Робинзон Крузо
Start in life
Wehadagoodship,butshewasdeepladen,andwallowedinthesea,sothattheseameneverynowandthencriedoutshewouldfounder. Itwasmyadvantageinonerespect,thatIdidnotknowwhattheymeantbyFOUNDERtillIinquired. However,thestormwassoviolentthatIsaw,whatisnotoftenseen,themaster,theboatswain,andsomeothersmoresensiblethantherest,attheirprayers,andexpectingeverymomentwhentheshipwouldgotothebottom. Inthemiddleofthenight,andunderalltherestofourdistresses,oneofthementhathadbeendowntoseecriedoutwehadsprungaleak; anothersaidtherewasfourfeetwaterinthehold. Thenallhandswerecalledtothepump. Atthatword,myheart,asIthought,diedwithinme:andIfellbackwardsuponthesideofmybedwhereIsat,intothecabin. However,themenrousedme,andtoldmethatI,thatwasabletodonothingbefore,wasaswellabletopumpasanother; atwhichIstirredupandwenttothepump,andworkedveryheartily. Whilethiswasdoingthemaster,seeingsomelightcolliers,who,notabletorideoutthestormwereobligedtoslipandrunawaytosea,andwouldcomenearus,orderedtofireagunasasignalofdistress. I,whoknewnothingwhattheymeant,thoughttheshiphadbroken,orsomedreadfulthinghappened. Inaword,IwassosurprisedthatIfelldowninaswoon.Asthiswasatimewheneverybodyhadhisownlifetothinkof,nobodymindedme,orwhatwasbecomeofme; butanothermansteppeduptothepump,andthrustingmeasidewithhisfoot,letmelie,thinkingIhadbeendead; anditwasagreatwhilebeforeIcametomyself.
Weworkedon;butthewaterincreasinginthehold,itwasapparentthattheshipwouldfounder; andthoughthestormbegantoabatealittle,yetitwasnotpossibleshecouldswimtillwemightrunintoanyport;sothemastercontinuedfiringgunsforhelp;