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Chapter 19
Istoodpossessedofmygarments,astoutknife,andtheoneoarIhadsaved.Thegalehadabated,andallthatday,staggeringandfalling,crawlingtillhandsandkneesbled,Ivainlysoughtwater.
Thatnight,nearerdeaththanever,Ishelteredbehindarockfromthewind.Aheavyshowerofrainmadememiserable.Iremovedmyvariouscoatsandspreadthemtosoakuptherain;but,whenIcametowringthemoisturefromthemintomymouth,Iwasdisappointed,becausetheclothhadbeenthoroughlyimpregnatedwiththesaltoftheoceaninwhichIhadbeenimmersed.Ilayonmyback,mymouthopentocatchthefewrain-dropsthatfelldirectlyintoit.Itwastantalizing,butitkeptmymembranesmoistandmefrommadness.
TheseconddayIwasaverysickman.I,whohadnoteatenforsolong,begantoswelltoamonstrousfatness—mylegs,myarms,mywholebody.Withtheslightestofpressuresmyfingerswouldsinkinafullinchintomyskin,andthedepressionssomadewerelongingoingaway.YetdidIlaboursoreinordertofulfilGod’swillthatIshouldlive.Carefully,withmyhands,Icleanedoutthesaltwaterfromeveryslighthole,inthehopethatsucceedingshowersofrainmightfillthemwithwaterthatIcoulddrink.
MysadlotandthememoriesofthelovedonesatElktonthrewmeintoamelancholy,sothatIoftenlostmyrecollectionforhoursatatime.
