The next morning I walked about on the shore, lifting up my hands, and my whole being, as I may say, wrapt up in the contemplation of my deliverance. I reflected upon my comrades that were drowned, and that there should not be one soul saved but myself. As for them, I never saw them afterwards, or any sign of them, except three of their hats, one cap, and two shoes that were not fellows.
I cast my eyes to the stranded vessel. The breach and froth of the sea being so big I could hardly see it, it lay so far off, and considered, Lord! how was it possible even the beast could get on shore?
After I had solaced my mind with the comfortable part of my condition, I began to look round me, to see what kind of a place I was in, and what was next to be done. I was wet, had no cloathes to shift me, nor any thing either to eat or drink to comfort me. Neither did I see any prospect before me but perishing with hunger. I had no weapon, either to hunt and kill any creature for my sustenance, or to defend myself against any other creature that might desire to kill me for theirs, though I hoped the creatures of this land would avoid me for the beast within my skin, as most animals of England do. In a word, I had nothing about me but a knife, a tobacco-pipe, and a little tobacco in a box. This was all my provision, and this threw me into such terrible agonies of mind that for a good while I ran about like a madman. Night coming upon me again, I began, with a heavy heart, to consider what would be my lot if there were naught to eat in this country.
All the remedy that offered to my thoughts at that time was to get what cloathes I was left with into a thick bushy tree, like a fir but thorny, which grew near me, and consider the next day what death I should die, for as yet I saw no prospect of life. I walked about a furlong from the shore to see if I could find any fresh water to drink, which I did, to my great joy. Having drank, I went to the tree and put my cloathes up in it, and presently the beast did come upon me again for the second night, that of the true full moon. While my own unwell state of thought made it most difficult to focus thru the smok'd lens, I was aware that the beast did feed, and if it could find food, there was hope I could as well.
When I waked it was broad day, the weather clear and the storm abated, so the sea did not rage and swell as before. What surprised me most was the ship was lifted off in the night from the sand where she lay by the swelling of the tyde, and was driven up almost as far as the rock which I at first mention’d, where the beast had been so bruised by the wave dashing it against it. This being within about a mile from the shore where I was, and the ship seeming to stand upright still, I wish’d myself on board that at least I might save some necessary things for my use.
The first thing I found was the long-boat, which lay as the wind and the sea had toss’d her upon the land, about two miles on my right hand. I walked as far as I could upon the shore to have got to her, but found an inlet of water between me and the boat, which was about half a mile broad. I came back for the present, being more intent upon getting at the ship, where I hoped to find something for my present subsistence. While the beast had fed the night before on one or two creatures, I could not count on it again after tonight.
A little after noon, I found the sea very calm, and the tyde ebb’d so far out I could come within a quarter of a mile of the ship, and here I found a fresh renewing of my grief. I saw if the beast had not forced the crew to flee in terror and all had kept on board, we had all got safe on shore and I had not been so miserable as to be left destitute of all comfort and company, as I now was. This forced tears from my eyes again, but as there was little relief in that, I resolv’d to get to the ship. I pull’d off my cloathes, for the weather was hot to extremity, and took the water.
When I came to the ship, my difficulty was still greater to know how to get on board. As she lay aground and high out of the water, there was nothing within my reach to lay hold of. I swam round her twice, and the second time I spy’d a small piece of a rope, which I wonder’d I did not see at first, hanging down by the fore-chains. With great difficulty I got hold of it, and by the help of that rope got into the forecastle of the ship. Here I found the ship was bulg’d and had a great deal of water in her hold. She lay so on the side of a bank of hard sand, or rather earth; her stern lay lifted up upon the bank and her head low, almost to the water. By this means all her quarter was free and all that was in that part was dry. You may be sure my first work was to search and to see what was spoiled and what was free.
First, I found all the ship's provisions were dry and untouched by the water. Being very well disposed to eat, I went to the bread-room and fill’d my pockets with bisket, and ate it as I went about other things, for I had no time to lose. I also found some rum in the great cabin, of which I took a large dram, and which I had indeed need enough of to spirit me for what was before me. Now I wanted nothing but a boat to furnish myself with many things which I foresaw would be very necessary to me.
It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had, and this extremity roused my application. We had several spare yards, and two or three large sparrs of wood, and a spare top-mast or two in the ship. I resolv’d to fall to work with these, and flung as many overboard as I could manage for their weight, tying every one with a rope that they might not drive away. When this was done I went down the ship's side and, pulling them to me, I tied four of them fast together at both ends, as well as I could, in the form of a raft. Laying two or three short pieces of plank upon them, crossways, I found I could walk upon it very well but it was not able to bear any great weight, the pieces being too light. I went to work, and with the carpenter's saw I cut a spare top-mast into three lengths and added them to my raft with a great deal of labour and pains. But the hope of furnishing myself with necessaries encouraged me to go beyond what I should have been able to have done upon another occasion.
My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable weight. My next care was what to load it with and how to preserve what I laid upon it from the surf of the sea, but I was not long considering this. I first laid all the planks or boards upon it I could get, and having considered well what I most wanted, I got three of the seamen's chests, which I had broken open and empty’d, and lowered them down upon my raft; these I fill’d with provisions. There had been some barley and wheat together, but, to my great disappointment I found the rats had eaten or spoiled it all. As for liquors, I found several cases of bottles belonging to our skipper in which were some cordial waters. These I stowed by themselves, there being no need to put them into the chests, nor any room for them.
While I was doing this, I found the tyde began to flow and I had the mortification to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left upon the sand, swim away. My breeches, which were only linen and open-knee'd, I swam on board in them and my stockings. This put me upon rummaging for cloathes, of which I found enough but took no more than I wanted for present use, for I had other things which my eye was more upon. It was after long searching I found the carpenter's chest, which was indeed a very useful prize to me, and much more valuable than a ship-lading of gold would have been at that time. I got it down to my raft, even whole as it was, without losing time to look into it for I knew in general what it contained.
My next care was for some ammunition and arms. There were two good fowling-pieces in the great cabin and two pistols. These I secured first with some powder-horns, and a small bag of shot, and two old rusty swords. I knew there were three barrels of powder in the ship but knew not where our gunner had stowed them. With much search I found them, two of them dry and good, the third had taken water. Those two I got to my raft. And now I thought myself pretty well freighted and began to think how I should get to shore with them, having neither sail, oar, nor rudder. The least cap-full of wind would have overset all my navigation.
I had three encouragements; 1, a smooth, calm sea; 2, the tide rising, and setting in to the shore; 3, what little wind there was blew me towards the land. And thus, having found two or three broken oars belonging to the long-boat, with this cargo I put
to sea. For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very well, only I found it drive a little distant from the place where I had landed before. I perceived there was some indraft of the water, and consequently I hoped to find some creek or river there which I might make use of as a port to get to land with my cargo.
As I imagined, so it was, there appear’d before me a little opening of the land, and I found a strong current of the tyde set into it. I guided my raft as well as I could to get into the middle of the stream. But here I had like to have suffer’d a second shipwreck, for knowing nothing of the coast my raft ran aground at one end of it upon a shoal. Not being aground at the other end, it wanted but a little that all my cargo had slipped off towards that end that was afloat. I did my utmost, by setting my back against the chests to keep them in their places, but could not thrust off the raft with all my strength. Neither durst I stir from the posture I was in. Holding up the chests with all my might, I stood in that manner near half an hour, in which time the rising of the water brought me a little more upon a level. A little after, the water still rising, my raft floated again and I thrust her off with the oar I had into the channel. Driving up higher, I at length found myself in the mouth of a little river, with land on both sides and a strong current or tyde running up. I looked on both sides for a proper place to get to shore, for I was not willing to be driven too high up the river, hoping, in time, to see some ship at sea, and therefore resolv’d to place myself as near the coast as I could.
At length I spy’d a little cove on the right shore of the creek, to which, with great pain and difficulty, I guided my raft, and at last got so near as that, reaching ground with my oar, I could thrust her directly in. All I could do was to wait ‘till the tide was at the highest, keeping the raft with my oar like an anchor, to hold the side of it fast to the shore near a flat piece of ground. As soon as I found water enough, for my raft drew about a foot of water, I thrust her upon that flat piece of ground and there fastened or moored her by sticking my two broken oars into the ground, one on one side near one end, and one on the other side near the other end. Thus I lay ‘till the water ebb’d away, and left my raft and all my cargo safe on shore.
My next work was to view the country. Where I was, I yet knew not, whether on the continent or on an island, whether inhabited or not inhabited. There was a hill not above a mile from me which rose up very steep and high and which seemed to overtop some other hills northward. I took out one of the fowling-pieces, one of the pistols, and a horn of powder. Thus arm’d, I travel’d for discovery up to the top of that hill, where, after I had with great labour and difficulty got up to the top, I saw my fate.
I was on an island, environed every way with the sea. No land to be seen except some jagged black rocks, like cathedral spires 'neath the waves, which lay a way off, and two small islands, less than this, which lay about three leagues to the west.
I found also the island I was on was barren and, as I saw good reason to believe, uninhabited except by wild creatures. I saw abundance of fowls, but knew not their kinds. Neither when I killed them could I tell what was fit for food and what not. At my coming back, I shot at a great bird which I saw sitting upon a tree on the side of a great wood. I believe it was the first gun that had been fired there since the creation of the world. I had no sooner fired but from all the parts of the wood there arose an innumerable number of fowls, of many sorts, making a confused screaming and crying, every one according to his usual note. As for the creature I killed, I took it to be a kind of a hawk, its colour and beak resembling it, but had no talons or claws more than common. Its flesh was carrion and fit for nothing.
Contented with this discovery, I came back to my raft, and fell to work to bring my cargo on shore, which took me up the rest of that day. What to do with it for this last night of the moon I knew not, nor indeed where to rest it. I was afraid to leave my cargo too reveal’d, for the beast had in the past committed wanton destruction of the things of men for no discernable reason.
As well I could, I made a solid form with the chests and boards I had brought on shore, and made a kind of a wall for that night. As for food, I yet saw not which way to supply myself, except I had seen two or three creatures, like hares, run out of the wood where I shot the fowl. I knew for a certainty if there were food on this island, the beast would find more of it.
I remov'd my cloathes as the sun dropped and stowed them within one of the seamen's chests. As the beast came upon me, I could not help but sense its pleasure to still be unchayn'd and free in its new home. That night it kill'd two of the hares and feasted well on something larger, tho' I could not tell what.
On the morrow, I now began to consider I might yet get a great many things out of the ship which would be useful to me, and particularly some of the rigging and sails, and such other things as might come to land. I resolv’d to make another voyage on board the vessel, if possible. And as I knew the first storm that blew must break her all in pieces, I resolv’d to set all other things apart ‘till I got every thing out of the ship I could get. Then I called a council in my thoughts as to whether I should take back the raft, but this appeared impracticable. I resolv’d to go as before, when the tyde was down, and I did so, having nothing on but a chequered shirt, a pair of linen drawers, and a pair of pumps on my feet.
I got on board the ship as before, and prepared a second raft. Having had experience of the first, I neither made this so unwieldy nor loaded it so hard, but yet I brought away several things very useful to me. First, in the carpenter's stores, I found two or three bags of nails and spikes, a dozen or two of hatchets, and above all, that most useful thing called a grind-stone. All these I secured together, with several things belonging to the gunner, particularly two or three iron crows, two barrels of musket bullets, seven muskets, and a large bag-full of small shot.
Besides these things, I took all the men's cloathes I could find, and a spare fore-top sail, a hammock, and some bedding. With this I loaded my second raft and brought them all safe on shore, to my very great comfort.
Having got my second cargo on shore I went to work to make me a little tent with the sail, and some poles which I cut for that purpose. Into this tent I brought every thing I knew would spoil either with rain or sun. I piled all the empty chests and casks up in a circle round the tent, to fortify it from any sudden attempt either from man or animal.
When I had done this, I blocked up the door of the tent with some boards within and an empty chest set up on end without. Spreading one of the beds upon the ground, laying my two pistols just at my head, and my gun at length by me, I went to bed for the first time since the shipwreck and slept very quietly all night, for I was very weary and heavy. The night before the beast had run long and hard, and I had laboured very hard all day, as well, to fetch all those things from the ship and to get them on shore.
I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that ever was laid up, I believe, for one man. But I was not satisfied, still. While the ship sat upright in that posture, I thought I ought to get every thing out of her I could. So every day, at low water, I went on board, and brought away something or other. The third time I went, I brought away as much of the rigging as I could, as also all the small ropes and rope-twine I could get, along with a piece of spare canvas which was to mend the sails upon occasion, and the barrel of wet gunpowder. In a word, I brought away all the sails first and last, only I was fain to cut them in pieces and bring as much at a time as I could. They were no more useful to be sails but as mere canvas only.
But that which comforted me still more was that, last of all, after I had made five or six such voyages as these, and thought I had nothing more to expect from the ship that was worth my meddling with, I found a great hogshead of bread, three large runlets of rum or spirits, a box of sugar, and a barrel of fine flour. This was surprising to me because I had given over expecting any more provisions, except what was spoiled by the water. I soon emptied the hogshead of that bread and wrapt it up, parcel by parcel, in pieces
of the sails which I cut out, and got all this safe on shore also.
The next day I made another voyage, and now having plundered the ship of what was portable and fit to hand out, I began cutting the great cable into pieces, such as I could move. This was most unpleasant, for on deck was the dark stain where the mate had fallen to the beast, which had not been entirely washed away by the sea, and now lay in my sight all the time while I worked. I got two cables and a hawser on shore, with all the iron-work I could get, including a set of manakles from the brig were it ever needed to contain the beast on this island. Having cut down the spritsail-yard and the mizen-yard and every thing I could to make a large raft, I loaded it with all those heavy goods and came away. But my good luck began now to leave me. This raft was so unwieldy and so overladen, after I entered the little cove where I had landed the rest of my goods, not being able to guide it so handily as I did the other, it overset and threw me and all my cargo into the water. For myself, it was no great harm, for I was near the shore, but as to my cargo, it was a great part of it lost, especially the iron, which I expected would have been of great use to me. However, when the tyde was out, I got most of the pieces of cable ashore and some of the iron, tho’ with infinite labour for I was fain to dip for it into the water, a work which fatigued me very much. After this I went every day on board, and brought away whatever was left I could get.
My new home, goats,
my calendar
I had been now thirteen days ashore and had been eleven times on board the ship, in which time I had brought away all one pair of hands could well be supposed capable to bring. I believe, had the calm weather held, I should have brought away the whole ship piece by piece. Tho’ I thought I had rummaged the cabin so as nothing could be found, on my twelfth visit I discovered a locker with drawers in it, in one of which I found two or three razors, and one pair of large scissars with some dozen of good knives and forks. In another I found about thirty-six pounds value in money, some European coin, some Brasil, some pieces of eight, some gold, and some silver.
The Eerie Adventures of the Lycanthrope Robinson Crusoe Page 5
