ROBINSON CRUSOE. a7

ing, a fog rose so thick that, though we were not half a league
from the shore, we lost sight of it; and rowing we knew not
whither or which way, we labored all day, and all the next
night ; and when the morning came, we found we had pulled
off to sea instead of pulling in for the shore; and that we were
at least two leagues from the shore. However, we got well
in again, though with a great deal of labor and some danger;
for the wind began to blow pretty fresh in the morning ; but we
were all very hungry. ;

But our patron, warned by this disaster, resolved to take
more care of himself for the future; and having lying by him
the long-boat of our English ship that he had taken, he resolved
he would not go a-fishing any more without a compass and
some provision ; so he ordered the carpenter of his ship, who
also was an English slave, to build a little state-room, or cabin,
in the middle of the long-boat, like that of a barge, with a place
to stand behind it to steer, and haul home the main-sheet: and
room before for a hand or two to stand and work the sails.
She sailed with what we call a shoulder-of-mutton sail ; and the
boom gibed over the top of the cabin, which lay very snug and
low, and had in it room for him to lie, with a slave or two, and
a table to eat on, with some small lockers to put in some bottles
of such liquor as he thought fit to drink, and his bread, rice,
and coffee.

We went frequently out with this boat a-fishing; and as I
was most dexterous to catch fish for him, he never went without
me. It happened that he had appointed to go out in this boat,
either for pleasure or for fish, with two or three Moors of some
distinction in that place, and for whom he had provided extraor-
dinarily, and had therefore sent on board the boat over-night
a larger store of provisions than ordinary ; and had ordered me
to get ready three fusees with powder and shot, which were 9n
board his ship, for that they designed some sport of fowling as
well as fishing.

I got all things ready as he had directed, and waited the
next morning with the boat washed clean, her ancient and pen-
dants out, and everything to accommodate his guests ; when by
and by my patron came on board alone, and told me his guests
had put off going, from some business that fell out, and ordered
me, with the man and boy, as usual, to go out with the boat
and catch them some fish, for that his friends were to sup at
his house ; and commanded that as soon as I got some fish E
should bring it home to his house: all which I prepared to do.

This moment my former notions of deliverance darted inte