Робинзон Крузо

           Whenshewasinthewater,andthoughshewassobig,itamazedmetoseewithwhatdexterity,andhowswiftmymanFridaywouldmanageher,turnher,andpaddleheralong. SoIaskedhimifhewould,andifwemightventureoverinher. "Yes,"hesaid,"heventureoverinherverywell,thoughgreatblowwind." However,Ihadafartherdesignthatheknewnothingof,andthatwastomakeamastandsail,andtofitherwithananchorandcable. Astoamast,thatwaseasyenoughtoget; soIpitcheduponastraightyoungcedar-tree,whichIfoundneartheplace,andwhichtherewasgreatplentyofintheisland; andIsetFridaytoworktocutitdown,andgavehimdirectionshowtoshapeandorderit. Butastothesail,thatwasmyparticularcare. IknewIhadoldsails,orratherpiecesofoldsailsenough; butasIhadhadthemnowtwenty-sixyearsbyme,andhadnotbeenverycarefultopreservethem,notimaginingthatIshouldeverhavethiskindofuseforthem,Ididnotdoubtbuttheywereallrotten,and,indeed,mostofthemwereso. However,Ifoundtwopieceswhichappearedprettygood,andwiththeseIwenttowork,andwithagreatdealofpains,andawkwardtediousstitching(youmaybesure)forwantofneedles,I,atlength,madeathree-cornereduglything,likewhatwecallinEnglandashoulder-of-muttonsail,togowithaboomatbottom,andalittleshortspritatthetop,suchasusuallyourship’slongboatssailwith,andsuchasbestknewhowtomanage; becauseitwassuchaoneasIhadtotheboatinwhichImademyescapefromBarbary,asrelatedinthefirstpartofmystory. 

           Iwasneartwomonthsperformingthislastwork,viz.,riggingandfittingmymastsandsails; forIfinishedthemverycomplete,makingasmallstay,andasail,orforesail,toit,toassist,ifweshouldturntowindward; and,whichwasmorethanall,Ifixedaruddertothesternofhertosteerwith;