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Chapter 14
Isupposedhemusthaveswumthestrait;thoughwhatshouldbringanycreaturetoEarraid,wasmorethanIcouldfancy.
Alittleafter,asIwasjumpingaboutaftermylimpets,Iwasstartledbyaguinea-piece,whichfelluponarockinfrontofmeandglancedoffintothesea.Whenthesailorsgavememymoneyagain,theykeptbacknotonlyaboutathirdofthewholesum,butmyfather’sleatherpurse;sothatfromthatdayout,Icarriedmygoldlooseinapocketwithabutton.Inowsawtheremustbeahole,andclappedmyhandtotheplaceinagreathurry.Butthiswastolockthestabledoorafterthesteedwasstolen.IhadlefttheshoreatQueensferrywithnearonfiftypounds;nowIfoundnomorethantwoguinea-piecesandasilvershilling.
ItistrueIpickedupathirdguineaalittleafter,whereitlayshiningonapieceofturf.Thatmadeafortuneofthreepoundsandfourshillings,Englishmoney,foralad,therightfulheirofanestate,andnowstarvingonanisleattheextremeendofthewildHighlands.
Thisstateofmyaffairsdashedmestillfurther;and,indeedmyplightonthatthirdmorningwastrulypitiful.Myclotheswerebeginningtorot;mystockingsinparticularwerequitewornthrough,sothatmyshankswentnaked;myhandshadgrownquitesoftwiththecontinualsoaking;mythroatwasverysore,mystrengthhadmuchabated,andmyheartsoturnedagainstthehorridstuffIwascondemnedtoeat,thattheverysightofitcameneartosickenme.
Andyettheworstwasnotyetcome.
