Робінзон Крузо

           andthoughIwasbutabunglingshipwright,yetasIknewtheusefulness,andevennecessity,ofsuchathing,Iappliedmyselfwithsomuchpainstodoit,thatatlastIbroughtittopass; though,consideringthemanydullcontrivancesIhadforitthatfailed,Ithinkitcostmealmostasmuchlaborasmakingtheboat. 

           Afterallthiswasdone,too,IhadmymanFridaytoteachastowhatbelongedtothenavigationofmyboat;forthoughheknewverywellhowtopaddleacanoe,heknewnothingwhatbelongedtoasailandarudder; andwasthemostamazedwhenhesawmeworktheboattoandagainintheseabytherudder,andhowthesailjabbed,andfilledthisway,orthatway,asthecoursewesailedchanged;Isay,whenhesawthis,hestoodlikeoneastonishedandamazed. However,withalittleuseImadeallthesethingsfamiliartohim,andhebecameanexpertsailor,exceptthatastothecompassIcouldmakehimunderstandverylittleofthat. Ontheotherhand,astherewasverylittlecloudyweather,andseldomorneveranyfogsinthoseparts,therewasthelessoccasionforacompass,seeingthestarswerealwaystobeseenbynight,andtheshorebyday, exceptintherainyseason,andthennobodycaredtostirabroad,eitherbylandorsea. 

           Iwasnowenteredonthesevenandtwentiethyearofmycaptivityinthisplace; thoughthethreelastyearsthatIhadthiscreaturewithmeoughtrathertobeleftoutoftheaccount,myhabitationbeingquiteofanotherkindthaninalltherestofthetime. IkepttheanniversaryofmylandingherewiththesamethankfulnesstoGodforHismerciesasatfirst; andifIhadsuchcauseofacknowledgmentatfirst,Ihadmuchmoresonow,havingsuchadditionaltestimoniesofthecareofProvidenceoverme,andthegreathopesIhadofbeingeffectuallyandspeedilydelivered;