276 WHAT MAY IT MEAN ?

I showed him the ruins of our boat which we lost when we
escaped, and which I could not stir with my whole strength then,
but was now fallen almost all to pieces. Upon seeing this boat,
Friday stood musing a great while, and said nothing. I asked
him what it was he studied upon. At last says he, “ Me see such
boat like come to place at my nation.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“ THE RUINS OF OUR BOAT, WHICH WAS NOW ALMOST FALLEN TO PIECES.

I did not understand him a good while; but at last, when I had
examined further into it, I understood by him that a boat, such as
that had been, came on shore upon the country where he lived;
that is, as he explained it, was driven thither by stress of weather.
I presently imagined that some European ship must have been
cast away upon their coast, and the boat might get loose and
drive ashore; but was so dull, that I never once thought of men
making escape from a wreck thither, much less whence they might
come; so I only inquired after a description of the boat.