Робінзон Крузо

           Weknewnothingwherewewere,oruponwhatlanditwasweweredriven,whetheranislandorthemain,whetherinhabitedornotinhabited; andastherageofthewindwasstillgreat,thoughratherlessthanatfirst,wecouldnotsomuchashopetohavetheshipholdmanyminuteswithoutbreakinginpieces,unlessthewinds,byakindofmiracle,shouldturnimmediatelyabout. Inaword,wesatlookingoneuponanother,andexpectingdeatheverymoment,andeverymanactingaccordingly,aspreparingforanotherworld;fortherewaslittleornothingmoreforustodointhis. Thatwhichwasourpresentcomfort,andallthecomfortwehad,wasthat,contrarytoourexpectation,theshipdidnotbreakyet,andthatthemastersaidthewindbegantoabate. 

           Now,thoughwethoughtthatthewinddidalittleabate,yettheshiphavingthusstruckuponthesand,andstickingtoofastforustoexpecthergettingoff,wewereinadreadfulconditionindeed,andhadnothingtodobuttothinkofsavingourlivesaswellaswecould. Wehadaboatatoursternjustbeforethestorm,butshewasfirststavedbydashingagainsttheship’srudder,andinthenextplace,shebrokeaway,andeithersunk,orwasdrivenofftosea, sotherewasnohopefromher; wehadanotherboatonboard,buthowtogetheroffintothesea,wasadoubtfulthing. However,therewasnoroomtodebate,forwefanciedtheshipwouldbreaktopieceseveryminute,andsometoldusshewasactuallybrokenalready. 

           Inthisdistress,themateofourvessellaysholdoftheboat,andwiththehelpoftherestofthementheygotherslungovertheship’sside; andgettingallintoher,letgo,andcommittedourselves,beingeleveninnumber,toGod’smercy,andthewildsea;