Page:Life and adventures of Robinson Crusoe (4).pdf/18

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

whiskers. But as for my figure, I had so few to observe me, that it was no manner of consequence. In this figure I went my new journey, and was out five or six days. I was exceedingly surprised with the print of a man’s naked foot on the shore, which was plainly to be seen in the sand. I listened, I could hear nothing, I went upon a rising ground to look farther, but I could see only that one impres- sion. There was plainly a foot, toes, heel, and every part very distinct. I hurried home to my fortifications, looking behind me every two or three steps, and fancying every tree, bush, and stump, to be a man. I had no sleep that night, but my terror gradually wore off; however, I strengthened my fortification, and planted a number of stakes on the outside of my wall, which growing, became a thick grove. After having secured my habitation in the strongest manner possible, I sought for a place of security for my live goats; and at length found a piece of ground almost inaccessible by nature; and then removed the she-goats and two he-goats into it. After I had thus secured one part of my live stoek, I rambled more to the western point of the island than I had ever done before. I was presently convinced that the seeing the print of a man’s foot was not such a strange thing in the island, as I had imagined, for on my approaching the shore, I was perfectly eonfounded; nor is it possible to express the horror I felt at seeing the shore spread with skulls, hands, and feet, and other bones of human bodies; and particularly a place, where, as I supposed, there had been a fire made, and a circle dug in tho earth for the savage wretches to sit down to their inhuman feasts. I turned my face from the horrid spectacle, and left the place as soon as possible. Some time after, in the midst of a very stormy night, I was startled at the firing of a gun : I hastened up to the top of my hill, and heard another. I imagined that these were the signals of a ship in distress; and such it proved, as I discovered the next day. I cannot explain the emotion I felt at the sight of this wreck. O that there had been but one saved! cried I, that I might have had one companion—one fellow creature to have spoken to, and have comforted in his affliction! One morning very early, I clambered up my hill, and discovered savages landing from five canoes. I soon after saw two miserable wretches dragged out of the boats; one of whom was immediately knocked down; but the other starting from them, ran with incredible swiftness towards me. I was fright- ened when I saw him come my way, imagining he would be followed by the whole body; however, I kept my station, and quite lost my apprehensions when I found but three followed