Робинзон Крузо
Ill and Conscience–Stricken
May15. —IcarriedtwohatchetstotryifIcouldnotcutapieceoffoftherolloflead,byplacingtheedgeofonehatchet,anddrivingitwiththeother; but,asitlayaboutafootandahalfinthewater,Icouldnotmakeanyblowtodrivethehatchet.
May16. —Ithadblowedhardinthenight,andthewreckappearedmorebrokenbytheforceofthewater; butIstayedsolonginthewoodstogetpigeonsforfood,thatthetidepreventedmegoingtothewreckthatday.
May17. —Isawsomepiecesofthewreckblownonshore,atagreatdistance,neartwomilesoffme,butresolvedtoseewhattheywere,andfounditwasapieceofthehead,buttooheavyformetobringaway.
May24. —EverydaytothisdayIworkedonthewreck,andwithhardlaborIloosenedsomethingssomuchwiththecrowthatthefirstblowingtideseveralcasksfloatedout,andtwooftheseamen’schests. Butthewindblowingfromtheshore,nothingcametolandthatdaybutpiecesoftimber,andahogshead,whichhadsomebrazilporkinit,butthesaltwaterandthesandhadspoiledit.
Icontinuedthisworkeverydaytothe15thofJune,exceptthetimenecessarytogetfood,whichIalwaysappointed,duringthispartofmyemployment,tobewhenthetidewasup,thatImightbereadywhenitwasebbedout. AndbythistimeIhadgottentimber,andplank,andiron-workenoughtohavebuildedagoodboat,ifIhadknownhow; andalso,Igotatseveraltimes,andinseveralpieces,nearonehundredweightofthesheet-lead.
June16. —Goingdowntotheseaside,Ifoundalargetortoise,orturtle.
