Робінзон Крузо
Finds Print of Man’s Foot on the Sand
Ilooked,Ithought,likeSaul,whocomplainednotonlythatthePhilistineswereuponhim,butthatGodhadforsakenhim; forIdidnotnowtakeduewaystocomposemymind,bycryingtoGodinmydistress,andrestinguponHisprovidence,asIhaddonebefore,formydefenceanddeliverance; which,ifIhaddone,Ihadatleastbeenmorecheerfullysupportedunderthisnewsurprise,andperhapscarriedthroughitwithmoreresolution.
Thisconfusionofmythoughtskeptmewakingallnight,butinthemorningIfellasleep; andhaving,bytheamusementofmymind,been,asitwere,tired,andmyspiritsexhausted,Isleptverysoundly,andwakedmuchbettercomposedthanIhadeverbeenbefore. AndnowIbegantothinksedately; andupontheutmostdebatewithmyself,Iconcludedthatthisisland,whichwassoexceedingpleasant,fruitful,andnofartherfromthemainlandthanasIhadseen,wasnotsoentirelyabandonedasImightimagine; thatalthoughtherewerenostatedinhabitantswholivedonthespot,yetthattheremightsometimescomeboatsofffromtheshore,who,eitherwithdesign,orperhapsneverbutwhentheyweredrivenbycross-winds,mightcometothisplace; thatIhadlivedherefifteenyearsnow,andhadnotmetwiththeleastshadoworfigureofanypeopleyet; andthatifatanytimetheyshouldbedrivenhere,itwasprobabletheywentawayagainassoonasevertheycould,seeingtheyhadneverthoughtfittofixthereuponanyoccasiontothistime; thatthemostIcouldsuggestanydangerfrom,wasfromanysuchcasualaccidentallandingofstragglingpeoplefromthemain,who,asitwaslikely,iftheyweredrivenhither,werehereagainsttheirwills; sotheymadenostayhere,butwentoffagainwithallpossiblespeed,seldomstayingonenightonshore,lesttheyshouldnothavethehelpofthetidesanddaylightbackagain; andthat,therefore,Ihadnothingtodobuttoconsiderofsomesaferetreat,incaseIshouldseeanysavageslanduponthespot.
