Робінзон Крузо
Wreck of a Spanish Ship
Igavehimacakeofmybread,andheeatitlikearavenouswolfthathadbeenstarvingafortnightinthesnow. Ithengavethepoorcreaturesomefreshwater,withwhich,ifIwouldhavelethim,hewouldhavebursthimself.
AfterthisIwentonboard; butthefirstsightImetwithwastwomendrownedinthecookroom,orforecastleoftheship,withtheirarmsfastaboutoneanother. Iconcluded,asisindeedprobable,thatwhentheshipstruck,itbeinginastorm,theseabrokesohigh,andsocontinuallyoverher,thatthemenwerenotabletobearit,andwerestrangledwiththeconstantrushinginofthewater,asmuchasiftheyhadbeenunderwater. Besidesthedog,therewasnothingleftintheshipthathadlife,noranygoodsthatIcouldseebutwhatwerespoiledbythewater. Thereweresomecasksofliquor,whetherwineorbrandIknewnot,whichlaylowerinthehold,andwhich,thewaterbeingebbedout,Icouldsee;buttheyweretoobigtomeddlewith. Isawseveralchests,whichIbelievedbelongedtosomeoftheseamen; andIgottwoofthemintotheboat,withoutexaminingwhatwasinthem.
Hadthesternoftheshipbeenfixed,andthefore-partbrokenoff,IampersuadedImighthavemadeagoodvoyage; forbywhatIfoundinthesetwochests,Ihadroomtosupposetheshiphadagreatdealofwealthonboard; andifImayguessbythecourseshesteered,shemusthavebeenboundfromtheBuenosAyres,ortheRiodelaPlata,inthesouthpartofAmerica,beyondtheBrazils,totheHavana,intheGulfofMexico,andsoperhapstoSpain. Shehad,nodoubt,agreattreasureinher,butofnouse,atthattime,toanybody;andwhatbecameoftherestofherpeople,Ithenknewnot.
