Chapter 14

           WithmysteppingashoreIbeganthemostunhappypartofmyadventures.Itwashalf-pasttwelveinthemorning,andthoughthewindwasbrokenbytheland,itwasacoldnight.Idarednotsitdown(forIthoughtIshouldhavefrozen),buttookoffmyshoesandwalkedtoandfrouponthesand,bare-foot,andbeatingmybreastwithinfiniteweariness.Therewasnosoundofmanorcattle;notacockcrew,thoughitwasaboutthehouroftheirfirstwaking;onlythesurfbrokeoutsideinthedistance,whichputmeinmindofmyperilsandthoseofmyfriend.Towalkbytheseaatthathourofthemorning,andinaplacesodesert-likeandlonesome,struckmewithakindoffear.

           AssoonasthedaybegantobreakIputonmyshoesandclimbedahill—theruggedestscrambleIeverundertook—falling,thewholeway,betweenbigblocksofgranite,orleapingfromonetoanother.WhenIgottothetopthedawnwascome.Therewasnosignofthebrig,whichmusthaveliftedfromthereefandsunk.Theboat,too,wasnowheretobeseen.Therewasneverasailupontheocean;andinwhatIcouldseeofthelandwasneitherhousenorman.

           Iwasafraidtothinkwhathadbefallenmyshipmates,andafraidtolooklongeratsoemptyascene.Whatwithmywetclothesandweariness,andmybellythatnowbegantoachewithhunger,Ihadenoughtotroublemewithoutthat.SoIsetoffeastwardalongthesouthcoast,hopingtofindahousewhereImightwarmmyself,andperhapsgetnewsofthoseIhadlost.Andattheworst,Iconsideredthesunwouldsoonriseanddrymyclothes.