Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 19
Theunremittinglabourwasgoodformybody,whichbuiltuprapidlybymeansofthiswholesomedietinwhichIdidnotstintmyself.AnotherevidenceofGod’smercy;never,intheeightyearsIspentonthatbarrenislet,wastheresolongaspellofclearweatherandsteadysunshineasintheperiodimmediatelyfollowingtheslaughteroftheseals.
Monthsweretopassoreeverthesealsrevisitedmyisland.ButinthemeantimeIwasanythingbutidle.Ibuiltmeahutofstone,and,adjoiningit,astorehouseformycuredmeat.ThehutIroofedwithmanysealskins,sothatitwasfairlywater-proof.ButIcouldneverceasetomarvel,whentherainbeatonthatroof,thatnolessthanaking’sransomintheLondonfurmarketprotectedacastawaysailorfromtheelements.
Iwasquicklyawareoftheimportanceofkeepingsomekindofreckoningoftime,withoutwhichIwassensiblethatIshouldsoonloseallknowledgeofthedayoftheweek,andbeunabletodistinguishonefromtheother,andnotknowwhichwastheLord’sday.
IrememberedbackcarefullytothereckoningoftimekeptinthelongboatbyCaptainNicholl;andcarefully,againandagain,tomakesurebeyondanyshadowofuncertainty,IwentoverthetaleofthedaysandnightsIhadspentontheisland.Then,bysevenstonesoutsidemyhut,Ikeptmyweeklycalendar.
