Робинзон Крузо
Tames Goats
Thusweneverseethetruestateofourconditiontillitisillustratedtousbyitscontraries;norknowhowtovaluewhatweenjoy,butbythewantofit. ItisscarcepossibletoimaginetheconsternationIwasnowin,beingdrivenfrommybelovedisland(forsoitappearedtomenowtobe)intothewideocean,almosttwoleagues,andintheutmostdespairofeverrecoveringitagain. However,Iworkedhard,tillindeedmystrengthwasalmostexhausted,andkeptmyboatasmuchtothenorthward,thatis,towardsthesideofthecurrentwhichtheeddylayon,aspossiblyIcould; whenaboutnoon,asthesunpassedthemeridian,IthoughtIfeltalittlebreezeofwindinmyface,springingupfromtheSSE. Thischeeredmyheartalittle,andespeciallywhen,inaboutanhourmore,itblewaprettysmallgentlegale. BythistimeIwasgottenatafrightfuldistancefromtheisland; andhadtheleastcloudorhazyweatherintervened,Ihadbeenundoneanotherwaytoo; forIhadnocompassonboard,andshouldneverhaveknownhowtohavesteeredtowardstheislandifIhadbutoncelostsightofit. Buttheweathercontinuingclear,Iappliedmyselftogetupmymastagain,andspreadmysail,standingawaytothenorthasmuchaspossible,togetoutofthecurrent.
JustasIhadsetmymastandsail,andtheboatbegantostretchaway,Isawevenbyclearnessofthewatersomealterationofthecurrentwasnear; forwherethecurrentwassostrong,thewaterwasfoul. Butperceivingthewaterclear,Ifoundthecurrentabate,andpresentlyIfoundtotheeast,atabouthalfamile,abreachoftheseauponsomerocks. TheserocksIfoundcausedthecurrenttopartagain;andasthemainstressofitranawaymoresoutherly,leavingtherockstothenorth-east,sotheotherreturnedbytherepulseoftherocks,andmadeastrongeddy,whichranbackagaintothenorth-westwithaverysharpstream.
