The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old
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The Junior Classics, Volume 5: Stories that never grow old
Children's literature
I was under some apprehension, during my absence from the land,
that at least my provisions might be devoured on shore: but when I
came back I found no sign of any visitor; only there sat a
creature like a wild cat upon one of the chests, which, when I
came towards it, ran away a little distance, and then stood still.
She sat very composed and unconcerned, and looked full in my face,
as if she had a mind to be acquainted with me. I presented my gun
at her, but, as she did not understand it, she was perfectly
unconcerned at it, nor did she offer to stir away; upon which I
tossed her a bit of biscuit, though, by the way, I was not very
free of it, for my store was not great: however, I spared her a
bit, I say, and she went to it, smelled at it, and ate it, and
looked (as if pleased) for more; but I thanked her, and could
spare no more, so she marched off.
Having got my second cargo on shore--though I was fain to open the
barrels of powder, and bring them by parcels, for they were too
heavy, being large casks--I went to work to make me a little tent
with the sail and some poles which I cut for that purpose, and
into this tent I brought everything that I knew would spoil either
with rain or sun; and I piled all the empty chests and casks up in
a circle round the tent, to fortify it from any sudden attempt,
either from man or beast.
When I had done this, I blocked up the door of the tent with some
boards within, and an empty chest set up on end without; and
spreading one of the beds upon the ground, laying my two pistols
just at my head, and my gun at length by me, I went to bed for the
first time, and slept very quietly all night, for I was very weary
and heavy; for the night before I had slept little, and had
labored very hard all day to fetch all those things from the ship,
and to get them on shore.
I had the biggest magazine of all kinds now that ever was laid up,
I believe, for one man; but I was not satisfied still, for while
the ship sat upright in that posture I thought I ought to get
everything out of her that I could: so every day at low water I
went on board, and brought away something or other; but
particularly the third time I went I brought away as much of the
rigging as I could, as also all the small ropes and rope-twines I
could get, with a piece of spare canvas, which was to mend the
sails upon occasion, and the barrel of wet gunpowder. In a word, I
brought away all the sails, first and last; only that I was fain
to cut them in pieces, and bring as much at a time as I could, for
they were no more useful to be sails, but as mere canvas only.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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