Afterthisstop, wemadeontothesouthwardcontinuallyfortenortwelvedays, livingverysparinglyonourprovisions, whichbegantoabateverymuch, andgoingnooftenertotheshorethanwewereobligedtoforfreshwater. MydesigninthiswastomaketheriverGambiaorSenegal, thatistosayanywhereabouttheCapedeVerde, where I wasinhopestomeetwithsomeEuropeanship; andif I didnot, I knewnotwhatcourse I hadtotake, buttoseekfortheislands, orperishthereamongthenegroes. I knewthatalltheshipsfromEurope, whichsailedeithertothecoastofGuineaortoBrazil, ortotheEastIndies, madethiscape, orthoseislands; and, in a word, I putthewholeofmyfortuneuponthissinglepoint, eitherthat I mustmeetwithsomeshipormustperish.
1
When I hadpursuedthisresolutionabouttendayslonger, as I havesaid, I begantoseethatthelandwasinhabited; andintwoorthreeplaces, aswesailedby, wesawpeoplestandupontheshoretolookatus; wecouldalsoperceivetheywerequiteblackandnaked. I wasonceinclinedtohavegoneonshoretothem; butXurywasmybettercounsellor, andsaidtome, “Nogo, nogo.” However, I hauledinnearertheshorethat I mighttalktothem, and I foundtheyranalongtheshorebyme a goodway. I observedtheyhadnoweaponsintheirhand, exceptone, whohad a longslenderstick, whichXurysaidwas a lance, andthattheycouldthrowthem a greatwaywithgoodaim; so I keptat a distance, buttalkedwiththembysignsaswellas I could; andparticularlymadesignsforsomethingtoeat: theybeckonedtometostopmyboat, andtheywouldfetchmesomemeat. Uponthis I loweredthetopofmysailandlayby, andtwoofthemranupintothecountry, andinlessthanhalf-an-hourcameback, andbroughtwiththemtwopiecesofdriedfleshandsomecorn, suchasistheproduceoftheircountry; butweneitherknewwhattheoneortheotherwas; however, wewerewillingtoacceptit, buthowtocomeatitwasournextdispute, for I wouldnotventureonshoretothem, andtheywereasmuchafraidofus; buttheytook a safewayforusall, fortheybroughtittotheshoreandlaiditdown, andwentandstood a greatwayofftillwefetcheditonboard, andthencameclosetousagain.
2
Wemadesignsofthankstothem, forwehadnothingtomakethemamends; butanopportunityofferedthatveryinstanttoobligethemwonderfully; forwhilewewerelyingbytheshorecametwomightycreatures, onepursuingtheother (aswetookit) withgreatfuryfromthemountainstowardsthesea; whetheritwasthemalepursuingthefemale, orwhethertheywereinsportorinrage, wecouldnottell, anymorethanwecouldtellwhetheritwasusualorstrange, but I believeitwasthelatter; because, inthefirstplace, thoseravenouscreaturesseldomappearbutinthenight; and, inthesecondplace, wefoundthepeopleterriblyfrighted, especiallythewomen. Themanthathadthelanceordartdidnotflyfromthem, buttherestdid; however, asthetwocreaturesrandirectlyintothewater, theydidnotoffertofalluponanyofthenegroes, butplungedthemselvesintothesea, andswamabout, asiftheyhadcomefortheirdiversion; atlastoneofthembegantocomenearerourboatthanatfirst I expected; but I layreadyforhim, for I hadloadedmygunwithallpossibleexpedition, andbadeXuryloadboththeothers. Assoonashecamefairlywithinmyreach, I fired, andshothimdirectlyinthehead; immediatelyhesankdownintothewater, butroseinstantly, andplungedupanddown, asifhewerestrugglingforlife, andsoindeedhewas; heimmediatelymadetotheshore; butbetweenthewound, whichwashismortalhurt, andthestranglingofthewater, hediedjustbeforehereachedtheshore.
3
Itisimpossibletoexpresstheastonishmentofthesepoorcreaturesatthenoiseandfireofmygun: someofthemwereevenreadytodieforfear, andfelldownasdeadwiththeveryterror; butwhentheysawthecreaturedead, andsunkinthewater, andthat I madesignstothemtocometotheshore, theytookheartandcame, andbegantosearchforthecreature. I foundhimbyhisbloodstainingthewater; andbythehelpof a rope, which I slungroundhim, andgavethenegroestohaul, theydraggedhimonshore, andfoundthatitwas a mostcuriousleopard, spotted, andfinetoanadmirabledegree; andthenegroeshelduptheirhandswithadmiration, tothinkwhatitwas I hadkilledhimwith.
4
Theothercreature, frightedwiththeflashoffireandthenoiseofthegun, swamonshore, andranupdirectlytothemountainsfromwhencetheycame; norcould I, atthatdistance, knowwhatitwas. I foundquicklythenegroeswishedtoeatthefleshofthiscreature, so I waswillingtohavethemtakeitas a favourfromme; which, when I madesignstothemthattheymighttakehim, theywereverythankfulfor. Immediatelytheyfelltoworkwithhim; andthoughtheyhadnoknife, yet, with a sharpenedpieceofwood, theytookoffhisskinasreadily, andmuchmorereadily, thanwecouldhavedonewith a knife. Theyofferedmesomeoftheflesh, which I declined, pointingoutthat I wouldgiveitthem; butmadesignsfortheskin, whichtheygavemeveryfreely, andbroughtme a greatdealmoreoftheirprovisions, which, though I didnotunderstand, yet I accepted. I thenmadesignstothemforsomewater, andheldoutoneofmyjarstothem, turningitbottomupward, toshowthatitwasempty, andthat I wantedtohaveitfilled. Theycalledimmediatelytosomeoftheirfriends, andtherecametwowomen, andbrought a greatvesselmadeofearth, andburnt, as I supposed, inthesun, thistheysetdowntome, asbefore, and I sentXuryonshorewithmyjars, andfilledthemallthree. Thewomenwereasnakedasthemen.
5
I wasnowfurnishedwithrootsandcorn, suchasitwas, andwater; andleavingmyfriendlynegroes, I madeforwardforaboutelevendaysmore, withoutofferingtogoneartheshore, till I sawthelandrunout a greatlengthintothesea, ataboutthedistanceoffourorfiveleaguesbeforeme; andtheseabeingverycalm, I kept a largeoffingtomakethispoint. Atlength, doublingthepoint, atabouttwoleaguesfromtheland, I sawplainlylandontheotherside, toseaward; then I concluded, asitwasmostcertainindeed, thatthiswastheCapedeVerde, andthosetheislandscalled, fromthence, CapedeVerdeIslands. However, theywereat a greatdistance, and I couldnotwelltellwhat I hadbesttodo; forif I shouldbetakenwith a freshofwind, I mightneitherreachoneorother.
6
Inthisdilemma, as I wasverypensive, I steppedintothecabinandsatdown, Xuryhavingthehelm; when, on a sudden, theboycriedout, “Master, master, a shipwith a sail!” andthefoolishboywasfrightedoutofhiswits, thinkingitmustneedsbesomeofhismaster’s shipssenttopursueus, but I knewwewerefarenoughoutoftheirreach. I jumpedoutofthecabin, andimmediatelysaw, notonlytheship, butthatitwas a Portugueseship; and, as I thought, wasboundtothecoastofGuinea, fornegroes. But, when I observedthecourseshesteered, I wassoonconvincedtheywereboundsomeotherway, anddidnotdesigntocomeanynearertotheshore; uponwhich I stretchedouttoseaasmuchas I could, resolvingtospeakwiththemifpossible.
7
Withallthesail I couldmake, I found I shouldnotbeabletocomeintheirway, butthattheywouldbegonebybefore I couldmakeanysignaltothem: butafter I hadcrowdedtotheutmost, andbegantodespair, they, itseems, sawbythehelpoftheirglassesthatitwassomeEuropeanboat, whichtheysupposedmustbelongtosomeshipthatwaslost; sotheyshortenedsailtoletmecomeup. I wasencouragedwiththis, andas I hadmypatron’s ancientonboard, I made a waftofittothem, for a signalofdistress, andfired a gun, bothwhichtheysaw; fortheytoldmetheysawthesmoke, thoughtheydidnothearthegun. Uponthesesignalstheyverykindlybroughtto, andlaybyforme; andinaboutthreehours; time I cameupwiththem.
8
Theyaskedmewhat I was, inPortuguese, andinSpanish, andinFrench, but I understoodnoneofthem; butatlast a Scotchsailor, whowasonboard, calledtome: and I answeredhim, andtoldhim I wasanEnglishman, that I hadmademyescapeoutofslaveryfromtheMoors, atSallee; theythenbademecomeonboard, andverykindlytookmein, andallmygoods.
9
Itwasaninexpressiblejoytome, whichanyonewillbelieve, that I wasthusdelivered, as I esteemedit, fromsuch a miserableandalmosthopelessconditionas I wasin; and I immediatelyofferedall I hadtothecaptainoftheship, as a returnformydeliverance; buthegenerouslytoldmehewouldtakenothingfromme, butthatall I hadshouldbedeliveredsafetomewhen I cametotheBrazils. “For,” sayshe, “I havesavedyourlifeonnoothertermsthan I wouldbegladtobesavedmyself: anditmay, onetimeorother, bemylottobetakenupinthesamecondition. Besides,” saidhe, “when I carryyoutotheBrazils, sogreat a wayfromyourowncountry, if I shouldtakefromyouwhatyouhave, youwillbestarvedthere, andthen I onlytakeawaythatlife I havegiven. No, no,” sayshe: “SeigniorInglese” (Mr. Englishman), “I willcarryyouthitherincharity, andthosethingswillhelptobuyyoursubsistencethere, andyourpassagehomeagain.”
10
Ashewascharitableinthisproposal, sohewasjustintheperformanceto a tittle; forheorderedtheseamenthatnoneshouldtouchanythingthat I had: thenhetookeverythingintohisownpossession, andgavemebackanexactinventoryofthem, that I mighthavethem, eventomythreeearthenjars.
11
Astomyboat, itwas a verygoodone; andthathesaw, andtoldmehewouldbuyitofmeforhisship’s use; andaskedmewhat I wouldhaveforit? I toldhimhehadbeensogeneroustomeineverythingthat I couldnotoffertomakeanypriceoftheboat, butleftitentirelytohim: uponwhichhetoldmehewouldgiveme a noteofhandtopaymeeightypiecesofeightforitatBrazil; andwhenitcamethere, ifanyoneofferedtogivemore, hewouldmakeitup. HeofferedmealsosixtypiecesofeightmoreformyboyXury, which I waslothtotake; notthat I wasunwillingtoletthecaptainhavehim, but I wasverylothtosellthepoorboy’s liberty, whohadassistedmesofaithfullyinprocuringmyown. However, when I lethimknowmyreason, heownedittobejust, andofferedmethismedium, thathewouldgivetheboyanobligationtosethimfreeintenyears, ifheturnedChristian: uponthis, andXurysayinghewaswillingtogotohim, I letthecaptainhavehim.
12
Wehad a verygoodvoyagetotheBrazils, and I arrivedintheBaydeTodoslosSantos, orAllSaints’ Bay, inabouttwenty-twodaysafter. Andnow I wasoncemoredeliveredfromthemostmiserableofallconditionsoflife; andwhattodonextwithmyself I wastoconsider.
13
Thegeneroustreatmentthecaptaingaveme I canneverenoughremember: hewouldtakenothingofmeformypassage, gavemetwentyducatsfortheleopard’s skin, andfortyforthelion’s skin, which I hadinmyboat, andcausedeverything I hadintheshiptobepunctuallydeliveredtome; andwhat I waswillingtosellheboughtofme, suchasthecaseofbottles, twoofmyguns, and a pieceofthelumpofbeeswax—for I hadmadecandlesoftherest: in a word, I madeabouttwohundredandtwentypiecesofeightofallmycargo; andwiththisstock I wentonshoreintheBrazils.
14
I hadnotbeenlongherebefore I wasrecommendedtothehouseof a goodhonestmanlikehimself, whohadaningenio, astheycallit (thatis, a plantationand a sugar-house). I livedwithhimsometime, andacquaintedmyselfbythatmeanswiththemannerofplantingandmakingofsugar; andseeinghowwelltheplanterslived, andhowtheygotrichsuddenly, I resolved, if I couldget a licencetosettlethere, I wouldturnplanteramongthem: resolvinginthemeantimetofindoutsomewaytogetmymoney, which I hadleftinLondon, remittedtome. Tothispurpose, getting a kindofletterofnaturalisation, I purchasedasmuchlandthatwasuncuredasmymoneywouldreach, andformed a planformyplantationandsettlement; such a oneasmightbesuitabletothestockwhich I proposedtomyselftoreceivefromEngland.
15
I had a neighbour, a Portuguese, ofLisbon, butbornofEnglishparents, whosenamewasWells, andinmuchsuchcircumstancesas I was. I callhimmyneighbour, becausehisplantationlaynexttomine, andwewentonverysociablytogether. Mystockwasbutlow, aswellashis; andweratherplantedforfoodthananythingelse, forabouttwoyears. However, webegantoincrease, andourlandbegantocomeintoorder; sothatthethirdyearweplantedsometobacco, andmadeeachofus a largepieceofgroundreadyforplantingcanesintheyeartocome. Butwebothwantedhelp; andnow I found, morethanbefore, I haddonewronginpartingwithmyboyXury.
16
But, alas! formetodowrongthatneverdidright, wasnogreatwonder. I hailnoremedybuttogoon: I hadgotintoanemploymentquiteremotetomygenius, anddirectlycontrarytothelife I delightedin, andforwhich I forsookmyfather’s house, andbrokethroughallhisgoodadvice. Nay, I wascomingintotheverymiddlestation, orupperdegreeoflowlife, whichmyfatheradvisedmetobefore, andwhich, if I resolvedtogoonwith, I mightaswellhavestayedathome, andneverhavefatiguedmyselfintheworldas I haddone; and I usedoftentosaytomyself, I couldhavedonethisaswellinEngland, amongmyfriends, ashavegonefivethousandmilesofftodoitamongstrangersandsavages, in a wilderness, andatsuch a distanceasnevertohearfromanypartoftheworldthathadtheleastknowledgeofme.
17
Inthismanner I usedtolookuponmyconditionwiththeutmostregret. I hadnobodytoconversewith, butnowandthenthisneighbour; noworktobedone, butbythelabourofmyhands; and I usedtosay, I livedjustlike a mancastawayuponsomedesolateisland, thathadnobodytherebuthimself. Buthowjusthasitbeen—andhowshouldallmenreflect, thatwhentheycomparetheirpresentconditionswithothersthatareworse, Heavenmayobligethemtomaketheexchange, andbeconvincedoftheirformerfelicitybytheirexperience—I say, howjusthasitbeen, thatthetrulysolitarylife I reflectedon, inanislandofmeredesolation, shouldbemylot, whohadsooftenunjustlycompareditwiththelifewhich I thenled, inwhich, had I continued, I hadinallprobabilitybeenexceedingprosperousandrich.
18
I wasinsomedegreesettledinmymeasuresforcarryingontheplantationbeforemykindfriend, thecaptainoftheshipthattookmeupatsea, wentback—fortheshipremainedthere, inprovidinghisladingandpreparingforhisvoyage, nearlythreemonths—whentellinghimwhatlittlestock I hadleftbehindmeinLondon, hegavemethisfriendlyandsincereadvice:—“SeigniorInglese,” sayshe (forsohealwayscalledme), “ifyouwillgivemeletters, and a procurationinformtome, withorderstothepersonwhohasyourmoneyinLondontosendyoureffectstoLisbon, tosuchpersonsas I shalldirect, andinsuchgoodsasareproperforthiscountry, I willbringyoutheproduceofthem, Godwilling, atmyreturn; but, sincehumanaffairsareallsubjecttochangesanddisasters, I wouldhaveyougiveordersbutforonehundredpoundssterling, which, yousay, ishalfyourstock, andletthehazardberunforthefirst; sothat, ifitcomesafe, youmayordertherestthesameway, and, ifitmiscarry, youmayhavetheotherhalftohaverecoursetoforyoursupply.”
19
Thiswassowholesomeadvice, andlookedsofriendly, that I couldnotbutbeconvinceditwasthebestcourse I couldtake; so I accordinglypreparedletterstothegentlewomanwithwhom I hadleftmymoney, and a procurationtothePortuguesecaptain, ashedesired.
20
I wrotetheEnglishcaptain’s widow a fullaccountofallmyadventures—myslavery, escape, andhow I hadmetwiththePortuguesecaptainatsea, thehumanityofhisbehaviour, andwhatcondition I wasnowin, withallothernecessarydirectionsformysupply; andwhenthishonestcaptaincametoLisbon, hefoundmeans, bysomeoftheEnglishmerchantsthere, tosendover, nottheorderonly, but a fullaccountofmystoryto a merchantinLondon, whorepresentediteffectuallytoher; whereuponshenotonlydeliveredthemoney, butoutofherownpocketsentthePortugalcaptain a veryhandsomepresentforhishumanityandcharitytome.
Whenthiscargoarrived I thoughtmyfortunemade, for I wassurprisedwiththejoyofit; andmystoodsteward, thecaptain, hadlaidoutthefivepounds, whichmyfriendhadsenthimfor a presentforhimself, topurchaseandbringmeover a servant, underbondforsixyears’ service, andwouldnotacceptofanyconsideration, except a littletobacco, which I wouldhavehimaccept, beingofmyownproduce.
23
Neitherwasthisall; formygoodsbeingallEnglishmanufacture, suchascloths, stuffs, baize, andthingsparticularlyvaluableanddesirableinthecountry, I foundmeanstosellthemto a verygreatadvantage; sothat I mightsay I hadmorethanfourtimesthevalueofmyfirstcargo, andwasnowinfinitelybeyondmypoorneighbour—I meanintheadvancementofmyplantation; forthefirstthing I did, I boughtme a negroslave, andanEuropeanservantalso—I meananotherbesidesthatwhichthecaptainbroughtmefromLisbon.
24
Butasabusedprosperityisoftentimesmadetheverymeansofourgreatestadversity, soitwaswithme. I wentonthenextyearwithgreatsuccessinmyplantation: I raisedfiftygreatrollsoftobaccoonmyownground, morethan I haddisposedoffornecessariesamongmyneighbours; andthesefiftyrolls, beingeachofabove a hundredweight, werewellcured, andlaidbyagainstthereturnofthefleetfromLisbon: andnowincreasinginbusinessandwealth, myheadbegantobefullofprojectsandundertakingsbeyondmyreach; suchasare, indeed, oftentheruinofthebestheadsinbusiness. Had I continuedinthestation I wasnowin, I hadroomforallthehappythingstohaveyetbefallenmeforwhichmyfathersoearnestlyrecommended a quiet, retiredlife, andofwhichhehadsosensiblydescribedthemiddlestationoflifetobefullof; butotherthingsattendedme, and I wasstilltobethewilfulagentofallmyownmiseries; andparticularly, toincreasemyfault, anddoublethereflectionsuponmyself, whichinmyfuturesorrows I shouldhaveleisuretomake, allthesemiscarriageswereprocuredbymyapparentobstinateadheringtomyfoolishinclinationofwanderingabroad, andpursuingthatinclination, incontradictiontotheclearestviewsofdoingmyselfgoodin a fairandplainpursuitofthoseprospects, andthosemeasuresoflife, whichnatureandProvidenceconcurredtopresentmewith, andtomakemyduty.
25
As I hadoncedonethusinmybreakingawayfrommyparents, so I couldnotbecontentnow, but I mustgoandleavethehappyview I hadofbeing a richandthrivingmaninmynewplantation, onlytopursue a rashandimmoderatedesireofrisingfasterthanthenatureofthethingadmitted; andthus I castmyselfdownagainintothedeepestgulfofhumanmiserythatevermanfellinto, orperhapscouldbeconsistentwithlifeand a stateofhealthintheworld.
Ithappened, beingincompanywithsomemerchantsandplantersofmyacquaintance, andtalkingofthosethingsveryearnestly, threeofthemcametomenextmorning, andtoldmetheyhadbeenmusingverymuchuponwhat I haddiscoursedwiththemofthelastnight, andtheycametomake a secretproposaltome; and, afterenjoiningmetosecrecy, theytoldmethattheyhad a mindtofitout a shiptogotoGuinea; thattheyhadallplantationsaswellas I, andwerestraitenedfornothingsomuchasservants; thatasitwas a tradethatcouldnotbecarriedon, becausetheycouldnotpubliclysellthenegroeswhentheycamehome, sotheydesiredtomakebutonevoyage, tobringthenegroesonshoreprivately, anddividethemamongtheirownplantations; and, in a word, thequestionwaswhether I wouldgotheirsupercargointheship, tomanagethetradingpartuponthecoastofGuinea; andtheyofferedmethat I shouldhavemyequalshareofthenegroes, withoutprovidinganypartofthestock.
29
Thiswas a fairproposal, itmustbeconfessed, haditbeenmadetoanyonethathadnothad a settlementand a plantationofhisowntolookafter, whichwasin a fairwayofcomingtobeveryconsiderable, andwith a goodstockuponit; butforme, thatwasthusenteredandestablished, andhadnothingtodobuttogoonas I hadbegun, forthreeorfouryearsmore, andtohavesentfortheotherhundredpoundsfromEngland; andwhointhattime, andwiththatlittleaddition, couldscarcehavefailedofbeingworththreeorfourthousandpoundssterling, andthatincreasingtoo—formetothinkofsuch a voyagewasthemostpreposterousthingthatevermaninsuchcircumstancescouldbeguiltyof.
30
But I, thatwasborntobemyowndestroyer, couldnomoreresisttheofferthan I couldrestrainmyfirstramblingdesignswhenmyfather’s goodcounselwaslostuponme. In a word, I toldthem I wouldgowithallmyheart, iftheywouldundertaketolookaftermyplantationinmyabsence, andwoulddisposeofittosuchas I shoulddirect, if I miscarried. Thistheyallengagedtodo, andenteredintowritingsorcovenantstodoso; and I made a formalwill, disposingofmyplantationandeffectsincaseofmydeath, makingthecaptainoftheshipthathadsavedmylife, asbefore, myuniversalheir, butobliginghimtodisposeofmyeffectsas I haddirectedinmywill; onehalfoftheproducebeingtohimself, andtheothertobeshippedtoEngland.
31
Inshort, I tookallpossiblecautiontopreservemyeffectsandtokeepupmyplantation. Had I usedhalfasmuchprudencetohavelookedintomyowninterest, andhavemade a judgmentofwhat I oughttohavedoneandnottohavedone, I hadcertainlynevergoneawayfromsoprosperousanundertaking, leavingalltheprobableviewsof a thrivingcircumstance, andgoneupon a voyagetosea, attendedwithallitscommonhazards, tosaynothingofthereasons I hadtoexpectparticularmisfortunestomyself.
32
But I washurriedon, andobeyedblindlythedictatesofmyfancyratherthanmyreason; and, accordingly, theshipbeingfittedout, andthecargofurnished, andallthingsdone, asbyagreement, bymypartnersinthevoyage, I wentonboardinanevilhour, the 1stSeptember 1659, beingthesamedayeightyearsthat I wentfrommyfatherandmotheratHull, inordertoacttherebeltotheirauthority, andthefooltomyowninterests.
Withthisdesignwechangedourcourse, andsteeredaway N.W. by W., inordertoreachsomeofourEnglishislands, where I hopedforrelief. Butourvoyagewasotherwisedetermined; for, beinginthelatitudeoftwelvedegreeseighteenminutes, a secondstormcameuponus, whichcarriedusawaywiththesameimpetuositywestward, anddroveussooutofthewayofallhumancommerce, that, hadallourlivesbeensavedastothesea, wewereratherindangerofbeingdevouredbysavagesthaneverreturningtoourowncountry.
38
Inthisdistress, thewindstillblowingveryhard, oneofourmenearlyinthemorningcriedout, “Land!” andwehadnosoonerrunoutofthecabintolookout, inhopesofseeingwhereaboutsintheworldwewere, thantheshipstruckupon a sand, andin a momenthermotionbeingsostopped, theseabrokeoverherinsuch a mannerthatweexpectedweshouldallhaveperishedimmediately; andwewereimmediatelydrivenintoourclosequarters, toshelterusfromtheveryfoamandsprayofthesea.
39
Itisnoteasyforanyonewhohasnotbeeninthelikeconditiontodescribeorconceivetheconsternationofmeninsuchcircumstances. Weknewnothingwherewewere, oruponwhatlanditwasweweredriven—whetheranislandorthemain, whetherinhabitedornotinhabited. Astherageofthewindwasstillgreat, thoughratherlessthanatfirst, wecouldnotsomuchashopetohavetheshipholdmanyminuteswithoutbreakingintopieces, unlessthewinds, by a kindofmiracle, shouldturnimmediatelyabout. In a word, wesatlookingupononeanother, andexpectingdeatheverymoment, andeveryman, accordingly, preparingforanotherworld; fortherewaslittleornothingmoreforustodointhis. Thatwhichwasourpresentcomfort, andallthecomfortwehad, wasthat, contrarytoourexpectation, theshipdidnotbreakyet, andthatthemastersaidthewindbegantoabate.
40
Now, thoughwethoughtthatthewinddid a littleabate, yettheshiphavingthusstruckuponthesand, andstickingtoofastforustoexpecthergettingoff, wewerein a dreadfulconditionindeed, andhadnothingtodobuttothinkofsavingourlivesaswellaswecould. Wehad a boatatoursternjustbeforethestorm, butshewasfirststavedbydashingagainsttheship’s rudder, andinthenextplaceshebrokeaway, andeithersunkorwasdrivenofftosea; sotherewasnohopefromher. Wehadanotherboatonboard, buthowtogetheroffintotheseawas a doubtfulthing. However, therewasnotimetodebate, forwefanciedthattheshipwouldbreakinpieceseveryminute, andsometoldusshewasactuallybrokenalready.
Afterwehadrowed, orratherdrivenabout a leagueand a half, aswereckonedit, a ragingwave, mountain-like, camerollingasternofus, andplainlybadeusexpectthecoupdegrâce. Ittookuswithsuch a fury, thatitoversettheboatatonce; andseparatingusaswellfromtheboatasfromoneanother, gaveusnotimetosay, “O God!” forwewereallswallowedupin a moment.
45
Nothingcandescribetheconfusionofthoughtwhich I feltwhen I sankintothewater; forthough I swamverywell, yet I couldnotdelivermyselffromthewavessoastodrawbreath, tillthatwavehavingdrivenme, orrathercarriedme, a vastwayontowardstheshore, andhavingspentitself, wentback, andleftmeuponthelandalmostdry, buthalfdeadwiththewater I tookin. I hadsomuchpresenceofmind, aswellasbreathleft, thatseeingmyselfnearerthemainlandthan I expected, I gotuponmyfeet, andendeavouredtomakeontowardsthelandasfastas I couldbeforeanotherwaveshouldreturnandtakemeupagain; but I soonfounditwasimpossibletoavoidit; for I sawtheseacomeaftermeashighas a greathill, andasfuriousasanenemy, which I hadnomeansorstrengthtocontendwith: mybusinesswastoholdmybreath, andraisemyselfuponthewaterif I could; andso, byswimming, topreservemybreathing, andpilotmyselftowardstheshore, ifpossible, mygreatestconcernnowbeingthatthesea, asitwouldcarryme a greatwaytowardstheshorewhenitcameon, mightnotcarrymebackagainwithitwhenitgavebacktowardsthesea.
46
Thewavethatcameuponmeagainburiedmeatoncetwentyorthirtyfeetdeepinitsownbody, and I couldfeelmyselfcarriedwith a mightyforceandswiftnesstowardstheshore—a verygreatway; but I heldmybreath, andassistedmyselftoswimstillforwardwithallmymight. I wasreadytoburstwithholdingmybreath, when, as I feltmyselfrisingup, so, tomyimmediaterelief, I foundmyheadandhandsshootoutabovethesurfaceofthewater; andthoughitwasnottwosecondsoftimethat I couldkeepmyselfso, yetitrelievedmegreatly, gavemebreath, andnewcourage. I wascoveredagainwithwater a goodwhile, butnotsolongbut I helditout; andfindingthewaterhadspentitself, andbegantoreturn, I struckforwardagainstthereturnofthewaves, andfeltgroundagainwithmyfeet. I stoodstill a fewmomentstorecoverbreath, andtillthewaterswentfromme, andthentooktomyheelsandranwithwhatstrength I hadfurthertowardstheshore. Butneitherwouldthisdelivermefromthefuryofthesea, whichcamepouringinaftermeagain; andtwicemore I wasliftedupbythewavesandcarriedforwardasbefore, theshorebeingveryflat.
47
Thelasttimeofthesetwohadwell-nighbeenfataltome, fortheseahavinghurriedmealongasbefore, landedme, orratherdashedme, against a pieceofrock, andthatwithsuchforce, thatitleftmesenseless, andindeedhelpless, astomyowndeliverance; fortheblowtakingmysideandbreast, beatthebreathasitwerequiteoutofmybody; andhaditreturnedagainimmediately, I musthavebeenstrangledinthewater; but I recovered a littlebeforethereturnofthewaves, andseeing I shouldbecoveredagainwiththewater, I resolvedtoholdfastby a pieceoftherock, andsotoholdmybreath, ifpossible, tillthewavewentback. Now, asthewaveswerenotsohighasatfirst, beingnearerland, I heldmyholdtillthewaveabated, andthenfetchedanotherrun, whichbroughtmesoneartheshorethatthenextwave, thoughitwentoverme, yetdidnotsoswallowmeupastocarrymeaway; andthenextrun I took, I gottothemainland, where, tomygreatcomfort, I clamberedupthecliffsoftheshoreandsatmedownuponthegrass, freefromdangerandquiteoutofthereachofthewater.
48
I wasnowlandedandsafeonshore, andbegantolookupandthankGodthatmylifewassaved, in a casewhereintherewassomeminutesbeforescarceanyroomtohope. I believeitisimpossibletoexpress, tothelife, whattheecstasiesandtransportsofthesoulare, whenitissosaved, as I maysay, outoftheverygrave: and I donotwondernowatthecustom, when a malefactor, whohasthehalterabouthisneck, istiedup, andjustgoingtobeturnedoff, andhas a reprievebroughttohim—I say, I donotwonderthattheybring a surgeonwithit, tolethimbloodthatverymomenttheytellhimofit, thatthesurprisemaynotdrivetheanimalspiritsfromtheheartandoverwhelmhim.
49
“Forsuddenjoys, likegriefs, confoundatfirst.”
50
I walkedaboutontheshoreliftingupmyhands, andmywholebeing, as I maysay, wrappedupin a contemplationofmydeliverance; making a thousandgesturesandmotions, which I cannotdescribe; reflectinguponallmycomradesthatweredrowned, andthatthereshouldnotbeonesoulsavedbutmyself; for, asforthem, I neversawthemafterwards, oranysignofthem, exceptthreeoftheirhats, onecap, andtwoshoesthatwerenotfellows.
51
I castmyeyetothestrandedvessel, when, thebreachandfrothoftheseabeingsobig, I couldhardlyseeit, itlaysofarof; andconsidered, Lord! howwasitpossible I couldgetonshore?
52
After I hadsolacedmymindwiththecomfortablepartofmycondition, I begantolookroundme, toseewhatkindofplace I wasin, andwhatwasnexttobedone; and I soonfoundmycomfortsabate, andthat, in a word, I had a dreadfuldeliverance; for I waswet, hadnoclothestoshiftme, noranythingeithertoeatordrinktocomfortme; neitherdid I seeanyprospectbeforemebutthatofperishingwithhungerorbeingdevouredbywildbeasts; andthatwhichwasparticularlyafflictingtomewas, that I hadnoweapon, eithertohuntandkillanycreatureformysustenance, ortodefendmyselfagainstanyothercreaturethatmightdesiretokillmefortheirs. In a word, I hadnothingaboutmebut a knife, a tobacco-pipe, and a littletobaccoin a box. Thiswasallmyprovisions; andthisthrewmeintosuchterribleagoniesofmind, thatfor a while I ranaboutlike a madman. Nightcominguponme, I beganwith a heavyhearttoconsiderwhatwouldbemylotiftherewereanyravenousbeastsinthatcountry, asatnighttheyalwayscomeabroadfortheirprey.