Friday had never seen a gun. He did not know the use of firearms. The
muskets that Robinson had brought from the ship were a great mystery
to him. Robinson showed him their use. He showed how they could defend
themselves. He told Friday that these weapons would kill at a
distance. He took some powder and touched a match to it. Friday was
greatly frightened.
Robinson then proceeded to load the gun. He
[Illustration: ROBINSON SHOWING FRIDAY HOW TO SHOOT]
put in some powder, a ball of lead or bullet. Then at the hammer he
placed a little cap which gave a flash when struck. This ignited the
powder. When all was in readiness Robinson bade Friday follow him.
They went slowly out into the forest along the stream. Soon Robinson
espied a rabbit sitting under a clump of grass. Robinson raised his
gun, took careful aim, pressed the trigger. There was a flash and loud
report and there lay the rabbit dead. But Friday, too, was lying on
the ground. He had fainted from astonishment and fright. Robinson
dropped his gun and raised the poor fellow up to a sitting position.
He quickly recovered. He ran to get the rabbit. He examined it
carefully. Robinson at last pointed out the hole the bullet had made
and the mystery of the way the rabbit was killed was solved.
Robinson had lived alone so long that he had learned to love every
living creature on the island. He never harmed anything except when
he needed food.
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