First Weeks on the Island

           WhenIwakeditwasbroadday,theweatherclear,andthestormabated,sothattheseadidnotrageandswellasbefore. Butthatwhichsurprisedmemostwas,thattheshipwasliftedoffinthenightfromthesandwhereshelay,bytheswellingofthetide,andwasdrivenupalmostasfarastherockwhichIfirstmentioned,whereIhadbeensobruisedbythedashingmeagainstit. ThisbeingwithinaboutamilefromtheshorewhereIwas,andtheshipseemingtostanduprightstill,Iwishedmyselfonboard,that,atleast,Imighthavesomenecessarythingsformyuse. 

           WhenIcamedownfrommyapartmentinthetreeIlookedaboutmeagain,andthefirstthingIfoundwastheboat,whichlayasthewindandtheseahadtossedherupupontheland,abouttwomilesonmyrighthand. IwalkedasfarasIcouldupontheshoretohavegottoher,butfoundaneckorinletofwaterbetweenmeandtheboat,whichwasabouthalfamilebroad; soIcamebackforthepresent,beingmoreintentupongettingattheship,whereIhopedtofindsomethingformypresentsubsistence. 

           AlittleafternoonIfoundtheseaverycalm,andthetideebbedsofarout,thatIcouldcomewithinaquarterofamileoftheship; andhereIfoundafreshrenewingofmygrief,forIsawevidently,thatifwehadkeptonboardwehadbeenallsafe, thatistosay,wehadallgotsafeonshore,andIhadnotbeensomiserableastobeleftentirelydestituteofallcomfortandcompany,andInowwas. Thisforcedtearsfrommyeyesagain;butastherewaslittlereliefinthat,Iresolved,ifpossible,togettotheship; soIpulledoffmyclothes,fortheweatherwashottoextremity,andtookthewater. ButwhenIcametotheship,mydifficultywasstillgreatertoknowhowtogetonboard; forasshelayaground,andhighoutofthewater,therewasnothingwithinmyreachtolayholdof.