Межзвёздный скиталец

           InoneplaceontheoarIcutasmallnotchforeachweek,andinanotherplaceontheoarInotchedthemonths,beingdulycarefulindeed,toreckonintheadditionaldaystoeachmonthoverandbeyondthefourweeks.

           ThusIwasenabledtopaydueregardtotheSabbath.AstheonlymodeofworshipIcouldadopt,Icarvedashorthymn,appropriatetomysituation,ontheoar,whichIneverfailedtochantontheSabbath.God,inHisall-mercy,hadnotforgottenme;nordidI,inthoseeightyears,failatallpropertimestorememberGod.

           Itwasastonishingtheworkrequired,undersuchcircumstances,tosupplyone’ssimpleneedsoffoodandshelter.Indeed,Iwasrarelyidle,thatfirstyear.Thehut,itselfamerelairofrocks,neverthelesstooksixweeksofmytime.Thetardycuringandtheendlessscrapingofthesealskins,soastomakethemsoftandpliableforgarments,occupiedmysparemomentsformonthsandmonths.

           Thentherewasthematterofmywatersupply.Afteranyheavygale,theflyingspraysaltedmysavedrainwater,sothatattimesIwasgrievouslyputtolivethroughtillfreshrainsfellunaccompaniedbyhighwinds.Awarethatacontinualdroppingwillwearastone,Iselectedalargestone,fineandtightoftextureand,bymeansofsmallerstones,Iproceededtopoundithollow.InfiveweeksofmostarduoustoilImanagedthustomakeajarwhichIestimatedtoholdagallonandahalf.Later,Isimilarlymadeafour-gallonjar.