Page:Life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe (3).pdf/10

10 but after we had rowed, or rather been driven about a league and a half; a wave, mountain high, came rolling astern of us with such fury, that it overset the boat at once, and separated us from one another. This wave carried me a vast way towards the shore, and having spent itself, went back, and left me upon the land almost dry, but half dead. I stood still a few moments to recover breath, till the waters went from me, and then took to my heels ; and with all the strength I had left me, ran towards the shore. I got to the main land, clambered up the clifts of the shore, and sat me down upon the grass. Having rested myself, I walked along the shore in search of fresh water : having found some and quenched my thirst, I put some tobacco in my mouth, to prevent hunger, and having climbed a tree, rested myself till morning. I then found the sea calm, and the tide ebbed so far out, that I could come within a quarter of a mile of the ship. The weather being extremely hot, I pulled off my clothes, and took to the water ; but when I came to the ship, I found no means of getting on board, she lying so high, that I could find nothing within my reach : I swam round her twice ; at last observing a small piece of rope hanging down, I got hold of it, and got into the forecastle. Here I found that the ship was bulged, and a great deal of water in the hold; but to my great joy I saw that all the ship’s provisions were dry, and being well disposed to eat, I went into the bread room, and slipped on a waistcoat, filled my pockets with biscuits, and eat as I went about other things ; I also found some rum in the great cabin, of which I took a dram. As I found several spare yards, I let them down with ropes by the ship’s sides, and going down to them, tied them together, and made a raft, placing several pieces of plank upon them crossway, and laid upon it all the pieces of board that came to hand. I next emptied three of the seamen’s chests : then lowered them down upon the raft, and filled them with bread, some dried goat’s flesh, and three Dutch cheeses. I found several cases of bottles, in which were some cordial waters, and about five or six gallons of arrack ; these I stowed by themselves, there being no room for them in the chests. I also let down the carpenter’s chest, which was worth more to me than a ship load of gold. I next found two good fowling-pieces, and two pistols, with some powder horns, two barrels of powder, and two old rusty swords, all of which I placed on tho raft, and with this invaluable cargo resolved to put to sea. My raft went very well, and with it I entered a creek, where I thrust it on a flat piece of ground, over which the tide flowed, and there fastened it by sticking a broken oar into the ground.