Робінзон Крузо
Finds Print of Man’s Foot on the Sand
Iwasatastrangelosstounderstandthis,andresolvedtospendsometimeintheobservingit,toseeifnothingfromthesetsofthetidehadoccasionedit. ButIwaspresentlyconvincedhowitwas,viz.,thatthetideofebbsettingfromthewest,andjoiningwiththecurrentofwatersfromsomegreatriverontheshore,mustbetheoccasionofthiscurrent; andthataccordingasthewindblewmoreforciblyfromthewest,orfromthenorth,thiscurrentcamenear,orwentfartherfromtheshore; forwaitingthereaboutstillevening,Iwentuptotherockagain,andthenthetideofebbbeingmade,Iplainlysawthecurrentagainasbefore,onlythatitrunfartheroff,beingnearhalfaleaguefromtheshore; whereasinmycaseitsetcloseupontheshore,andhurriedmeandmycanoealongwithit,which,atanothertime,itwouldnothavedone.
ThisobservationconvincedmethatIhadnothingtodobuttoobservetheebbingandtheflowingofthetide,andImightveryeasilybringmyboatabouttheislandagain. ButwhenIbegantothinkofputtingitinpractice,IhadsuchaterroruponmyspiritsattheremembranceofthedangerIhadbeenin,thatIcouldnotthinkofitagainwithanypatience; but,onthecontrary,Itookupanotherresolution,whichwasmoresafe,thoughmorelaborious; andthiswas,thatIwouldbuild,orrathermakemeanotherperiaguaorcanoe; andsohaveoneforonesideoftheisland,andonefortheother.
YouaretounderstandthatnowIhad,asImaycallit,twoplantationsintheisland; one,mylittlefortificationortent,withthewallaboutit,undertherock,withthecavebehindme,which,bythistime,Ihadenlargedintoseveralapartmentsorcaves,onewithinanother.
