Робинзон Крузо
First Weeks on the Island
ButhereIhadliketohavesufferedasecondshipwreck,which,ifIhad,Ithinkverilywouldhavebrokemyheart, forknowingnothingofthecoast,myraftranagroundatoneendofituponashoal,andnotbeingagroundattheotherend,itwantedbutalittlethatallmycargohadslippedofftowardsthatendthatwasafloat,andsofallenintothewater. Ididmyutmostbysettingmybackagainstthecheststokeepthemintheirplaces,butcouldnotthrustofftheraftwithallmystrength, neitherdurstIstirfromthepostureIwasin,butholdingupthechestswithallmymight,stoodinthatmannernearhalfanhour,inwhichtimetherisingofthewaterbroughtmealittlemoreuponalevel; andalittleafter,thewaterstillrising,myraftfloatedagain,andIthrustheroffwiththeoarIhadintothechannel,andthendrivinguphigher,Iatlengthfoundmyselfinthemouthofalittleriver,withlandonbothsides,andastrongcurrentortiderunningup. Ilookedonbothsidesforaproperplacetogettoshore,forIwasnotwillingtobedriventoohighuptheriver,hopingintimetoseesomeshipatsea,andthereforeresolvedtoplacemyselfasnearthecoastasIcould.
AtlengthIspiedalittlecoveontherightshoreofthecreek,towhich,withgreatpainanddifficulty,Iguidedmyraft,andatlastgotsonear,asthat,reachinggroundwithmyoar,Icouldthrustherdirectlyin; buthereIhadliketohavedippedallmycargointheseaagain; forthatshorelyingprettysteep,thatistosay,sloping,therewasnoplacetolandbutwhereoneendofmyfloat,ifitrunonshore,wouldliesohighandtheothersinklower,asbefore,thatitwouldendangermycargoagain. AllthatIcoulddowastowaittillthetidewasatthehighest,keepingtheraftwithmyoarlikeananchortoholdthesideofitfasttotheshore,nearaflatpieceofground,whichIexpectedthewaterwouldflowover; andsoitdid.
