The Life & Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe Part-20

 

The Life & Adventures Of  Robinson Crusoe Part-20

hold many Minutes without breaking in Pieces, unless the

Winds by a kind of Miracle should turn immediately about.

In a word, we sat looking upon one another, and expecting

Death every Moment, and every Man acting accordingly,

as preparing for another World, for there was little or nothing

more for us to do in this; that which was our present Com-

fort, and all the Comfort we had, was, that contrary to our

Expectation the Ship did not break yet, and that the Master

said the Wind began to abate.

Now tho' we thought that the Wind did a little abate, yet

the Ship having thus struck upon the Sand, and sticking too

fast for us to expect her getting off, we were in a dreadful

Condition indeed, and had nothing to do but to think of

saving our Lives as well as we could; we had a Boat at our

Stern just before the Storm, but she was first stav'd by

dashing against the Ship's Rudder, and in the next Place she

broke away, and either sunk or was driven off to Sea, so

there was no hope from her; we had another Boat on board,

but how to get her off into the Sea, was a doubtful thing;

however there was no room to debate, for we fancy'd the

Ship would break in Pieces every Minute, and some told us

she was actually broken already.

In this Distress the Mate of our Vessel lays hold of the

Boat, and with the help of the rest of the Men, they got her

flung over the Ship's-side, and getting all into her, let go,

and committed our selves being Eleven in Number, to God's

Mercy, and the wild Sea; for tho' the Storm was abated

considerably, yet the Sea went dreadful high upon the Shore,

and might well be call'd, Den wild Zee, as the Dutch call the

Sea in a Storm.

And now our Case was very dismal indeed; for we all saw

plainly, that the Sea went so high, that the Boat could not

making Sail, we had none, nor, if we had, could we ha' done

live, and that we should be inevitably drowned. As to

any thing with it; so we work'd at the Oar towards the Land,

tho' with heavy Hearts, like Men going to Execution; for we

all knew, that when the Boat came nearer the Shore, she 

would be dash'd in a Thousand Pieces by the Breach of the

Sea. However, we committed our Souls to God in the most

earnest Manner, and the Wind driving us towards the Shore,

we hasten'd our Destruction with our own Hands, pulling

as well as we could towards Land.

What the Shore was, whether Rock or Sand, whether

Steep or Shoal, we knew not; the only Hope that could

rationally give us the least Shadow of Expectation, was, if

we might happen into some Bay or Gulph, or the Mouth of

some River, where by great Chance we might have run our

Boat in, or got under the Lee of the Land, and perhaps

made smooth Water. But there was nothing of this appeared;

but as we made nearer and nearer the Shore, the Land

look'd more frightful than the Sea.

After we had row'd, or rather driven about a League and

a Half, as we reckon'd it, a raging Wave, Mountain-like,

came rowling a-stern of us, and plainly bad us expect the

Coup de Grace. In a word, it took us with such a Fury, that

it overset the Boat at once; and separating us as well from

the Boat, as from one another, gave us not time hardly to

say, O God! for we were all swallowed up in a Moment.

felt when I sunk into the Water; for tho' I swam very well,

Nothing can describe the Confusion of Thought which I

yet I could not deliver my self from the Waves so as to draw

Breath, till that Wave having driven me, or rather carried

me a vast Way on towards the Shore, and having spent it

self, went back, and left me upon the Land almost dry, but

half-dead with the Water I took in.

 I had so much Presence of Mind as well as Breath left, that seeing my self nearer the

main Land than I expected, I got upon my Feet, and en-

deavoured to make on towards the Land as fast as I could,

before another Wave should return, and take me up again.

But I soon found it was impossible to avoid it; for I saw the

Sea come after me as high as a great Hill, and as furious as an

Enemy which I had no Means or Strength to contend with;

the Water, if I could; and so by swimming to preserve my

my Business was to hold my Breath, and raise my self upon