spritsailyard and the mizzenyard, and everything I could, to make a large raft, I loaded it with all those heavy goods and came away. 42. But my good luck began now to leave me; for this raft was so unwieldy and so overladen that after I was entered the little cove, where I had landed the rest of my goods, not being able to guide it so handily as I did the other, it overset, and threw me and all my cargo into the water; as for myself, it was no great harm, for I was near the shore; but as to my cargo, it was a great part of it lost, especially the iron, which I expected would have been of great use to me. 43. However, when the tide was out, I got most of the pieces of cable ashore and some of the iron, though with infinite labor; for I was fain to dip for it into the water- a work which fatigued me very much. After this I went every day on board, and brought away what I could get. 44. I had been now thirteen days ashore, and had been eleven times on board the ship, in which time I had brought away all that one pair of hands could well be supposed capable to bring, though I believe verily, had the calm weather held, I should have brought away the whole ship, piece by piece; but preparing, the twelfth time, to go on board, I found the wind began to rise.. However, at low water, I went on board. 45. Though I thought I had rummaged the cabin so effectually as that nothing could be found, yet I discovered a locker with drawers in it, in one of which I found two or three razors, and one pair of large scissors, with some ten or a dozen of good knives and forks; in another I found about thirtysix pounds in money, some European coin, some Brazil, some pieces of eight, some gold, and some silver. 46. I smiled to myself at the sight of this money: "O drug!" I exclaimed, "what art thou good for? Thou art not worth to me, no, not the taking off the ground; one of those knives is worth all this heap: I have no manner of use for thee; e'en remain where thou art, and go to the bottom, as a creature whose life is not worth saving." 47. However, upon second thoughts, I took it away; and wrapping all this in a piece of canvas, I began to think of making another raft; but while I was preparing this, I found the sky overcast, and the wind began to rise, and in a quarter of an hour it blew a fresh gale from the shore. 48. It presently occurred to me that it was in vain to pretend to make a raft with the wind off shore; and that it was my business to be gone before the tide of flood began, or otherwise I might not be able to reach the shore at all. Accordingly I let myself down into the water, and swam across the channel which lay between the ship and the sands, and even that with difficulty enough, partly with the weight of the things I had about me, and partly the roughness of the water; for the wind rose very hastily, and before it was quite high water it blew a storm. 49. But I was got home to my little tent, where I lay, with my wealth about me very secure. It blew very hard all that night, and in the morning, when I looked out, behold, no more ship was to be seen. I was a little surprised, but recovered myself with this satisfactory reflection, viz., that I had lost no time, nor abated no diligence, to get everything out of her, that could be useful to me, and that, indeed, there was little left in her that I was able to bring away, if I had had more time. I. Sub sist'ençe: means of support; livelihood. Ap pli ca'tion earnest effort; close attention. Yärds: long pieces of timber tapering toward the ends, used to support sails. Spär: a general term for any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, etc. Rum'mag Ing: searching closely. II. Věr'i ly: certainly; in fact. Dûrst: dared. Habita'tion: dwelling. En vi'roned: surrounded. Băr ri ca'doed: defended. with a barrier. III. Măg à zïne': a storehouse; the word is here used for the things kept in the storehouse. Rig'ging: the ropes, etc., which support the masts of a ship and serve to manage the sails. Un wield'ỹ: unmanageable; not easily managed or carried. Screw jack: a jackscrew; a machine for lifting heavy weights by means of a screw. Fowl'ing piece: a light gun used in killing birds and other small game. IV. Pōrt'å ble: that can be carried. Sprit'sail: a sail extended by a sprit or small pole. Miz'zen: the hindmost sail of a three-masted ship. Pieces of eight: Spanish coins of about the value of a dollar. The Tiger BY WILLIAM BLAKE William Blake (1757-1827): An English painter, engraver, and poet. He was the son of a poor hosier, and his education seems to have been entirely self-acquired. His poems were written and illustrated in color entirely by his own hand. "Songs of Innocence" and "Songs of Experience" include the most popular of his beautiful imaginative poems. 1. Tiger, tiger, burning bright, 2. In what distant deeps or skies 3. And what shoulder, and what art, Could twist the sinews of thy heart? 4. What the hammer? what the chain? 5. When the stars threw down their spears, Did He who made the lamb make thee? 6. Tiger, tiger, burning bright, In the forests of the night, What immortal hand or eye Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? Im môr'tal: undying. Sym'mê try: beautiful proportion; the due relation of the parts to the whole. My heart leaps up when I behold So was it when my life began; So be it when I shall grow old, The child is father of the man; - WORDSWORTH |