ols ras | The. Fifth Voyage of

 

It seemed to pe a delicious garden. I’ found. trees everywhere,
some of them bearing green and others ripe fruits, and streams of
fresh pure water, with pleasant windings and -turnings. I ate of
the fruits, which 1 found excellent, and drank of the water, which
was very pleasant.

Night being come, I lay down upon the grass in a convenient
place enough, but I could not sleep for an hour at a time, my mind
was so disturbed with the fear of being alone in so desert a place.
Thus I spent the best part of the night in fretting, and reproached
myself for my imprudence in not staying at home, rather than
undertaking this last voyage. These reflections carried me so far,
that I began to form a design against my. own life, but daylight
- dispersed these melancholy thoughts, and I got up, and walked
among the trees, but not without apprehensions of danger.

When I was a little advanced into the island, I-saw an ‘old man
who appeared very weak and feeble. He sat upon the bank of a
stream, and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked
like myself. I went towards him and saluted him, but he only
bowed his head a little. - I asked him -what he did there, but
instead of answering he made a sign for me to take him upon
my back and carry him over the brook, signifying that. it was to
gather fruit. ;

I believed him really to stand in need of my help, so took him
upon my back, and having carried him over, bade him get’ down,
and for that end stooped that he might’ get off with ease: but
instead of that (which I laugh at every time I think of it), the old
man, who to me had appeared very decrepit, clasped his legs nimbly
about my neck, and then I perceived his skin to resemble that
of a cow.: He sat,astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat
so tight hat I thought he would have strangled me, the oe of
which made me faint away and fall down.

pre my fainting, the ill- natured ‘old fellow kept