Робинзон Крузо
Start in life
Herewewereobligedtocometoananchor, andherewelay,thewindcontinuingcontrary-viz.atsouth-west -forsevenoreightdays, duringwhichtimeagreatmanyshipsfromNewcastlecameintothesameRoads, asthecommonharbourwheretheshipsmightwaitforawindfortheriver.
Wehadnot,however,ridheresolongbutweshouldhavetidedituptheriver, butthatthewindblewtoofresh, andafterwehadlainfourorfivedays,blewveryhard. However,theRoadsbeingreckonedasgoodasaharbour,theanchoragegood, andourground-tackleverystrong,ourmenwereunconcerned, andnotintheleastapprehensiveofdanger,butspentthetimeinrestandmirth,afterthemannerofthesea; buttheeighthday,inthemorning,thewindincreased, andwehadallhandsatworktostrikeourtopmasts,andmakeeverythingsnugandclose,thattheshipmightrideaseasyaspossible. Bynoontheseawentveryhighindeed, andourshiprodeforecastlein,shippedseveralseas,andwethoughtonceortwiceouranchorhadcomehome; uponwhichourmasterorderedoutthesheet-anchor, sothatwerodewithtwoanchorsahead, andthecablesveeredouttothebitterend.
Bythistimeitblewaterriblestormindeed; andnowIbegantoseeterrorandamazementinthefacesevenoftheseamenthemselves. Themaster,thoughvigilantinthebusinessofpreservingtheship,yetashewentinandoutofhiscabinbyme,Icouldhearhimsoftlytohimselfsay,severaltimes, ‘Lordbemercifultous!weshallbealllost!weshallbeallundone!’andthelike. DuringthesefirsthurriesIwasstupid,lyingstillinmycabin, whichwasinthesteerage,andcannotdescribemytemper: IcouldillresumethefirstpenitencewhichIhadsoapparentlytrampleduponandhardenedmyselfagainst: Ithoughtthebitternessofdeathhadbeenpast, andthatthiswouldbenothinglikethefirst; butwhenthemasterhimselfcamebyme, asIsaidjustnow,andsaidweshouldbealllost, Iwasdreadfullyfrighted.
