Chapter 8

           Threedaysaftermyarrival,walkingoutofcuriositytothenorth-eastcoastoftheisland,Iobserved,abouthalfaleagueoffinthesea,somewhatthatlookedlikeaboatoverturned.Ipulledoffmyshoesandstockings,and,wailingtwoorthreehundredyards,Ifoundtheobjecttoapproachnearerbyforceofthetide;andthenplainlysawittobearealboat,whichIsupposedmightbysometempesthavebeendrivenfromaship.Whereupon,Ireturnedimmediatelytowardsthecity,anddesiredhisimperialmajestytolendmetwentyofthetallestvesselshehadleft,afterthelossofhisfleet,andthreethousandseamen,underthecommandofhisvice-admiral.Thisfleetsailedround,whileIwentbacktheshortestwaytothecoast,whereIfirstdiscoveredtheboat.Ifoundthetidehaddrivenitstillnearer.Theseamenwereallprovidedwithcordage,whichIhadbeforehandtwistedtoasufficientstrength.Whentheshipscameup,Istrippedmyself,andwadedtillIcamewithinahundredyardsofftheboat,afterwhichIwasforcedtoswimtillIgotuptoit.Theseamenthrewmetheendofthecord,whichIfastenedtoaholeinthefore-partoftheboat,andtheotherendtoamanofwar;butIfoundallmylabourtolittlepurpose;for,beingoutofmydepth,Iwasnotabletowork.InthisnecessityIwasforcedtoswimbehind,andpushtheboatforward,asoftenasIcould,withoneofmyhands;andthetidefavouringme,IadvancedsofarthatIcouldjustholdupmychinandfeeltheground.Irestedtwoorthreeminutes,andthengavetheboatanothershove,andsoon,tilltheseawasnohigherthanmyarm-pits;andnow,themostlaboriouspartbeingover,Itookoutmyothercables,whichwerestowedinoneoftheships,andfastenedthemfirsttotheboat,andthentonineofthevesselswhichattendedme;thewindbeingfavourable,theseamentowed,andIshoved,untilwearrivedwithinfortyyardsoftheshore;