第17章

I was now landed，and safe on Shore，and began to look up and thank God that my Life was sav'd in a Case wherein there was some Minutes before scarce any room to hope. I believe it is impossible to express to the Life what the Extasies and Transports of the Soul are，when it is so sav'd，as I may say，out of the very Grave；and I do not wonder now at that Custom，vis. That when a Malefactor who has the Halter about his Neck，is tyed up，and just going to be turn'd off，and has a Reprieve brought to him：I say，I do not wonder that they bring a Surgeon with it，to let him Blood that very Moment they tell him of it，that the Surprise may not drive the Animal Spirits from the Heart，and overwhelm him：

For sudden Joys，like Griefs，confound at first.

I walk'd about on the Shore，lifting up my Hands，and my whole Being，as I may say，wrapt up in the Contemplation of my Deliverance，making a Thousand Gestures and Motions which I cannot describe，reflecting upon all my Comerades that were drown'd，and that there should not be one Soul sav'd but my self；for，as for them，I never saw them afterwards，or any Sign of them，except three of their Hats，one Cap，and two Shoes that were not Fellows.

I cast my Eyes to the stranded Vessel，when the Breach and Froth of the Sea being so big，I could hardly see it，it lay so far off，and considered，Lord！ how was it possible I could get on Shore？

After I had solac'd my Mind with the comfortable Part of my Condition，I began to look round me to see what kind of Place I was in，and what was next to be done，and I soon found my Comforts abate，and that in a word I had a dreadful Deliverance：For I was wet，had no Clothes to shift me，nor any thing either to eat or drink to comfort me，neither did I see any Prospect before me，but that of perishing with Hunger，or being devour'd by wild Beasts；and that which was particularly afflicting to me，was，that I had no Weapon either to hunt and kill any Creature for my Sustenance，or to defend my self against any other Creature that might desire to kill me for theirs：In a Word，I had nothing about me but a Knife，a Tobacco-pipe，and a little Tobacco in a Box，this was all my Provision，and this threw me into terrible Agonies of Mind，that for a while I run about like a Mad-man；Night coming upon me，I began with a heavy Heart to consider what would be my Lot if there were any ravenous Beasts in that Country，seeing at Night they always come abroad for their Prey.

All the Remedy that offer'd to my Thoughts at that Time，was，to get up into a thick bushy Tree like a Firr，but thorny，which grew near me，and where I resolv'd to set all Night，and consider the next Day what Death I should dye，for as yet I saw no Prospect of Life；I walk'd about a Furlong from the Shore，to see if I could find any fresh Water to drink，which I did，to my great Joy；and having drank and put a little Tobacco in my Mouth to prevent Hunger，I went to the Tree，and getting up into it，endeavour'd to place my self so，as that if I should sleep I might not fall；and having cut me a short Stick，like a Truncheon，for my Defence，I took up my Lodging，and having been excessively fatigu'd，I fell fast asleep，and slept as comfortably as，I believe，few could have done in my Condition，and found my self the cost refresh'd with it，that I think I ever was on such an Occasion.

When I wak'd it was broad Day，the Weather clear，and the Storm abated，so that the Sea did not rage and swell as before：But that which surpris'd me most，was，that the Ship was lifted off in the Night from the Sand where she lay，by the Swelling of the Tyde，and was driven up almost as far as the Rock which I first mention'd，where I had been so bruis'd by the dashing me against it；this being within about a Mile from the Shore where I was，and the Ship seeming to stand upright still，I wish'd my self on board，that，at least，I might save some necessary things for my use.

When I came down from my Appartment in the Tree，I look'd about me again，and the first thing I found was the Boat，which lay as the Wind and the Sea had toss'd her up upon the Land，about two Miles on my right Hand. I walk'd as far as I could upon the Shore to have got to her，but found a Neck or Inlet of Water between me and the Boat，which was about half a Mile broad，so I came back for the present，being more intent upon getting at the Ship，where I hop'd to find something for my present Subsistence.