Page 33 - An American Robinson Crusoe

and blowing as far easterly as it does at that place. He scudded along bravely, running with the land toward
the East and North. All went well until he came to a low reef or ledge of rocks running far out to sea in a
north-easterly direction.

[Illustration]

When Robinson observed this he went on shore and climbed to a high point to see if it was safe to venture. He
was afraid of hidden currents, or streams of water. These might carry him away from the shore and prevent
him from getting around the point.

He did indeed observe that there was a current running out to sea past the ledge, but he thought he could by
careful paddling keep his boat from striking the rock. If he could once get beyond the ledge, the wind would
help him double or get around the point. Indeed the danger was that the wind would blow him on to the rocks.

He waited for two days for a gentle wind. At last without sail he pushed his boat into the current and was born
swiftly seaward. He found the current much stronger than he thought it would be. It rushed his frail boat on
past the point of the rocks and out into the sea. Try as best he might he could not change its course. He was
steadily going out to sea. He gave himself up for lost. He reproached himself for being so rash and foolhardy
as to trust his fortunes in so frail a craft. How dear at this time seemed the island to him! The wind which he
had depended on to help him at this point had died down so that it was at the mercy of the current. He kept
urging his boat to the westward as much as possible, with all his strength, hoping that a breeze would finally
spring up.

He struggled on bravely until about noon. He had been carried out a great distance into the sea, but not so far
as to lose sight of the land. All at once he felt the breeze freshening up. It caught his sail and soon his boat was
cutting across the current. He did not have to go far before he was free from it and making headway for the
island, which he reached about four o'clock in the afternoon.

He found himself on the northern shore of the island, but before long the shore ran away to the southward
again. He ran briskly along the west side until he found a little bay or cove. He determined to enter this, draw
up his boat on shore and make his way back home across the island on foot. He was almost exhausted with his
great labor and was worn out with anxiety.

In the centre of the arms of the cove he found a little creek entering the sea. He paddled into this and found a
good place to hide his boat.

As soon as Robinson was again on land he fell on his knees and with tears in his eyes thanked God for his
deliverance. The island which had seemed to him a prison now seemed the fairest and dearest place in the
world.

Having made his boat safe he started back toward his shelter. But he was too tired to go far. He soon came to
a little grove of trees beneath which he laid himself down and soon was fast asleep.

You can imagine with what surprise Robinson was awakened out of his sleep by a voice calling his name.
"Robinson, Robinson Crusoe," it said, "poor Robinson Crusoe! Where are you Robinson, where have you
been?"

[Illustration]

He was so fast asleep that he did not at first rouse up entirely and thought he was dreaming. But the voice kept
calling, "Robinson, Robinson, poor Robinson Crusoe!" He was greatly frightened and started up. But no
sooner were his eyes opened than he saw his parrot sitting on a branch of a tree. He knew at once the source of