Робінзон Крузо
Finds Print of Man’s Foot on the Sand
Abundanceofsuchthingsastheseassistedtoarguemeoutofallapprehensionsofitsbeingthedevil; andIpresentlyconcludedthen,thatitmustbesomemoredangerouscreature,viz.,thatitmustbesomeofthesavagesofthemainlandoveragainstme, whohadwanderedouttoseaintheircanoes,and,eitherdrivenbythecurrentsorbycontrarywinds, hadmadetheisland,andhadbeenonshore,butweregoneawayagaintosea,beingasloth,perhaps,tohavestayedinthisdesolateislandasIwouldhavebeentohavehadthem.
Whilethesereflectionswererollinguponmymind,IwasverythankfulinmythoughtsthatIwassohappyasnottobethereaboutsatthattime,orthattheydidnotseemyboat,bywhichtheywouldhaveconcludedthatsomeinhabitantshadbeenintheplace,andperhapshavesearchedfartherforme. Thenterriblethoughtsrackedmyimaginationabouttheirhavingfoundmyboat,andthattherewerepeoplehere; andthatifso,Ishouldcertainlyhavethemcomeagainingreaternumbers,anddevourme; thatifitshouldhappensothattheyshouldnotfindme,yettheywouldfindmyenclosure,destroyallmycorn,carryawayallmyflockoftamegoats,andIshouldperishatlastformerewant.
Thusmyfearbanishedallmyreligioushope. AllthatformerconfidenceinGod,whichwasfoundeduponsuchwonderfulexperienceasIhadhadofHisgoodness,nowvanished,asifHethathadfedmebymiraclehithertocouldnotpreserve,byHispower,theprovisionwhichHehadmadeformebyHisgoodness. Ireproachedmyselfwithmyeasiness,thatwouldnotsowanymorecornoneyearthanwouldjustservemetillthenextseason,asifnoaccidentcouldintervenetopreventmyenjoyingthecropthatwasupontheground. AndthisIthoughtsojustareproofthatIresolvedforthefuturetohavetwoorthreeyears’cornbeforehand,sothat,whatevermightcome,Imightnotperishforwantofbread.
