Robinson. Supposing that the stranger learns to cultivate a garden, and that his island is more fertile than ours. Do you see the consequences?
Friday. Yes. Our relations with the stranger will stop. He will take no more vegetables from us, since he can get them at home with less trouble. He will bring us no more game, since we will have nothing to give in exchange, and we will be then just where you want us to be now.
Robinson. Short-sighted savage! You do not see that after having destroyed our hunting, by inundating us with game, he will kill our gardening by overwhelming us with vegetables.
Friday. But he will do that only so long as we give him something else; that is to say, so long as we find something else to produce, which will economize our labor.
Robinson. Something else—something else! You always come back to that. You are very vague, friend Friday; there is nothing practical in your views.
The contest lasted a long time, and, as often happens, left each one convinced that he was right. However, Robinson having great influence over Friday, his views prevailed, and when the stranger came for an answer, Robinson said to him:
"Stranger, in order that your proposition may be accepted, we must be quite sure of two things:
"The first is, that your island is not richer in game than ours, for we will struggle but with equal arms.
"The second is, that you will lose by the bargain. For, as in every exchange there is necessarily a gainer and a loser, we would be cheated, if you were not. What have you to say?".
"Nothing, nothing," replied the stranger, who burst out laughing, and returned to his canoe.