The Life & Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe Part-24 the story

 

The Life & Adventures Of  Robinson Crusoe Part-24 the story

But that which comforted me more still was, that at last

of all, after I had made five or six such Voyages as these, and

thought I had nothing more to expect from the Ship that

was worth my medling with, I say, after all this, I found a

great Hogshead of Bread and three large Runlets of Rum or

Spirits, and a Box of Sugar, and a Barrel of fine Flower; this

was surprizing to me, because I had given over expecting

any more Provisions, except what was spoil'd by the Water:

I soon empty'd the Hogshead of that Bread, and wrapt it up

Parcel by Parcel in Pieces of the Sails, which I cut out; and

in a Word, I got all this safe on Shore also.

The next Day I made another Voyage; and now having

plunder'd the Ship of what was portable and fit to hand out,

I began with the Cables; and cutting the great Cable into

Pieces, such as I could move, I got two Cables and a Hawser

on Shore, with all the Iron Work I could get; and having

cut down the Spritsail-yard, and the Missen-yard, and

every Thing I could to make a large Raft, I loaded it with

all those heavy Goods, and came away: But my good Luck

began now to leave me; for this Raft was so unweildy, and

so overloaden, that after I was enter'd the little Cove, where

I had landed the rest of my Goods, not being able to guide

it so handily as I did the other, it overset, and threw me

all my Cargoe into the Water; as for my self it was no great

Harm, for I was near the Shore; but as to my Cargoe, it

was great Part of it lost, especially the Iron, which I expected

I would have been of great Use to me: However, when the

Tide was out, I got most of the Pieces of Cable ashore, and

some of the Iron, tho' with infinite Labour; for I was fain

to dip for it into the Water, a Work which fatigu'd me very

much: After this I went every Day on Board, and brought

and

away what I could get.

had been now thirteen Days on Shore, and had been

eleven Times on Board the Ship; in which Time I had

brought away all that one Pair of Hands could well be

suppos'd capable to bring, tho' I believe verily, had the calm

Weather held, I should have brought away the whole Ship 

Piece by Piece: But preparing the 12th Time to go on Board,

I found the Wind begin to rise; however at low Water I

n Board, and tho' I thought I had rumag'd the Cabbin

went on

as

that nothing more could be found, yet I

so effectually,

SO

discover'd a Locker with Drawers in it, in one of which I

found two or three Razors, and one Pair of large Sizzers,

with some ten or a Dozen of good Knives and Forks; in

another I found about Thirty six Pounds value in Money,

European Coin, some Brasil, some Pieces of Eight,

some Gold, some Silver.

I smil'd to my self at the Sight of this Money, 0. Drug!

Said I aloud, what art thou good for, Thou art not worth to

me, no not the taking off of the Ground, one of those

Knives is worth all this Heap, I have no Manner of use for

thee, e'en remain where thou art, and go to the Bottom as a

Creature whose Life is not worth saving. However, upon

Second Thoughts, I took it away, and wrapping all this in

a Piece of Canvas, I began to think of making another Raft,

but while I was preparing this, I found the Sky over-cast,

and the Wind began to rise, and in a Quarter of an Hour

it blew a fresh Gale from the Shore; it presently occur'd to

me, that it was in vain to pretend to make a Raft with the

Wind off Shore, and that it was my Business to be gone

before the Tide of Flood began, otherwise I might not be

able to reach the Shore at all: Accordingly I let my self

down into the Water, and swam cross the Channel, which

lay between the Ship and the Sands, and even that with

Difficulty enough, partly with the Weight of the Things

I had about me, and partly the Roughness of the Water, for

the Wind rose very hastily, and before it was quite high

Water, it blew a Storm.

But I

was gotten home to my little Tent, where I lay with

all my Wealth about me very secure. It blew very hard all

that Night, and in the Morning when I look'd out, behold

Ship was to be seen; I was a little surpriz'd, but

recover'd my self with this satisfactory Reflection, viz. That

no more

no

time, nor abated no Dilligence to get every 

thing out of her that could be useful to me, and that indeed

there was little left in her that I was able to bring away if

I now gave over any more Thoughts of the Ship, or of any

thing out of her, except what might drive on Shore from her

Wreck, as indeed divers Pieces of her afterwards did; but

those things were of small use to me.

My Thoughts were now wholly employ'd about securing

my self against either Savages, if any should appear, or wild

Beasts, if any were in the Island; and I had many Thoughts

of the Method how to do this, and what kind of Dwelling

to make, whether I should make me a Cave in the Earth, or

a Tent upon the Earth: And, in short, I resolv'd upon both

the Manner and Discription of which, it may not be im-

proper to give an Account of.

I soon found the Place I was in was not for my Settlement,

particularly because it was upon a low moorish Ground near

the Sea, and I believ'd would not be wholsome, and more

particularly because there was no fresh Water near it, so I

resolv'd to find a more healthy and more convenient Spot

of Ground.

I consulted several Things in my Situation which I found!

would be proper for me, 1st. Health, and fresh Water I just

now mention'd, 2dly. Shelter from the Heat of the Sun,

3dly. Security from ravenous Creatures, whether Men or

Beasts, 4thly. a View to the Sea, that if God sent any Ship

in Sight, I might not lose any Advantage for

of which I was not willing to banish all my Expectation yet.

In search of a Place proper for this, I found a little Plain

Deliverance,

on the Side of a rising Hill; whose Front towards this little

Plain, was steep as a House-side, so that nothing could come

down upon me from the Top; on the Side of this Rock

there was a hollow Place worn a little way in like the Entrance

or Door of a Cave, but there was not really any Cave or Way

into the Rock at all.

resolv'd to pitch my Tent: This Plain was not above an

On the Flat of the Green, just before this hollow Place,