Crusoe's Island: A Ramble in the Footsteps of Alexander Selkirk

found that they had made but little progress in cutting wood for th

ave under the brow of a neighboring cliff. We had seen it during the day, and although a very unpromising place, we thought it would serve to protect us against the rain. We therefore took our oars and sail upon our shoulders, together with what few weapons of defense we had, and stumbled about in the dark for some time, till we had the good fortune to find the mouth of the cave. In the c

om a whale-ship, and all around the sides were full of holes, which we supposed from the smell must be inhabited by foxes, rats, and perhaps snakes, though we were afterward told there were no reptiles on the island. We soon found that there were plenty of spiders and fleas in the straw.

; some into the holes, where they thought there might be wild animals; and myself and a few others were trying to light a f

d, we lay down, and had some

as this," said one, "I don'

feels; but there's no telling how a man may get used to it. Eels get used t

. For the matter of clothing, a man could wear goatskins. Tailors never dunned Robinson Crusoe. It goes

had a jolly time of it; no accounts to make out, no office-hours to keep, nobody to call him to account every morning for being ten minutes too late, in consequence of a frolic. Talking about frolics, he wasn't tempted with l

ND HIS C

rebellious liquors to their blood.' But a man who lives alone has no

men to go all the way to Californ

as most of the talkers b

e word of it. I don't believe there ever was such a man as Robinson Crusoe in the world. I don't believe there ever was s

several voices, fiercely; "who

her true. Such a person might have lived here, but he added something on when he told his story. H

eve in any thing since you were born. Perhaps you don't b

see what a queer sort of a place it is, I do

oubt Friday? Do you think th

uch a man. I say there may have

you make yourself ridiculous. Y

ou'll excuse me, but I can't exactly say I believe in Cr

Spaniards. There were eleven of us, which would allow one hour to each person. For my part, I thought there was not much danger, and proposed letting every man who felt uneasy stand watches for himself. We had labored without rest for thirty-six hours, and I was willing to trust to Providence for safety, and make the most of our t

OF THE

ss doze, when a nervous gentleman in the party rose up o

niards may be armed, and if they come here, the lamp will show t

k of that; they can't see us in the dark, however, unless they

n the man who had doubts in regard to Robinson Cruso

not do that. It ain't policy.

y, "you don't believe in any thing. What's the reason

hoot. Likely as not we'd shoot one another. If I feel certain of any thing, it is, t

e seemed reasonable enough, but to shoot any of our own party, even the man who doubted Robinson Crusoe, would be a very serious calamity. At last,

about midnight to take an observatio

I hear something! Gentlemen, I hea

ould be heard but the moaning

paniard! I'll shoot him-I'll

chance to fasten on with the harpoon; "wait

Answer quick, or I'll shoot you

o the mouth of the cave in a body, determine

oat! I see him now, in the rays of the moon; a live goat

es a little closer; I'll ben

a sepulchral voice. "Likely as not it's a tame goat

keep tame goats in such a place as this. Your re

ture to take an entire goat without p

and satisfy yourself,

s toward the object, so as to get sight

't a goat at all-neyt

is it,

g but a

akes it

iple of animal life in it. Bushes don't walk about of nights any more than they do in the daytime

s, but returned into the cave a