Calico Illustrated Classics: The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
or six days of good weather I committed myself completely to the sea I was certain that I would never regret my choice A few days later the sky darkened The wind blew hard I laughed in the face of the storm All hands gathered on deck to make everything snug as we rode the rough seas My stomach began to answer the roll of the sea I retired to my cabin sure I would soon see clear skies again Then I heard the ship’s master passing by my cabin door Have mercy on us he prayed Let us not be lost That begging did not ride well on my mind or my stomach I got up and stumbled out of my cabin The sea rose and broke upon us every few minutes We cut away our masts so that the wind might not push us over A voice cried out All hands to the pumps The ship had sprung a leak Though fear made me clumsy I followed the rest of the men and joined my strength to theirs 8
Suddenly a great boom rocked the ship I knew the storm had broken the ship in two I collapsed in a heap on the floor A man stepped calmly over my body and took my place at the pump Another boom rang out What is it I screamed The ship’s gun someone called The captain is signaling for help Finally the captain’s shots of distress were answered A lighter craft risked the dangerous sea to bring the crew safely to port Barely after leaving the ship we watched it sink Rowing to shore took the strength of every man but we made it Do you imagine I rushed home the moment my feet touched shore I pictured the knowing nods of my parents I could not bear to be the butt of jokes about my foolish choices 9
chapter 2 Pirates My decision to return to the sea was sealed when I came upon my friend and his father one day My friend introduced us and shared the story of how I came to sea Young man said the father you ought never to go to sea anymore You are not meant to be a seafaring man The man sounded entirely too much like my father for my liking I felt my backbone stiffen and my chin rise You have seen the same token I said Will you quit the sea My case is different he replied The sea is my calling 10
I believe it is mine as well I insisted I’ll not turn away from it no matter the predictions of you or my father Then you make a choice that endangers anyone fool enough to sail with you he said backing away I would not set my foot in the same ship with you for a thousand pounds I was now determined to sail I searched for another voyage that might appeal to me I met the master of a ship that had recently come from Africa and was preparing to return The master was honest and kind He took a liking to me and we talked at length about my desire to see the world You may ship with me he said I’ll show you the world and the fortunes a young man of courage can make I agreed and followed his directions perfectly I turned to relatives to collect forty pounds to buy trinkets and toys These I took aboard when we sailed 11
