future Government of my Part, according to the Powers I had left with my old Patron, to whom I desir'd him to send whatever became due to me, 'till he should hear me more particularly; assuring him that it was my Intention, not only to come to him, but to settle my self there for the Remainder of my Life: To this I added a very handsom Present of some Italian Silks for his Wife, and two Daughters, for such the Captain's Son inform'd me he had; with two Pieces of fine English broad Cloath, the best I could get in Lisbon, five Pieces of black Bays, and some Flanders Lace of a good Value.

Having thus settled my Affairs, sold my Cargoe, and turn'd all my Effects into good Bills of Exchange, my next Difficulty was, which Way to go to England: I had been accustom'd enough to the Sea, and yet I had a strange Aversion to going to England by Sea at that time; and though I could give no Reason for it, yet the Difficulty encreas'd upon me so much, that though I had once shipp'd my Baggage, in order to go, yet I alter'd my Mind, and that not once, but two or three times.

It is true, I had been very unfortunate by Sea, and this might be some of the Reason: But let no Man slight the strong Impulses of his own Thoughts in Cases of such Moment: Two of the Ships which I had singl'd out to go in, I mean, more particularly singl'd out than any other, that is to say, so as in one of them to put my things on Board, and in the other to have agreed with the Captain; I say, two of these Ships miscarry'd, viz. One was taken by the Algerines, and the other was cast away on the Start near Torbay, and all the People drown'd except three; so that in either of those Vessels I had been made miserable; and in which most, it was hard to say.

Having been thus harass'd in my Thoughts, my old Pilot, to whom I communicated every thing, press'd me earnestly not to go by Sea, but either to go by Land to the Groyne, and cross over the Bay of Biscay to Rochell, from whence it was but an easy and safe Journey by Land to Paris, and so to Calais and Dover; or to go up to Madrid, and so all the Way by Land thro' France.

In a Word, I was so prepossess'd against my going by Sea at all, except from Calais to Dover, that I resolv'd to travel all the Way by Land; which as I was not in Haste, and did not value the Charge, was by much the pleasanter Way; and to make it more so, my old Captain brought an English Gentleman, the Son of a Merchant in Lisbon, who was willing to travel with me: After which, we pick'd up two more English Merchants also, and two young Portuguese Gentlemen, the last going to Paris only; so that we were in all six of us, and five Servants; the two Merchants and the two Portuguese, contenting themselves with one Servant, between two, to save the Charge; and as for me, I got an English Sailor to travel with me as a Servant, besides my Man Friday, who was too much a Stranger to be capable of supplying the Place of a Servant on the Road.

In this Manner I set out from Lisbon; and our Company being all very well mounted and armed, we made a little Troop, whereof they did me the Honour to call me Captain, as well because I was the oldest Man, as because I had two Servants, and indeed was the Original' of the whole Journey.

As I have troubled you with none of my Sea-Journals, so I shall trouble you now with none of my Land-Journal: But some Adventures that happen'd to us in this tedious and difficult Journey, I must not omit.

When we came to Madrid, we being all of us Strangers to Spain, were willing to stay some time to see the Court of Spain, and to see what was worth observing; but it being the latter Part of the Summer, we hasten'd away, and set out from Madrid about the Middle of October: But when we came to the Edge of Navarre, we were alarm'd at several Towns on the Way, with an Account, that so much Snow was fallen on the French Side of the Mountains, that several Travellers were obliged to come back to Pampeluna, after having attempted, at an extream Hazard, to pass on.

When we came to Pampeluna it self, we found it so indeed; and to me that had been always used to a hot Climate, and indeed to Countries where we could scarce bear any Cloaths on, the Cold was insufferable; nor indeed was it more painful than it was surprising, to come but ten Days before out of the old Castile where the Weather was not only warm but very hot, and immediately to feel a Wind from the Pyrenean Mountains, so very keen, so severely cold, as to be intollerable, and to endanger benumbing and perishing of our Fingers and Toes.

Poor Friday was really frighted when he saw the Mountains all cover'd with Snow, and felt cold Weather, which he had never seen or felt before in his Life.

To mend the Matter, when we came to Pampeluna, it continued snowing with so much Violence, and so long, that the People said, Winter was come before its time, and the Roads which were difficult before, were now quite impassable: For in a Word, the Snow lay in some Places too thick for us to travel; and being not hard frozen, as is the Case in Northern Countries: There was no going without being in Danger of being bury'd alive every Step. We stay'd no less than twenty Days at Pampeluna; when seeing the Winter coming on, and no Likelihood of its being better; for it was the severest Winter all over Europe that had been known in the Memory of Man. I propos'd that we should all go away to Fonterabia, and there take Shipping for Bourdeaux, which was a very little Voyage.

But while we were considering this, there came in four French Gentlemen, who having been stopp'd on the French Side of the Passes, as we were on the Spanish, had found out a Guide, who traversing the Country near the Head of Languedoc, had brought them over the Mountains by such Ways, that they were not much incommoded with the Snow; and where they met with Snow in any Quantity, they said it was frozen hard enough to bear them and their Horses.

We sent for this Guide, who told us, he would undertake to carry us the same Way with no Hazard from the Snow, provided we were armed sufficiently to protect our selves from wild Beasts; for he said, upon these great Snows, it was frequent for some Wolves to show themselves at the Foot of the Mountains, being made ravenous for Want of Food, the Ground being covered with Snow: We told him, we were well enough prepar'd for such Creatures as they were, if he would ensure us from a Kind of two-legged Wolves, which we were told, we were in most Danger from, especially on the French Side of the Mountains.

He satisfy'd us there was no Danger of that kind in the Way that we were to go; so we readily agreed to follow him, as did also twelve other Gentlemen, with their Servants, some French, some Spanish; who, as I said, had attempted to go, and were obliged to come back again.

Accordingly, we all set Out from Pampeluna, with our Guide, on the fifteenth of November; and indeed, I was surpriz'd, when instead of going forward, he came directly back with us, on the same Road that we came from Madrid, above twenty Miles; when being pass'd two Rivers, and come into the plain Country, we found our selves in a warm Climate again, where the Country was pleasant, and no Snow to be seen; but on a sudden, turning to his left, he approach'd the Mountains another Way; and though it is true, the Hills and Precipices look'd dreadful, yet he made so many Tours, such Meanders, and led us by such winding Ways, that we were insensibly pass'd the Height of the Mountains, without being much incumbred with the Snow; and all on a sudden, he shew'd us the pleasant fruitful Provinces of Languedoc and Gascoign, all green and flourishing; tho' indeed it was at a great Distance, and we had some rough Way to pass yet.

We were a little uneasy however, when we found it snow'd one whole Day, and a Night, so fast, that we could not travel; but he bid us be easy, we should soon be past it all: We found indeed, that we began to descend every Day, and to come more North than before; and so depending upon our Guide, we went on.

It was about two Hours before Night, when our Guide being something before us, and not just in Sight, out rushed three monstrous Wolves, and after them a Bear, out of a hollow Way, adjoyning to a thick Wood; two of the Wolves flew upon the Guide, and had he been half a Mile before us, he had been devour'd indeed, before we could have help'd him: One of them fastned upon his Horse, and the other attack'd the Man with that Violence, that he had not Time, or not Presence of Mind enough to draw his Pistol, but hollow'd and cry'd out to us most lustily; my Man Friday being next me, I bid him ride up, and see what was the Matter; as soon as Friday came in Sight of the Man, he hollow'd as loud as t'other, O Master! O Master! But like a bold Fellow, rode directly up to the poor Man, and with his Pistol shot the Wolf that attack'd him into the Head.

It was happy for the poor Man, that it was my Man Friday; for he having been us'd to that kind of Creature in his Country, had no Fear upon him; but went close up to him, and shot him as above; whereas any of us, would have fir'd at a farther Distance, and have perhaps either miss'd the Wolf, or endanger'd shooting the Man.

But it was enough to have terrify'd a bolder Man than I, and indeed it alarm'd all our Company, when with the Noise of Friday's Pistol, we heard on both Sides the dismallest Howling of Wolves, and the Noise redoubled by the Eccho of the Mountains, that it was to us as if there had been a prodigious Multitude of them; and perhaps indeed there was not such a Few, as that we had no cause of Apprehensions.

However, as Friday had kill'd this Wolf, the other that had fastned upon the Horse, left him immediately, and fled; having happily fastned upon his Head, where the Bosses of the Bridle had stuck in his Teeth; so that he had not done him much Hurt: The Man indeed was most Hurt; for the raging Creature had bit him twice, once on the Arm, and the other Time a little above his Knee; and he was just as it were tumbling down by the Disorder of his Horse, when Friday came up and shot the Wolf.

It is easy to suppose, that at the Noise of Friday's Pistol, we all mended our Pace, and rid up as fast as the Way (which was very difficult) would give us leave, to see what was the Matter; as soon as we came clear of the Trees, which blinded us before, we saw clearly what had been the Case, and how Friday had disengag'd the poor Guide; though we did not presently discern what kind of Creature it was he had kill'd.

But never was a Fight manag'd so hardily, and in such a surprizing Manner, as that which follow'd between Friday and the Bear, which gave us all (though at first we were surpriz'd and afraid for him) the greatest Diversion imaginable: As the Bear is a heavy, clumsey Creature, and does not gallop as the Wolf does, who is swift, and light; so he has two particular Qualities, which generally are the Rule of his Actions; First, As to Men, who are not his proper Prey; I say, not his proper Prey; because tho' I cannot say what excessive Hunger might do, which was now their Case, the Ground being all cover'd with Snow; but as to Men, he does not usually attempt them, unless they first attack him: On the contrary, if you meet him in the Woods, if you don't meddle with him, he won't meddle with you; but then you must take Care to be very Civil to him, and give him the Road; for he is a very nice Gentleman, he won't go a Step out of his Way for a Prince; nay, if you are really afraid, your best way is to look another Way, and keep going on; for sometimes if you stop, and stand still, and look steadily at him, he takes it for an Affront; but if you throw or toss any Thing at him, and it hits him, though it were but a bit of a Stick, as big as your Finger, he takes it for an Affront, and sets all his other Business aside to pursue his Revenge; for he will have Satisfaction in Point of Honour; that is his first Quality: The next is, That if he be once affronted, he will never leave you, Night or Day, till he has his Revenge; but follows at a good round rate, till he overtakes you.

My Man Friday had deliver'd our Guide, and when we came up to him, he was helping him off from his Horse; for the Man was both hurt and frighted, and indeed, the last more than the first; when on the sudden, we spy'd the Bear come Out Of the Wood, and a vast monstrous One it was, the biggest by far that ever I saw: We were all a little surpriz'd, when we saw him; but when Friday saw him, it was easy to see Joy and Courage in the Fellow's Countenance; O! O! O! Says Friday, three Times, pointing to him; O Master, You give me te Leave! Me shakee te Hand mith him: Me make you good laugh.

I was surpriz'd to see the Fellow so pleas'd; You Fool you, says I, he mill eat you up: Eatee me up! Eatee me up! Says Friday, twice over again; Me eatee him up: Me make you good laugh: You all stay here, me show you good laugh; so down he sits, and gets his Boots off in a Moment, and put on a Pair of Pumps (as we call the flat Shoes they wear) and which he had in his Pocket, gives my other Servant his Horse, and with his Gun away he flew swift like the Wind.

The Bear was walking softly on, and offer'd to meddle with no Body, till Friday coming pretty near, calls to him, as if the Bear could understand him; Hark ye, hark ye, says Friday, me speakee wit your: We follow'd at a Distance; for now being come down on the Gascoign side of the Mountains, we were entred a vast great Forest, where the Country was plain, and pretty open, though many Trees in it scatter'd here and there.

Friday, who had as we say, the Heels of the Bear, came up with him quickly, and takes up a great Stone, and throws at him, and hit him just on the Head; but did him no more harm, than if he had thrown it against a Wall; but it answer'd Friday's End; for the Rogue was so void of Fear, that he did it purely to make the Bear follow him, and show us some Laugh as he call'd it.

As soon as the Bear felt the Stone, and saw him, he turns about, and comes after him, taking Devilish long Strides, and shuffling along at a strange Rate, so as would have put a Horse to a midling Gallop; away runs Friday, and takes his Course, as if he run towards us for Help; so we all resolv'd to fire at once upon the Bear, and deliver my Man; though I was angry at him heartily, for bringing the Bear back upon us, when he was going about his own Business another Way; and especially I was angry that he had turn'd the Bear upon us, and then run away; and I call'd out, You Dog, said I, is this your making us laugh? Come away, and take your Horse, that me may shoot the Creature; he hears me, and crys Out, No shoot, no shoot, stand still, you get much Laugh. And as the nimble Creature run two Foot for the Beast's one, he turn'd on a sudden, on one side of us, and seeing a great Oak-Tree, fit for his Purpose, he beckon'd to us to follow, and doubling his Pace, he gets nimbly up the Tree laying his Gun down upon the Ground, at about five or six Yards from the Bottom of the Tree.

The Bear soon came to the Tree, and we follow'd at a Distance; the first Thing he did, he stopp'd at the Gun, smelt to it, but let it lye, and up he scrambles into the Tree, climbing like a Cat, though so monstrously heavy: I was amazed at the Folly, as I thought it, of my Man, and could not for my Life see any Thing to laugh at yet, till seeing the Bear get up the Tree, we all rod nearer to him.

When we came to the Tree, there was Friday got out to the small End of a large Limb of the Tree, and the Bear got about half way to him; as soon as the Bear got out to that part where the Limb of the Tree was weaker, Ha, says he to us, now you see me teachee the Bear dance; so he falls a jumping and shaking the Bough, at which the Bear began to totter, but stood still, and begun to look behind him, to see how he should get back; then indeed we did laugh heartily: But Friday had not done with him by a great deal; when he sees him stand still, he calls out to him again, as if he had suppos'd the Bear could speak English; What you no come farther, pray you come farther; so he left jumping and shaking the Tree; and the Bear, just as if he had understood what he said, did come a little further, then he fell a jumping again, and the Bear stopp'd again.

We thought now was a good time to knock him on the Head, and I call'd to Friday to stand still, and we would shoot the Bear; but he cry'd out earnestly, O pray! O pray! No shoot, me shoot, by and then; he would have said, By and by: However, to shorten the Story, Friday danc'd so much, and the Bear Stood so ticklish, that we had laughing enough indeed, but still could not imagine what the Fellow would do; for first we thought he depended upon shaking the Bear off; and we found the Bear was too cunning for that too; for he would not go out far enough to be thrown down, but clings fast with his great broad Claws and Feet, so that we could not imagine what would be the End of it, and where the Jest would be at last.

But Friday put us out of doubt quickly; for seeing the Bear cling fast to the Bough, and that he would not be persuaded to come any farther; Well, well, says Friday, you no come farther, me go, me go; you no come to me, me go come to you; and upon this, he goes out to the smallest End of the Bough, where it would bend with his Weight, and gently lets himself down by it, sliding down the Bough, till he came near enough to jump down on his Feet, and away he run to his Gun, takes it up, and stands still.

Well, said I to him Friday, What will you do now? Why don't you shoot him? No shoot, says Friday, no yet, me shoot nom, me no kill; me stay, give you one more laugh; and indeed so he did, as you will see presently; for when the Bear see his Enemy gone, he comes back from the Bough where he stood; but did it mighty leisurely, looking behind him every Step, and coming backward till he got into the Body of the Tree; then with the same hinder End foremost, he came down the Tree, grasping it with his Claws, and moving one Foot at a Time, very leisurely; at this Juncture, and just before he could set his hind Feet upon the Ground, Friday stept up close to him, clapt the Muzzle of his Piece into his Ear, and shot him dead as a Stone.

Then the Rogue turn'd about, to see if we did not laugh, and when he saw we were pleas'd by our Looks, he falls a laughing himself very loud; so me kill Bear in my Country, says Friday; so you kill them, says I, Why you have no Guns:

No, says he, no Gun, but shoot, great much long Arrow.

This was indeed a good Diversion to us; but we were still in a wild Place, and our Guide very much hurt, and what to do we hardly knew; the Howling of Wolves run much in my Head; and indeed, except the Noise I once heard on the Shore of Africa, of which I have said something already, I never heard any thing that filled me with so much Horrour.

These things, and the Approach of Night, called us off, or else, as Friday would have had us, we should certainly have taken the Skin of this monstrous Creature off, which was which saving; but we had three Leagues to go, and our Guide hasten'd us, so we left him, and went forward on our Journey.

我一度也曾想到过在巴西安家落户，因为我从前入过巴西籍。但是在宗教上我总有一点顾虑，使我不敢贸然作出决定。关于这个问题，我不久再会谈到，但当前，妨碍我前往的不是宗教问题。从前我在巴西的时候，已毫无顾忌地皈依了他们的宗教，现在当然更无所顾虑了。不过，最近我经常会考虑到这个问题，想到我将在他们中间生活和去世，我有点后悔当时我皈依了旧教天主教，并感到自己有点不甘心以旧教徒的身份死去。

但是，我上面已说过，目前妨碍我前往巴西的不是什么宗教问题，而是我不知道该把我的财产托付给谁代管。所以，我决定带着我的钱和财产回英国去。到了那里，我相信一定可以结交一些朋友，或找到什么忠于我的亲戚。这样，我就决定带着我的全部财富回英国去。

回国之前，当然先得把一些事情料理一下。开往巴西的船队马上要起航了，所以我决定先写几封回信，答复巴西方面寄给我的那些报告。应该说，他们的报告既忠实，又公正，所以，我的回信也应该写得十分得体。首先，我给圣奥古斯丁修道院院长写了一封回信，在信中，我对他们公正无私的办事态度充满了感激之情，并把那没有动用的八百七十二块葡萄牙金币全部捐献了出去，其中五百块金币捐给修道院，三百七十二块金币随院长意思捐给品民，并请他为我祈祷。

接着，我又给两位代理人写了一封感谢信，赞扬他们公正无私、诚实忠诚的办事态度。我本想送他们一些礼物，可是一想他们什么也不缺，也就作罢了。

最后，我又给我的合股人写了一封信，感谢他在发展我们的种植园工作上所付出的辛勤劳动，以及他在扩大工厂经营中所表现的廉洁精神。在信中，我对今后如何处置我的那部分资产作了指示，请他按我赋予老船长的权力，把我应得的收益寄给老船长。以后办法如有改变，我将会再详细通知他。同时，我还告诉他，我不仅会亲自去巴西看他，还打算在那里定居，度过我的余生。另外，我又送了一份丰厚的礼物给他的太太和两个女儿，因为老船长告诉我，他已有了家室。礼物中包括一些意大利丝绸，两匹英国细呢，那是我在里斯本市场上所能买到的最好的呢料，五匹黑色粗呢，以及一些价格昂贵的佛兰德斯花边。

就这样，我把该料理的事情都办了，把货也卖出去了，又把我的钱财换成可靠的汇票，下一步的难题就是走哪一条路回英国。海路我是走惯了，可是这一次不知什么原因，我就是不想走海路。我不愿意从海路回英国，尽管我自己也说不出什么理由。这种想法越来越强烈，以至有两三次，我把行李都搬到船上了，可是还是临时改变了主意，重新把行李从船上搬了下来。

我的航海生涯确实非常不幸，这也许是我不想再出海的理由之一。但在这种时候，任何人也不应忽视自己内心这种突然产生的念头。我曾特别挑选过两条船，本来我是决定要搭乘的。其中有一条，我把行李都搬上去了；另一条，我也都和船长讲定了。可是，最后我两条船都没有上。后来，那两条船果然都出事了。一条给阿尔及利亚人掳了去；另一条在托贝湾的斯塔特岬角沉没了，除了三个人生还，其他人都淹死了。反正不管我上哪条船，都得倒霉；至于上哪条船更倒霉，那就很难说了。

我为这事心里烦透了，就去与老船长商量。他坚决反对我走海路，而劝我最好走陆路到拉科鲁尼亚，渡过比斯开湾到罗谢尔，再从罗谢尔走陆路到巴黎，既安全又舒适，然后再从巴黎到加来和多佛尔；或先到马德里，然后由陆路穿过法国。

总之，我不想走海路已成了一种先入为主的想法，怎么也无法改变了；唯一我愿意坐船的一段路，就是从加来到多佛尔这段海路。现在，我既不想急于赶路，又不在乎花钱，所以就决定全部走陆路，而且陆上旅行实在也是很愉快的。为了使这次旅行更愉快，我的老船长又给我找了一位英国绅士为伴。此人是在里斯本的一位商人的儿子，他表示愿意和我结伴同行。后来我们又找到了两位英国商人和两位葡萄牙绅士，不过两位葡萄牙绅士的目的地是巴黎。这样，我们现在一共有六个旅伴和五个仆人；那两位英国商人和两位葡萄牙绅士为了节省开支，各共用一个听差。而我除了星期五之外，又找了一个英国水手当我路上的听差，因为星期五在这异乡客地，难以担当听差的职务。

我们就这样从里斯本出发了。我们都骑着好马，全副武装，成了一支小小的部队。大家都很尊敬我，称我为队长，一来是我年纪最大，二来我有两个听差。再说，我也是这次旅行的发起人哩。

前面，我没用我的航行日记使读者生厌；现在，我当然也不想用陆上旅行日记使读者厌烦了。但是，这趟旅行既疲劳又艰苦，期间也发生了几件险事，在这里不能不提一下。

我们到了马德里之后，因为大家都第一次来到西班牙，所以都想逗留几天参观一下西班牙皇宫和其他值得观光的地方。但这时已近夏末秋初，我们不得不匆匆重新上路。离开马德里时，已是十月中旬了。可是，当我们到达纳瓦拉边境时，在沿路的几个小城镇里听到人们议论纷纷，说在法国境内的山上，已经大雪纷飞。几个冒险试图越过山区的旅客，都被迫返回了潘佩卢那。

我们到达潘佩卢那后，发现情况确实如此。这么多年来，我一向过惯了热带气候，在那里连衣服也热得穿不上。可现在突然遇此严寒，实在使我有点受不了。尤其是，十天以前，我们才离开旧卡斯蒂利亚；那儿气候不仅温暖，甚至很热。

现在，从比利牛斯山上一下子吹来一股寒风，冷得叫人受不了。我们的手脚都冻得麻木了，差点儿把手指头和脚趾头都冻掉。这突如其来的变化是出乎我们意料的，令我们非常苦恼。

可怜的星期五一辈子没见过雪受过冻。现在忽然看见大雪封山，天寒地冻，简直把他吓坏了。

更糟的是，我们到达潘佩卢那后，大雪一直下个不停。人们都说，今年冬天来得特别早。这一段路本来就不好走，现在更是无法通行了。有些地方积雪很深，寸步难行；而且，这一带的雪不像北方那样冻得结结实实的，而是很松软，因此走在上面随时有被活埋的危险。我们被阻在潘佩卢那不下二十天，眼看冬季已到来，天气没有转好的可能，因为这一年是人们记忆中欧洲最严寒的冬天。在此情况下，我提议我们应先到封塔拉比亚，然后再从那儿坐船到波尔多，那段海路不太远。

正当我们在考虑另寻出路时，忽然来了四位法国绅士。他们曾经在法国境内的山路上被雪所阻，正像我们在这儿西班牙境内的山路上被雪所阻一样。但是，他们后来找到了一个向导，带他们绕过朗格多附近的山区，一路上没碰到什么大雪；即使在雪最多的地方，据他们说也冻得很硬，人和马通行是不成问题的。

我们就把那位向导找了来。他对我们说，他愿意从原路把我们带过去，不会遇到大雪的阻碍，但我们必须多带武器，防备野兽的袭击，因为，他说，大雪过后，经常有些狼在山脚下出没。因为遍地大雪，它们找不到食物，已经饿慌了。我们告诉他，我们对狼这一类野兽已有充分的准备；不过，他能否保证我们不会遇到两条腿的狼，因为，我们听说，这一地区十分危险，经常会受到强人的抢劫，尤其是在法国境内。

向导对我们说，在我们走的路上，没有强人袭击的危险。

于是，我们马上同意跟他走。另外还有十二位绅士和他们的仆人决定和我们一起走。他们中间有法国人，也有西班牙人。

我前面提到，这些人曾试图过境，但因大雪所阻，被迫折回来了。

于是，在十一月十五日，我们一行全体人马跟着我们的向导，从潘佩卢那出发了。出乎我意料之外的是，他并不往前走，而是带我们倒回头来，朝我们从马德里来的那条路上走回去。这样走了大约二十多英里，然后渡过了两条河，来到了平原地带。这儿气候暖和起来，且风景明媚，看不见一点雪。可是，向导突然向左一转，从另一条路把我们带进了山区。这一路上尽是崇山峻岭，悬崖峭壁，看起来煞是可怕。

可是，向导左转右转，曲折迂回，居然带着我们不知不觉地越过了最高的山头，路上并没有碰到什么大雪的困阻。突然，他叫我们向远处看，我们居然看到了风景美丽、物产丰富的朗格多省和加斯科尼剩只见那儿树木繁茂，一片葱绿，但距离还相当远。我们还得走一程歧岖艰难的山路，才能到达那儿。

然而，使我们感到不安的是，这时下起了大雪，整整下了一天一夜，简直没法走路。向导叫我们放心，说我们不久即可通过这一地区。事实上，我们也发现，我们一天天地在下山，而且愈来愈往北走。因此，我们就跟着向导，继续前进。

天黑前两小时，我们的向导远远走在我们的前面；当时，我们已看不到他的身影了。突然，从左边密林深处的山坳里，冲出来三只凶猛的大狼，后面还跟着一头熊。有两只狼直向我们的向导扑去。如果他离我们再远点，就早给狼吞掉了，我们也来不及救他了。这时，一只狼向他的马扑去，紧紧咬住了马；另一只向他本人扑去，使他措手不及，不仅来不及拔出手枪，甚至在慌乱中都没有想到要拔枪自卫，只是一个劲拼命朝我们大喊大叫。这时，星期五正在我的身旁。我就命令他策马向前，看看究竟发生了什么事。星期五一见到向导，也像向导一样大叫起来："主人！主人！"但他毕竟是个勇敢的男子汉，立即催马冲到向导跟前，拿起手枪，对着那只狼的头上就是一枪，结果了那畜牲的生命。

可怜的向导应该说运气不错，因为他碰上了星期五。星期五在他家乡与野兽打惯了交道，所以一点也不害怕。他能坦然地走到狼的跟前，一枪把它打死。要是换了别人，就不敢靠得那么近开枪了。而从远距离开枪，不是打不着狼，就是可能打着人。

即使像我这样胆大的人，见此情景也着实吓得心惊肉跳。

说实在的，我们一行人都吓得魂不附体，因为，紧跟着星期五的枪声，我们就听见两边的狼群发出一起最凄惨的嚎叫，山谷里又发出阵阵回声，结果狼嚎和回声此起彼伏，犹如成千上万的狼在吼叫。说不定来的狼确实也不止这几只，要不，我们也不至如此惊恐万状了。

星期五打死了那只狼之后，另一只本来紧咬着马不放，登时也松了嘴逃跑了。幸亏这只狼咬住了马头，马勒头上的铁圈刚刚卡住了狼的牙齿，因而马没有受什么伤。可是向导的伤可不轻，因为那只激怒了的野兽一共咬了他两口，一口咬在肩膀上，一口咬在他膝头上方。而且，当星期五上前把狼打死时，他那匹受惊的马几乎把他摔了下来。

不用说，一听到星期五的枪声，我们立即催马向前。尽管道路很难走，我们还是快马加鞭，想看看前面到底发生了什么情况。我们一转出挡住视线的小树林，就把情况看得一清二楚，并亲眼看到星期五怎样救了那位可怜的向导，但当时我们还看不清楚他打死的究竟是只什么野兽。

紧接着，星期五和那只大熊之间展开了一场最大胆、最惊人的大战。这场大战起初确实使我们胆战心惊，最后却使大家开怀大笑。熊的身体笨重，行动蹒跚，跑起来当然没有狼那样轻快。因此，他的行动有两个特点。第一，对人来说，他一般不把人当作猎食的对象；当然，像现在这样大雪遍地，极端饥饿的时候，这笨拙的大家伙是否也会吃人，那就很难说了。一般来说，要是在树林里遇到熊，你不去惹它，它也不会来惹你。不过，你得特别小心，要对它客气，给它让路，因为它是一位特别难以取悦的绅士，即使是一位王子走来，它也不肯让路。如果你真的害怕，最好不要看它，继续走你的路。如果你停下来，站着正视它，熊就认为是对它的侮辱。如果你向它丢点什么东西，打中了它，哪怕是一根小小的树枝，只有你手指头那么粗，熊也认为是一种侮辱。这时，它会把一切丢开不管，一心只想报仇，不达目的决不罢休。这有关它的荣誉问题，它一定要把面子挣回来才算满足。这是熊的第一个特点。第二个特点是，熊一旦受到侮辱，就会不分昼夜地跟着你，一直到报了仇才罢休，哪怕绕上许多路，也要赶上你，抓住你。

星期五救了向导的性命。当我们走上去的时候，他正在帮助向导下马，因为向导受了伤，又受了惊吓，而且，看来惊恐甚于伤势。这时，那只熊突然从树林里出来了。这只熊身躯异常庞大，是我生气所看到的最大的熊。我们大家一见，都有点恐慌，可是星期五见到它，反而喜形于色，显出精神百倍的神气。"啊！啊！啊！"他一连叫了三声，又指着熊对我说，"主人，你允许我吧！我要和它握握手，我要叫你们乐一乐！"我看到这家伙如此兴高采烈，不免出乎意料。"你这傻瓜，

"我说，"它要吃掉你的！""吃掉我！吃掉我！"星期五一连说了两遍，"我还要吃掉它哩！我要让你们乐一乐。你们都站开。我要让你们乐一乐！"于是他坐在地上，脱下靴子，换上一双便鞋。这是一种皮底鞋，他衣袋里正好有一双。他把马交给听差，然后带着他的枪，一阵风似地飞快跑了过去。

那只熊正慢条斯理地向前走，看起来不想惹任何人。可是星期五走到它跟前，向它打招呼，好像熊能听懂他的话似的。"你听着，你听着，"他说，"我在跟你说话哩！"我们远远跟在后面。这时我们已走下了山，进入了山这边的加斯科尼剩这儿地势平坦开阔，到处是树木。我们进入了一片大森林。

星期五追上了那只熊，捡起一块大石头向它丢去，正好打在熊的头上。当然，这一点也没伤着它，就像打在一座墙上。可是这样一来，星期五的目的达到了，星期五这家伙简直毫无畏惧，他这样做纯粹是挑，好惹那只熊来追他，照他的说法是逗我们"乐一乐"！

那只熊感觉到有石头打它，并看见了星期五，登时转身向星期五追来。那熊迈开大步，摇摇摆摆，跑得飞快，差不多和马小跑一样快。星期五撒腿就跑，仿佛向我们这边跑来求援似的。于是大家决定向熊开枪，救我的人。但我心里非常生气。因为那熊本来好端端地在走它的路，并没有要惹我们，尤其使我生气的是，他把熊引向我们这儿来，自己却跑掉了。于是我高声叫道："你这狗东西，你就这样让我们乐一乐吗？快走开，牵上你的马，我们可以开枪打死这畜牲。"他听到了我的话，就叫起来："别打，别打！站着不要动，好戏在后面哪！"星期五生就一双飞毛腿，他跑两步，熊才跑一步。

突然，他一转身，从我们旁边跑开，看到那边有一棵大橡树正合他的需要，就向我们招手，叫我们跟上去。同时，他跑得更快，把枪放在离树根大约五六码的地上，自己敏捷地爬上了树。

熊也很快跑到树下，我们一行则远远地跟在后面。那熊先在枪边停了下来闻了闻那支枪，没有去动它，就往树上爬。

虽然那家伙身子笨重，但爬起树来像猫一样灵活。我对星期五的这种愚蠢行为深为惊愕，一点也看不出有什么好笑的地方。我们看到熊已经上了树，也一起策马向前。

当我们来到大树跟前时，星期五已爬到一根树枝的枝梢上，那根树枝长长地向外伸展。这时，那熊也上了那树枝。它沿着树枝向外爬，越向外爬，树枝就越细越软。"哈，"星期五对我们说，"现在你们看我教熊跳舞。"于是他在那支树枝上大跳大摇，弄得那熊摇摇欲坠，只好站住不动，并开始往后回顾，看看怎样能爬回去。我们看到这样子，果然都开怀大笑起来。但星期五玩熊才刚刚开个头呢。他看到那熊站着不动了，就又去招呼它，仿佛相信熊也能讲英语似的。"嗨，怎么啦！你不过来了？请你再朝前走吧！"于是，他不再摇摆树枝了。那只熊也似乎明白他的话似的，又向前爬了几步。于是，星期五又开始大跳大摇，那熊又站住了。

我们认为，这时正好可以向熊头上开一枪，把它打死。于是就叫星期五站着别动，我们要打熊了。可是星期五大声叫着求我们："喔，请不要开枪，等会儿我会开枪的。"好吧，现在长话短说，星期五又在树枝上大跳大摇了一阵子，那只熊爬在上面，东倒西摇，引得我们大家都笑了个够。可是，我们都不知道星期五玩的是什么鬼把戏。起初，我们以为星期五要把熊从树枝上摇下来，可是，我们看得出，那熊也相当狡猾，不肯上当，它再也不肯往前多走一步，怕自己被摇下来，只是一个劲地用它那又宽又大的脚掌紧紧地抓住树枝。所以，我们不知道这件事将会有什么结局，也想象不出这场玩笑最后会如何结束。

但星期五很快就解开了我们的疑团。他见那熊紧抓树枝，不肯往前挪动一步，就说："好吧，好吧，你不走，我走，我走。你不到我这儿来，我到你那儿去。"说完，他爬到树枝的末梢，那地方只要用他的体重一压，就会垂下来。他轻轻从树枝上滑下来，等到他离地不远时，一下子就跳到地上，飞也似地向他的枪跑过去，把枪拿在手里，站在那里一动也不动。

"唔，"我对他说，"星期五，你现在想干什么？为什么你不开枪打死它？""不打，"星期五说："还不打。现在不开枪，我不打它。我呆在这儿，再让你们乐一下。"不久，我们就看到，他真的这样干了。因为那熊见他的敌人走了，也就从它站着的树枝上往后退。但它往回走的时候极其从容不迫，每走一步，都要回头看一下。退着退着，它终于退到树干上来。

然后，它还是倒着身子，从树干上往下爬；它脚掌紧抓树干，一步一步地往下退，依旧是那样从容。就在那熊的后腿刚要落地，星期五一步赶上去，把枪口塞进它的耳朵，一枪就把它打死了。

这时候，星期五这家伙转过身来，看看我们有没有笑。他看到我们都喜形于色，他自己也哈哈大笑起来。"我们那里就是这样杀熊的。"星期五说。"你们真的是这样杀的吗？"我问，"你们没有枪怎么杀啊？""没有，"他说，"没有枪，我们用箭射，很长很长的箭。"星期五的游戏对我们来说确实是一场很好的消遣。可是，我们现在还在荒山野地里，向导又受了重伤，真不知怎么办才好。刚才狼群的嚎叫声还一直在我的耳际回响。说实话，除了我有一次在非洲海岸听到过的那些野兽的吼叫声之外，还从来没有听到过任何声音使我这样毛骨悚然。关于非洲海岸的那次经历，我前面曾叙述过了。

由于上述这些情况，再加上天快黑了，我们便不得不匆匆离开。不然的话，依星期五的意思，我们一定会把那巨熊的皮剥下来，那是很值钱的。可是，我们还要赶九英里的路，向导也一直催我们快走，我们只好丢开那只熊，继续往前赶路。

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