Робинзон Крузо
Tames Goats
Thethirdday,inthemorning,thewindhavingabatedover-night,theseawascalm,andIventured. ButIamawarningpieceagaintoallrashandignorantpilots; fornosoonerwasIcometothepoint,whenevenIwasnotmyboat’slengthfromtheshore,butIfoundmyselfinagreatdepthofwater,andacurrentlikethesluiceofamill. Itcarriedmyboatalongwithitwithsuchviolence,thatallIcoulddocouldnotkeephersomuchasontheedgeofit,butIfoundithurriedmefartherandfartheroutfromtheeddy,whichwasonmylefthand. Therewasnowindstirringtohelpme,andallIcoulddowithmypaddlerssignifiednothing. AndnowIbegantogivemyselfoverforlost; for,asthecurrentwasonbothsidestheisland,Iknewinafewleaguesdistancetheymustjoinagain,andthenIwasirrecoverablygone. NordidIseeanypossibilityofavoidingit; sothatIhadnoprospectbeforemebutofperishing; notbythesea,forthatwascalmenough,butofstarvingforhunger. Ihadindeedfoundatortoiseontheshore,asbigalmostasIcouldlift,andhadtosseditintotheboat; andIhadagreatjaroffreshwater,thatistosay,oneofmyearthenpots; butwhatwasallthistobeingdrivenintothevastocean,where,tobesure,therewasnoshore,nomainlandorisland,forathousandleaguesatleast.
AndnowIsawhoweasyitwasfortheprovidenceofGodtomakethemostmiserableconditionmankindcouldbeinworse. NowIlookedbackuponmydesolatesolitaryislandasthemostpleasantplaceintheworld,andallthehappinessmyheartcouldwishforwastobebutthereagain. Istretchedoutmyhandstoit,witheagerwishes. "Ohappydesert! "saidI,"Ishallneverseetheemore. Omiserablecreature,"saidI,"whitheramIgoing? "ThenIreproachedmyselfwithmyunthankfultemper,andhowIhadrepinedatmysolitarycondition; andnowwhatwouldIgivetobeonshorethereagain.
