Міжзірковий мандрівник

           Ilabouredfourmonthsatconstructingastonewallthirtyfeetlong,includingitswings,andadozenfeethigh.Thiswasasaprotectiontothehutintheperiodsofthegreatgaleswhenalltheislandwasasatinypetrelinthemawofthehurricane.NordidIconceivethetimemisspent.ThereafterIlaysnugintheheartofcalmwhilealltheairforahundredfeetabovemyheadwasonestreamofgust-drivenwater.

           InthethirdyearIbeganmeapillarofrock.Ratherwasitapyramid,four-square,broadatthebase,slopingupwardnotsteeplytotheapex.InthisfashionIwascompelledtobuild,forgearandtimbertherewasnoneinalltheislandfortheconstructionofscaffolding.Notuntilthecloseofthefifthyearwasmypyramidcomplete.Itstoodonthesummitoftheisland.Now,whenIstatethatthesummitwasbutfortyfeetabovethesea,andthatthepeakofmypyramidwasfortyfeetabovethesummit,itwillbeconceivedthatI,withouttools,haddoubledthestatureoftheisland.ItmightbeurgedbysomeunthinkingonesthatIinterferedwithGod’splaninthecreationoftheworld.Notso,Ihold.ForwasnotIequallyapartofGod’splan,alongwiththisheapofrocksupjuttinginthesolitudeofocean?Myarmswithwhichtowork,mybackwithwhichtobendandlift,myhandscunningtoclutchandhold—werenotthesepartstooinGod’splan?MuchIponderedthematter.IknowthatIwasright.