Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 19
NolongerdidIriskitinknockingsealsonthehead.Instead,Iequippedmyselfwithastoneclub,somethreefeetinlengthandofsuitablediameter,whichoccupiedanevenmonthinthefashioning.Also,tosecuretheoarfromtheweather(forIuseditinmildbreezesasaflagstaffontopofmypyramidfromwhichtoflyaflagImademefromoneofmypreciousshirts)Icontrivedforitacoveringofwell-curedsealskins.
InthemonthofMarchofthesixthyearofmyconfinementIexperiencedoneofthemosttremendousstormsthatwasperhapseverwitnessedbyman.Itcommencedataboutnineintheevening,withtheapproachofblackcloudsandafresheningwindfromthesouth-west,which,byeleven,hadbecomeahurricane,attendedwithincessantpealsofthunderandthesharpestlightningIhadeverwitnessed.
Iwasnotwithoutapprehensionforthesafetyoftheisland.Overeveryparttheseasmadeacleanbreach,exceptofthesummitofmypyramid.Therethelifewasnighbeatenandsuffocatedoutofmybodybythedriveofthewindandspray.Icouldnotbutbesensiblethatmyexistencewassparedsolelybecauseofmydiligenceinerectingthepyramidandsodoublingthestatureoftheisland.
Yet,inthemorning,Ihadgreatreasonforthankfulness.Allmysavedrainwaterwasturnedbrackish,savethatinmylargestvesselwhichwasshelteredintheleeofthepyramid.
