第350页 / 共483页

Clouds hid the moon, everything was obscure, and I heard only the

sound of the boat as its keel cut through the waves; the murmur

lulled me, and in a short time I slept soundly.

I do not know how long I remained in this situation, but when I

awoke I found that the sun had already mounted considerably. The

wind was high, and the waves continually threatened the safety of

my little skiff. I found that the wind was northeast and must

have driven me far from the coast from which I had embarked. I

endeavoured to change my course but quickly found that if I again

made the attempt the boat would be instantly filled with water.

Thus situated, my only resource was to drive before the wind. I

confess that I felt a few sensations of terror. I had no compass

with me and was so slenderly acquainted with the geography of

this part of the world that the sun was of little benefit to me.

I might be driven into the wide Atlantic and feel all the

tortures of starvation or be swallowed up in the immeasurable

waters that roared and buffeted around me. I had already been out

many hours and felt the torment of a burning thirst, a prelude to

my other sufferings.