Робінзон Крузо
First Weeks on the Island
andletthisstandasadirectionfromtheexperienceofthemostmiserableofallconditionsinthisworld,thatwemayalwaysfindinitsomethingtocomfortourselvesfrom,andtosetinthedescriptionofgoodandevilonthecreditsideoftheaccount.
Havingnowbroughtmymindalittletorelishmycondition,andgivenoverlookingouttosea,toseeifIcouldspyaship; Isay,givingoverthesethings,Ibegantoapplymyselftoaccomodatemywayofliving,andtomakethingsaseasytomeasIcould.
Ihavealreadydescribedmyhabitation,whichwasatentunderthesideofarock,surroundedwithastrongpaleofpostsandcables; butImightnowrathercallitawall,forIraisedakindofwallupagainstitofturfs,abouttwofeetthickontheoutside, andaftersometime—Ithinkitwasayearandahalf–Iraisedraftersfromitleaningtotherock,andthatchedorcovereditwithboughsoftreesandsuchthings asIcouldgettokeepouttherain,whichIfoundatsometimesoftheyearveryviolent.
IhavealreadyobservedhowIbroughtallmygoodsintothispale,andintothecavewhichIhadmadebehindme. ButImustobserve,too,thatatfirstthiswasaconfusedheapofgoods,whichastheylayinnoorder,sotheytookupallmyplace;Ihadnoroomtoturnmyself. SoIsetmyselftoenlargemycaveandworksfartherintotheearth; foritwasaloosesandyrockwhichyieldedeasilytothelaborIbestowedonit. Andso,whenIfoundIwasprettysafeastobeastsofprey,Iworkedsidewaystotherighthandintotherock; andthen,turningtotherightagain,workingquiteout,andmademeadoortocomeoutontheoutsideofmypaleorfortification.
