Робинзон Крузо

           Istoodstillafewmomentstorecoverbreath,andtillthewaterwentfromme,andthentooktomyheelsandranwithwhatstrengthIhadfarthertowardstheshore. Butneitherwouldthisdelivermefromthefuryofthesea,whichcamepouringinaftermeagain,andtwicemoreIwasliftedupbythewavesandcarriedforwardsasbefore,theshorebeingveryflat. 

           Thelasttimeofthesetwohadwellnearbeenfataltome; forthesea,havinghurriedmealongasbefore,landedme,orratherdashedme,againstapieceofarock,andthatwithsuchforce,asitleftmesenseless,andindeedhelpless,astomyowndeliverance; fortheblowtakingmysideandbreast,beatthebreath,asitwere,quiteoutofmybody; andhaditreturnedagainimmediately,Imusthavebeenstrangledinthewater. ButIrecoveredalittlebeforethereturnofthewaves,andseeingIshouldbecoveredagainwiththewater,Iresolvedtoholdfastbyapieceoftherock,andsotoholdmybreath,ifpossible,tillthewavewentback. Now,asthewaveswerenotsohighasatfirst,beingnearland,Iheldmyholdtillthewaveabated, andthenfetchedanotherrun,whichbroughtmesoneartheshore,thatthenextwave,thoughitwentoverme,yetdidnotsoswallowmeupastocarrymeaway, andthenextrunItookIgottothemainland,where,tomygreatcomfort,Iclamberedupthecliffsoftheshore,andsatmedownuponthegrass,freefromdanger,andquiteoutofthereachofthewater. 

           Iwasnowlanded,andsafeonshore,andbegantolookupandthankGodthatmylifewassavedinacasewhereintherewassomeminutesbeforescarceanyroomtohope. Ibelieveitisimpossibletoexpresstothelifewhattheecstaciesandtransportsofthesoularewhenitissosaved,asImaysay,outoftheverygrave;