Робинзон Крузо
Visit of Mutineers
AsIknewnothingthatnightofthesupplyIwastoreceivebytheprovidentialdrivingoftheshipnearerthelandbythestormsandtide,bywhichIhavesincebeensolongnourishedandsupported; sothesethreepoordesolatemenknewnothinghowcertainofdeliveranceandsupplytheywere,hownearitwastothem,andhoweffectuallyandreallytheywereinaconditionofsafety,atthesametimethattheythoughtthemselveslost,andtheircasedesperate.
Solittledoweseebeforeusintheworld,andsomuchreasonhavewetodependcheerfullyuponthegreatMakeroftheworld,thatHedoesnotleaveHiscreaturessoabsolutelydestitute,butthat,intheworstcircumstances,theyhavealwayssomethingtobethankfulfor,andsometimesarenearertheirdeliverancethantheyimagine; nay,areevenbroughttotheirdeliverancebythemeansbywhichtheyseemtobebroughttotheirdestruction.
Itwasjustatthetopofhigh-waterwhenthesepeoplecameonshore; andwhilepartlytheystoodparleyingwiththeprisonerstheybrought,andpartlywhiletheyrambledabouttoseewhatkindofaplacetheywerein,theyhadcarelesslystayedtillthetidewasspent,andthewaterwasebbedconsiderablyaway,leavingtheirboataground.
Theyhadlefttwomenintheboat,who,asIfoundafterwards,havingdrankalittletoomuchbrandy,fellasleep. However,oneofthemwakingsoonerthantheother,andfindingtheboattoofastagroundforhimtostirit,hallooedfortherest,whowerestragglingabout,uponwhichtheyallsooncametotheboat; butitwaspastalltheirstrengthtolaunchher,theboatbeingveryheavy,andtheshoreonthatsidebeingasoftoozysand,almostlikeaquicksand.
