Page:Life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe (2).pdf/18

18 whiskers. But as for my figure, I had so few to observe me, that it was no manner of consequence.

In this figure I went my new journey, and was out five or six days. I was exccedingly surprised with the print of a man’s naked foot on the shore, which was plainly to be seen in the sand. I listened, I eould hear nothing, I went upon a rising ground to look farther, hut I could see only that one impression. There was plainly a foot, toes, heel, and every part very distinct. I hurried homo to my fortifications, looking hehind me every two or three steps, and fancying every tree, bush, and stump, to he a man. I had no sleep that night, but my terror gradually wore off; however, I strengthened my fortifieation, and planted a numbcr of stakes on the outside of my wall, which growing, bccame a thick grove.

After having secured my habitation in the strongest manner possible, I sought for a place of security for my live goats; and at length found a piece of ground almost inaccessihle hy nature; and then removed the she-goats and two he-goats into it.

After I had thus sccured one part of my live stock, I rambled more to the western point of the island than I had ever done before. I was prescntly eonvinced that the seeing the print of a man's foot was not such a strange thing in the island, as I had imagined, for on my approaching the shore, I was perfeetly eonfounded; nor is it possible to express the horror I felt at sccing the shore spread with skulls, hands, and feet, and other bones of human bodies; and partieularly a plaee, whcre, as I supposed, there had been a fire made, and a eircle dug in the earth for tho savage wretches to sit down to their inhuman feasts. I turned my faee from the horrid spcctacle, and left the placo as soon as possible.

Some time after, in tho midst of a very stormy night, I was startled at the firing of a gun: I hastened up to tho top of my hill, and heard another. I imagined that these were the signals of a ship in distress; and such it proved, as I discovered the next day. I eannot explain the emotion I felt at the sight of this wreck. O that there had been hut one saved! cried I, that I might have had one companion — one fellow creature to have spoken to, and have comforted in his affliction!

One morning very early, I clambered up my hill, and discovered savages landing from five canoes. I soon after saw two miserable wretehes dragged out of the boats; one of whom was immediately knocked down; but the other starting from them, ran with ineredible swiftness towards me. I was frightened when I saw him come my way, imagining he would be followed by the whole hody; however, I kept my station, and quite lost my apprehensions when I found but three followed