Wreck of a Spanish Ship

           Iwasnowinmytwenty-thirdyearofresidenceinthisisland; andwassonaturalizedtotheplace,andtothemannerofliving,thatcouldIhavebutenjoyedthecertaintythatnosavageswouldcometotheplacetodisturbme,Icouldhavebeencontenttohavecapitulatedforspendingtherestofmytimethere,eventothelastmoment,tillIhadlaidmedownanddied,liketheoldgoatinthecave. Ihadalsoarrivedtosomelittlediversionsandamusements,whichmadethetimepassmorepleasantlywithmeagreatdealthanitdidbefore. As,first,IhadtaughtmyPoll,asInotedbefore,tospeak;andhediditsofamiliarly,andtalkedsoarticulatelyandplain,thatitwasverypleasanttome; andhelivedwithmenolessthansixandtwentyyears. HowlonghemightliveafterwardsIknownot,thoughIknowtheyhaveanotionintheBrazilsthattheyliveahundredyears. PerhapspoorPollmaybealivetherestill,callingafterpoorRobinCrusoetothisday. IwishnoEnglishmantheilllucktocomethereandhearhim; butifhedid,hewouldcertainlybelieveitwasthedevil. Mydogwasaverypleasantandlovingcompaniontomefornolessthansixteenyearsofmytime,andthendiedofmereoldage. Asformycats,theymultiplied,asIhadobserved,tothatdegreethatIwasobligedtoshootseveralofthematfirsttokeepthemfromdevouringmeandallIhad; butatlength,whenthetwooldonesIbroughtwithmeweregone,andaftersometimecontinuallydrivingthemfromme,andlettingthemhavenoprovisionwithme,theyallranwildintothewoods, excepttwoorthreefavorites,whichIkepttame,andwhoseyoung,whentheyhadany,Ialwaysdrowned;andthesewerepartofmyfamily. Besidesthese,Ialwayskepttwoorthreehouseholdkidsaboutme,whomItaughttofeedoutofmyhand.