Робинзон Крузо
Wreck of a Spanish Ship
Mysecondcargowasagreatbagfullofrice,theumbrellatosetupovermyheadforshade,anotherlargepotfulloffreshwater,andabouttwodozenofmysmallloaves,orbarley-cakes,morethanbefore,withabottleofgoat’smilkandacheese; allwhich,withgreatlaborandsweat,Ibroughttomyboat.AndprayingtoGodtodirectmyvoyage,Iputout; androwing,orpaddling,thecanoealongtheshore,Icameatlasttotheutmostpointoftheislandonthatside,viz.,NE. AndnowIwastolaunchoutintotheocean,andeithertoventureornottoventure. Ilookedontherapidcurrentswhichranconstantlyonbothsidesoftheislandatadistance,andwhichwereveryterribletome,fromtheremembranceofthehazardIhadbeeninbefore,andmyheartbegantofailme; forIforesawthatifIwasdrivenintoeitherofthosecurrents,Ishouldbecarriedavastwayouttosea,andperhapsoutofmyreach,orsightoftheislandagain;andthatthen,asmyboatwasbutsmall,ifanylittlegaleofwindshouldrise,Ishouldbeinevitablelost.
ThesethoughtssooppressedmymindthatIbegantogiveovermyenterprise; andhavinghauledmyboatintoalittlecreekontheshore,Isteppedout,andsatmedownalittlerisingbitofground,verypensiveandanxious,betweenfearanddesire,aboutmyvoyage; when,asIwasmusing,Icouldperceivethatthetidewasturned,andthefloodcomeon;uponwhichmygoingwasforsomanyhoursimpracticable. Uponthis,presentlyitoccurredtomethatIshouldgouptothehighestpieceofgroundIcouldfindandobserve,ifIcould,howthesetsofthetide,orcurrents,laywhenthefloodcamein,thatImightjudgewhether,ifIwasdrivenonewayout,Imightnotexpecttobedrivenanotherwayhome,withthesamerapidnessofthecurrents.