Робинзон Крузо
Wreck of a Spanish Ship
ThisthoughtwasnosoonerinmyheadbutIcastmyeyeuponalittlehill,whichsufficientlyoverlookedtheseabothways,andfromwhenceIhadaclearviewofthecurrents,orsetsofthetide,andwhichwayIwastoguidemyselfinmyreturn. HereIfound,thatasthecurrentoftheebbsetoutclosebythesouthpointoftheisland,sothecurrentofthefloodsetinclosebytheshoreofthenorthside; andthatIhadnothingtodobuttokeeptothenorthoftheislandinmyreturn,andIshoulddowellenough.
Encouragedwiththisobservation,Iresolvedthenextmorningtosetoutwiththefirstofthetide,andreposingmyselfforthenightinthecanoe,underthegreatwatch-coatImentioned,Ilaunchedout. Imadefirstalittleouttosea,fullnorth,tillIbegantofeelthebenefitofthecurrentwhichseteastward,andwhichcarriedmeatagreatrate; andyetdidnotsohurrymeasthesouthernsidecurrenthaddonebefore,andsoastotakefrommeallgovernmentoftheboat; buthavingastrongsteeragewithmypaddle,Iwentatagreatratedirectlyforthewreck,andlessthantwohoursIcameuptoit.
Itwasadismalsighttolookat. Theship,which,byitsbuilding,wasSpanish,stuckfast,jammedinbetweentworocks. Allthesternandquarterofherwasbeatentopieceswiththesea;andasherforecastle,whichstuckintherocks,hadrunonwithviolence,hermainmastwerebroughtbytheboard;thatistosaybrokenshortoff;butherbowspritwassound,andtheheadandbowappearedfirmer. WhenIcameclosetoheradogappeareduponher,who,seeingmecoming,yelpedandcried; andassoonasIcalledhim,jumpedintotheseatocometome,andItookhimintotheboat,butfoundhimalmostdeadforhungerandthirst.
