第50章

Just as I had set my Mast and Sail，and the Boat began to stretch away，I saw even by the Clearness of the Water，some Alteration of the Current was near；for where the Current was so strong，the Water was foul；but perceiving the Water clear，I found the Current abate，and presently I found to the East，at about half a Mile，a Breach of the Sea upon some Rocks；these Rocks I found caus'd the Current to part again，and as the main Stress of it ran away more Southerly，leaving the Rocks to the North-East；so the other return'd by the Repulse of the Rocks，and made a strong Eddy，which run back again to the North-West，with a very sharp Stream.

They who know what it is to have a Reprieve brought to them upon the Ladder，or to be rescued from Thieves just a going to murther them，or，who have been in such like Extremities，may guess what my present Surprise of Joy was，and how gladly I put my Boat into the Stream of this Eddy，and the Wind also freshening，how gladly I spread my Sail to it，running chearfully before the Wind，and with a strong Tide or Eddy under Foot.

This Eddy carryed me about a League in my Way back again directly towards the Island，but about two Leagues more to the Northward than the Current which carried me away at first；so that when I came near the Island，I found my self open to the Northern Shore of it，that is to say，the other End of the Island opposite to that which I went out from.

When I had made something more than a League of Way by the help of this Current or Eddy，I found it was spent and serv'd me no farther. However，I found that being between the two great Currents，（viz.） that on the South Side which had hurried me away，and that on the North which lay about a League on the other Side. I say between these two，in the wake of the Island，I found the Water at least still and running no Way，and having still a Breeze of Wind fair for me，I kept on steering directly for the Island，tho' not making such fresh Way as I did before.

About four a-Clock in the Evening，being then within about a League of the Island，I found the Point of the Rocks which occasioned this Disaster，stretching out as is describ'd before to the Southward，and casting off the Current more Southwardly，had of Course made another Eddy to the North，and this I found very strong，but not directly setting the Way my Course lay which was due West，but almost full North. However having a fresh Gale，I stretch'd a-cross this Eddy slanting North-west，and in about an Hour came within about a Mile of the Shore，where it being smooth Water，I soon got to Land.

When I was on Shore I fell on my Knees and gave God Thanks for my Deliverance，resolving to lay aside all Thoughts of my Deliverance by my Boat，and refreshing my self with such Things as I had，I brought my Boat close to the Shore in a little Cove that I had spy'd under some Trees，and lay'd me down to sleep，being quite spent with the Labour and Fatigue of the Voyage.

I was now at a great Loss which Way to get Home with my Boat，I had run so much Hazard，and knew too much the Case to think of attempting it by the Way I went out，and what might be at the other Side （I mean the West Side） I knew not，nor had I any Mind to run any more Ventures；so I only resolved in the Morning to make my Way Westward along the Shore and to see if there was no Creek where I might lay up my Frigate in Safety，so as to have her again if I wanted her；in about three Mile or thereabout coasting the Shore，I came to a very good Inlet or Bay about a Mile over，which narrowed till it came to a very little Rivulet or Brook，where I found a very convenient Harbour for my Boat and where she lay as if she had been in a little Dock made on Purpose for her. Here I put in，and having stow'd my Boat very safe，I went on Shore to look about me and see where I was.

I soon found I had but a little past by the Place where I had been before，when I travell'd on Foot to that Shore；so taking nothing out of my Boat，but my Gun and my Umbrella，for it was exceeding hot，I began my March：The Way was comfortable enough after such a Voyage as I had been upon，and I reach'd my old Bower in the Evening，where I found every thing standing as I left it；for I always kept it in good Order，being，as I said before，my Country House.

I got over the Fence，and laid me down in the Shade to rest my Limbs；for I was very weary，and fell asleep：But judge you，if you can，that read my Story，what a Surprize I must be in，when I was wak'd out of my Sleep by a Voice calling me by my Name several times，Robin，Robin，Robin Crusoe，poor Robin Crusoe，where are you Robin Crusoe？ Where are you？ Where have you been？

I was so dead asleep at first，being fatigu'd with Rowing，or Paddling，as it is call'd，the first Part of the Day，and with walking the latter Part，that I did not wake thoroughly，but dozing between sleeping and waking，thought I dream'd that some Body spoke to me：But as the Voice continu'd to repeat Robin Crusoe，Robin Crusoe，at last I began to wake more perfectly，and was at first dreadfully frighted，and started up in the utmost Consternation：But no sooner were my Eyes open，but I saw my Poll sitting on the Top of the Hedge；and immediately knew that it was he that spoke to me；for just in such bemoaning Language I had used to talk to him，and teach him；and he had learn'd it so perfectly，that he would sit upon my Finger，and lay his Bill close to my Face，and cry，Poor Robin Crusoe，Where are you？ Where have you been？ How come you here？ And such things as I had taught him.

However，even though I knew it was the Parrot，and that indeed it could be no Body else，it was a good while before I could compose my self：First，I was amazed how the Creature got thither，and then，how he should just keep about the Place，and no where else：But as I was well satisfied it could be no Body but honest Poll，I got it over；and holding out my Hand，and calling him by his Name Poll，the sociable Creature came to me，and sat upon my Thumb，as he used to do，and continu'd talking to me，Poor Robin Crusoe，and how did I come here？ and where had I been？ just as if he had been overjoy'd to see me again；and so I carry'd him Home along with me.