another light, from that in which it appeared to me
at first, and the result of my deliberation was to rise if I could, and
crawl to the next inhabited place for assistance. With some difficulty
I got upon my legs, and having examined my body, found I had received no
other injury than two large contused wounds, one on the fore and another
on the hinder part of my head, which seemed to be occasioned by the same
weapon, namely, the butt-end of a pistol. I looked towards the sea, but
could discern no remains of the ship; so that I concluded she was gone
to pieces, and that those who remained in her had perished: but, as I
afterwards learned, the gunner, who had more sagacity than Crampley,
observing that it was flood when he left her, and that she would
probably float at high water, made no noise about getting on shore,
but continued on deck, in hopes of bringing her safe into some harbour,
after her commander should have deserted her, for which piece of
service he expected, no doubt, to be handsomely rewarded. This scheme he
accordingly executed, and was promised great things by the Admiralty for
saving his Majesty's ship: but I never heard he reaped the fruits of his
expectation. As for my own part, I directed my course towards a small
cottage I perceived, and in the road picked up a seaman's old jacket,
which I suppose the thief who dressed himself in my clothes had thrown
away: this was a very comfortable acquisition to me, who was almost
stiff with cold: I therefore put it on; and, as my natural heat revived,
my wounds, which had left off bleeding, burst out afresh; so that,
finding myself excessively exhausted, I was about to lie down in the
fields, when I discovered a barn on my left hand, within a few yards of
me; thither I made shift to stagger, and finding the door open, went in,
but saw nobody; however, I threw myself upon a truss of straw, hoping
to be soon relieved by some person or other. I had not lain here many
minutes, when I saw a countryman come in with a pitchfork in his hand,
which he was upon the point of thrusting into the straw that concealed
me, and in all probability would have done my business, had I not
uttered a dreadful groan, after having essayed in vain to speak. This
melancholy note alarmed the clown, who started back, and discovering
a body all besmeared with blood, stood trembling, with the pitchfork
extended before him, his hair bristling up, his eyes staring, his
nostrils dilated, and hi