一六三二年，我生在約剋市一個上流社會的家庭。我們不是本地人。父親是德國不來梅市人。他移居英國後，先住在赫爾市，經商發傢後就收了生意，最後搬到約剋市定居，並在那兒娶了我母親。母親娘傢姓魯濱孫，是當地的一傢名門望族，因而給我取名叫魯濱孫·剋羅伊茨內。由於英國人一讀"剋羅伊茨內"這個德國姓，發音就走樣，結果大傢就叫我們"剋羅索"，以致連我們自己也這麽叫，這麽寫了。所以，我的朋友們都叫我剋羅索。
我有兩個哥哥。大哥是駐佛蘭德的英國步兵團中校。著名的洛剋哈特上校曾帶領過這支部隊。大哥是在敦刻爾剋附近與西班牙人作戰時陣亡的。至於二哥的下落，我至今一無所知，就像我父母對我後來的境況也全然不知一樣。
我是傢裏的小兒子，父母親沒讓我學謀生的手藝，因此從小衹是喜歡鬍思亂想，一心想出洋遠遊。當時，我父親年事已高，但他還是讓我受了相當不錯的教育。他曾送我去寄宿學校就讀，還讓我上免費學校接受鄉村義務教育，一心一意想要我將來學法律。但我對一切都沒有興趣，衹是想航海。
我完全不顧父願，甚至違抗父命，也全然不聽母親的懇求和朋友們的勸阻。我的這種天性，似乎註定了我未來不幸的命運。
我父親頭腦聰明，為人慎重。他預見到我的意圖必然會給我帶來不幸，就時常嚴肅地開導我，並給了我不少有益的忠告。一天早晨，他把我叫進他的臥室；因為，那時他正好痛風病發作，行動不便。他十分懇切地對我規勸了一番。他問我，除了為滿足我自己漫遊四海的癖好外，究竟有什麽理由要離棄父母，背井離鄉呢？在家乡，我可以經人引薦，在社會上立身。如果我自己勤奮努力，將來完全可以發傢致富，過上安逸快活的日子。他對我說，一般出洋冒險的人，不是窮得身無分文，就是妄想暴富；他們野心勃勃，想以非凡的事業揚名於世。但對我來說，這樣做既不值得，也無必要。就我的社會地位而言，正好介於兩者之間，即一般所說的中間地位。從他長期的經驗判斷，這是世界上最好的階層，這種中間地位也最能使人幸福。他們既不必像下層大衆從事艱苦的體力勞動而生活依舊無着；也不會像那些上層人物因驕奢淫逸、野心勃勃和相互傾軋而弄得心力交瘁。他說，我自己可以從下面的事實中認識到，中間地位的生活確實幸福無比；這就是，人人羨慕這種地位，許多帝王都感嘆其高貴的出身給他們帶來的不幸後果，恨不得自己出生於貧賤與高貴之間的中間階層。明智的人也證明，中間階層的人能獲得真正的幸福。《聖經》中的智者也曾祈禱："使我既不貧窮，也不富裕。"他提醒我，衹要用心觀察，就會發現上層社會和下層社會的人都多災多難，唯中間階層災禍最少。中間階層的生活，不會像上層社會和下層社會的人那樣盛衰榮辱，瞬息萬變。而且，中間地位不會像闊佬那樣因揮霍無度、腐化墮落而弄得身心俱病；也不會像窮人那樣因終日操勞、缺吃少穿而搞得憔悴不堪。唯有中間地位的人可享盡人間的幸福和安樂。中等人常年過着安定富足的生活。適可而止，中庸剋己，健康安寧，交友娛樂，以及生活中的種種樂趣，都是中等人的福份。這種生活方式，使人平靜安樂，怡然自得地過完一輩子，不受勞心勞力之苦。他們既不必為每日生計勞作，或為窘境所迫，以至傷身煩神；也不會因妒火攻心，或利欲薫心而狂躁不安。中間階層的人可以平靜地度過一生，盡情地體味人生的甜美，沒有任何艱難困苦；他們感到幸福，並隨着時日的過去，越來越深刻地體會到這種幸福。
接着，他態度誠摯、充滿慈愛地勸我不要耍孩子氣，不要急於自討苦吃；因為，不論從人之常情來說，還是從我的家庭出身而言，都不會讓我吃苦。他說，我不必為每日生計去操勞，他會為我作好一切安排，並將盡力讓我過上前面所說的中間階層的生活。如果我不能在世上過上安逸幸福的生活，那完全是我的命運或我自己的過錯所致，而他已盡了自己的責任。因為他看到我將要采取的行動必然會給我自己帶來苦難，因此嚮我提出了忠告。總而言之，他答應，如果我聽他的話，安心留在傢裏，他一定盡力為我作出安排。他從不同意我離傢遠遊。如果我將來遭遇到什麽不幸，那就不要怪他。談話結束時，他又說，我應以大哥為前車之鑒。他也曾經同樣懇切地規勸過大哥不要去佛蘭德打仗，但大哥沒聽從他的勸告。當時他年輕氣盛，血氣方剛，决意去部隊服役，結果在戰場上喪了命。他還對我說，他當然會永遠為我祈禱，但我如果執意采取這種愚蠢的行動，那麽，他敢說，上帝一定不會保佑我。當我將來呼援無門時，我會後悔自己沒有聽從他的忠告。
事後想起來，我父親最後這幾句話，成了我後來遭遇的預言；當然我相信我父親自己當時未必意識到有這種先見之明。我註意到，當我父親說這些話的時候，老淚縱橫，尤其是他講到我大哥陳屍戰場，講到我將來呼援無門而後悔時，更是悲不自勝，不得不中斷了他的談話。最後，他對我說，他憂心如焚，話也說不下去了。
我為這次談話深受感動。真的，誰聽了這樣的話會無動於衷呢？我决心不再想出洋的事了，而是聽從父親的意願，安心留在傢裏。可是，天哪！衹過了幾天，我就把自己的决心丟到九霄雲外去了。簡單地說，為了不讓我父親再糾纏我，在那次談話後的好幾個星期裏，我一直遠遠躲開他。但是，我並不倉促行事，不像以前那樣頭腦發熱時想幹就幹，而是等我母親心情較好的時候去找了她。我對她說，我一心想到外面去見見世面，除此之外我什麽事也不想幹。父親最好答應我，免得逼我私自出走。我說，我已經十八歲了，無論去當學徒，或是去做律師的助手都太晚了。而且，我絶對相信，即使自己去當學徒或做助手，也必定不等滿師就會從師傅那兒逃出來去航海了。如果她能去父親那兒為我說情，讓他答應我乘船出洋一次，如果我回傢後覺得自己並不喜歡航海，那我就會加倍努力彌補我所浪費的時間。
我母親聽了我的話就大發脾氣。她對我說，她知道去對父親說這種事毫無用處。父親非常清楚這事對我的利害關係，决不會答應我去做任何傷害自己的事情。她還說，父親和我的談話那樣語重心長、諄諄善誘，而我竟然還想離傢遠遊，這實在使她難以理解。她說，總而言之，如果我執意自尋絶路，那誰也不會來幫助我。她要我相信，無論是母親，還是父親，都不會同意我出洋遠航，所以我如果自取滅亡，與她也無關，免得我以後說，當時我父親是不同意的，但我母親卻同意了。
儘管我母親當面拒絶了我的請求，表示不願意嚮父親轉達我的話，但事後我聽說，她還是把我們的談話原原本本地告訴了父親。父親聽了深為憂慮。他對母親嘆息說，這孩子要是能留在傢裏，也許會很幸福的；但如果他要到海外去，就會成為世界上最不幸的人，因此，說什麽他也不能同意我出去。
事過了一年光景，我終於離傢出走了，而在這一年裏，儘管傢裏人多次建議我去幹點正事，但我就是頑固不化，一概不聽，反而老是與父母親糾纏，要他們不要那樣反對自己孩子的心願。有一天，我偶然來到赫爾市。當時，我還沒有私自出走的念頭。但在那裏，我碰到了一個朋友。他說他將乘他父親的船去倫敦，並慫恿我與他們一起去。他用水手們常用的誘人航海的辦法對我說，我不必付船費。這時，我既不同父母商量，也不給他們捎個話，我想我走了以後他們遲早會聽到消息的。同時，我既不嚮上帝祈禱，也沒有要父親為我祝福，甚至都不考慮當時的情況和將來的後果，就登上了一艘開往倫敦的船。時間是一六五一年九月一日。誰知道這是一個惡時辰啊！我相信，沒有一個外出冒險的年輕人會像我這樣一出門就倒黴，一倒黴就這麽久久難以擺脫。我們的船一駛出恆比爾河就颳起了大風，風助浪勢，煞是嚇人。因為我第一次出海，人感到難過得要命，心裏又怕得要死。這時，我開始對我的所作所為感到後悔了。我這個不孝之子，背棄父母，不盡天職，老天就這麽快懲罰我了，真是天公地道。
這時，我父母的忠告，父親的眼淚和母親的祈求，都涌進了我的腦海。我良心終究尚未喪盡，不禁譴責起自己來：我不應該不聽別人的忠告，背棄對上帝和父親的天職。
這時風暴越颳越猛，海面洶涌澎湃，波浪滔天。我以前從未見過這種情景。但比起我後來多次見到過的咆哮的大海，那真是小巫見大巫了；就是與我過幾天後見到的情景，也不能相比。可是，在當時，對我這個初次航海的年輕人來說，足已令我膽顫心驚了，因為我對航海的事一無所知。我感到，海恆比爾河，又作亨伯河，發源於英格蘭中部，流入北海。
浪隨時會將我們吞沒。每次我們的船跌入浪渦時，我想我們會隨時傾覆沉入海底再也浮不起來，了。在這種惶恐不安的心情下，我一次又一次地發誓，下了無數次决心，說如果上帝在這次航行中留我一命，衹要讓我雙腳一踏上陸地，我就馬上回到我父親身邊，今生今世再也不乘船出海了。我將聽從父親的勸告，再也不自尋煩惱了。同時，我也醒悟到，我父親關於中間階層生活的看法，確實句句在理。就拿我父親來說吧，他一生平安舒適，既沒有遇到過海上的狂風惡浪，也沒有遭到過陸上的艱難困苦。我决心，我要像一個真正回頭的浪子，回到傢裏，回到我父親的身邊。
這些明智而清醒的思想，在暴風雨肆虐期間，乃至停止後的短時間內，一直在我腦子裏盤旋。到了第二天，暴風雨過去了，海面平靜多了，我對海上生活開始有點習慣了。但我整天仍是愁眉苦臉的；再加上有些暈船，更是打不起精神來。到了傍晚，天氣完全晴了，風也完全停了，繼之而來的是一個美麗可愛的黃金昏。當晚和第二天清晨天氣晴朗，落日和日出顯得異常清麗。此時，陽光照在風平浪靜的海面上，令人心曠神怡。那是我以前從未見過的美景。
那天晚上我睡得很香，所以第二天也不再暈船了，精神也為之一爽。望着前天還奔騰咆哮的大海，一下子竟這麽平靜柔和，真是令人感到不可思議。那位引誘我上船的朋友唯恐我真的下定决心不再航海，就過來看我。"喂，鮑勃，"他拍拍我的肩膀說，"你現在覺得怎樣？我說，那天晚上吹起一點微風，一定把你嚇壞了吧？""你說那是一點微風？"我說，"那是一場可怕的風暴啊！""風暴？你這傻瓜，"他回答說，"你把那也叫風暴？那算得了什麽！衹要船穩固，海面寬闊，像這樣的一點風我們根本不放在眼裏。當然，你初次出海，也難怪你，鮑勃。來吧，我們弄碗甜酒喝喝，把那些事統統忘掉吧！你看，天氣多好啊！"我不想詳細敘述這段傷心事。
簡單一句話，我們因循一般水手的生活方式，調製了甜酒，我被灌得酩酊大醉。那天晚上，我盡情喝酒胡闹，把對自己過去行為的懺悔與反省，以及對未來下的决心，統統丟到九霄雲外去了。簡而言之，風暴一過，大海又平靜如鏡，我頭腦裏紛亂的思緒也隨之一掃而光，怕被大海吞沒的恐懼也消失殆盡，我熱衷航海的願望又重新涌上心頭。我把自己在危難中下的决心和發的誓言一概丟之腦後。有時，我也發現，那些懺悔和决心也不時地會回到腦海裏來。但我卻竭力擺脫它們，並使自己振作起來，就好像自己要從某種壞情緒中振作起來似的。因此，我就和水手們一起照舊喝酒胡闹。不久，我就控製了自己的衝動，不讓那些正經的念頭死灰復燃。不到五六天，我就像那些想擺脫良心譴責的年輕人那樣，完全戰勝了良心。為此，我必定會遭受新的災難。上帝見我不思悔改，就决定毫不寬恕地懲罰我，並且，這完全是我自作自受，無可推諉。既然我自己沒有把平安渡過第一次災難看作是上帝對我的拯救，下一次大禍臨頭就會變本加厲；那時，就連船上那些最兇殘陰險、最膽大包天的水手，也都要害怕，都要求饒。
出海第六天，我們到達雅茅斯錨地①。在大風暴之後，我們的船沒有走多少路，因為儘管天氣晴朗，但卻一直颳着逆風，因此，我們不得不在這海中停泊處拋錨。逆風吹了七八天，風是從西南方向吹來的。在此期間，許多從紐卡斯爾來的船衹也都到這一開放錨地停泊，因為這兒是海上來往必經的港口，船衹都在這兒等候順風，駛入耶爾河。
我們本來不該在此停泊太久，而是應該趁着潮水駛入河口。無奈風颳得太緊，而停了四五天之後，風勢更猛。但這塊錨地素來被認為是個良港，加上我們的錨十分牢固，船上的錨索、轆轤、纜篷等一應設備均十分結實，因此水手們對大風都滿不在乎，而且一點也不害怕，照舊按他們的生活方式休息作樂。到第八天早晨，風勢驟然增大。於是全體船員都動員起來，一起動手落下了中帆，並把船上的一切物件都安頓好，使船能頂住狂風，安然停泊。到了中午，大海捲起了狂瀾。我們的船頭好幾次鑽入水中，打進了很多水。有一兩次，我們以為脫了船錨，因此，船長下令放下備用大錨。這樣，我們在船頭下了兩個錨，並把錨索放到最長的限度。
這時，風暴來勢大得可怕，我看到，連水手們的臉上也顯出驚恐的神色。船長雖然小心謹慎，力圖保牢自己的船，但當他出入自己的艙房而從我的艙房邊經過時，我好幾次聽到他低聲自語，"上帝啊，可憐我們吧！我們都活不了啦！我們都要完蛋了！"他說了不少這一類的話。在最初的一陣紛亂中，我不知所措，衹是一動不動地躺在自己的船艙裏--我的艙房在船頭，我無法形容我當時的心情。最初，我沒有像第一次那樣懺悔，而是變得麻木不仁了。我原以為死亡的痛苦已經過去，這次的風暴與上次一樣也會過去。但我前面說過，當船長從我艙房邊經過，並說我們都要完蛋了時，可把我嚇壞了。我走出自己的艙房嚮外一看，衹見滿目凄涼；這種慘景我以前從未見過：海上巨浪滔天，每隔三四分鐘就嚮我們撲來。再嚮四面一望，境況更是悲慘。我們發現，原來停泊在我們附近的兩艘船，因為載貨重，已經把船側的桅桿都砍掉了。突然，我們船上的人驚呼起來。原來停在我們前面約一海裏遠的一艘船已沉沒了。另外兩艘船被狂風吹得脫了錨，衹得冒險離開錨地駛嚮大海，連船上的桅桿也一根不剩了。小船的境況要算最好了，因為在海上小船容易行駛。但也有兩三衹小船被風颳得從我們船旁飛馳而過，船上衹剩下角帆而嚮外海飄去。
到了傍晚，大副和水手長懇求船長砍掉前桅；此事船長當然是絶不願意幹的。但水手長說，如果船長不同意砍掉前桅，船就會沉沒。這樣，船長也衹好答應了。但船上的前桅一砍下來，主桅隨風搖擺失去了控製，船也隨着劇烈搖晃，於是他們又衹得把主桅也砍掉。這樣就衹剩下一個空蕩蕩的甲板了。
誰都可以想象我當時的心情。因為我衹是一個初次航海的小青年，不久前那次小風浪已把我嚇得半死，更何況這次真的遇上了大風暴。此時此刻，當我執筆記述我那時的心情，我感到，那時我固然也害怕死，使我更害怕的是想到自己違背了自己不久前所作的懺悔，並且又像在前次危難中那樣重新下定種種决心，這種恐懼感比我害怕死更甚。當時的心情既然如此，再加上對風暴的恐怖，那種心理狀態即使現在我也無法用筆墨描述。但當時的情景還不算是最糟的呢！更糟的是風暴越颳越猛，就連水手們自己也都承認，他們平生從未遇到過這麽厲害的大風暴。我們的船雖然堅固，但因載貨太重，吃水很深，一直在水中劇烈地搖擺顛簸。衹聽見水手們不時地喊叫着船要沉了。當時我還不知道"沉"是什麽意思，這於我倒也是件好事。後來我問過別人後纔明白究竟。這時風浪更加兇猛了，我看到了平時很少見到的情況：船長、水手長，以及其他一些比較有頭腦的人都不斷地祈禱，他們都感到船隨時有沉沒的危險。到了半夜，更是災上加災。那些到船艙底下去檢查的人中間，忽然有一個人跑上來喊道：船底漏水了；接着又有一個水手跑上來說，底艙裏已有四英尺深的水了。於是全船的人都被叫去抽水。我聽到船底漏水時，感到我的心就好像突然停止了跳動；我當時正坐在自己的艙房的床邊，一下子感到再也支持不住了，就倒在了船艙裏。這時有人把我叫醒，說我以前什麽事也不會幹，現在至少可以去幫着抽水。聽了這話我立即打起精神，來到抽水機旁，十分賣力地幹起來。正當大傢全力抽水時，船長發現有幾艘小煤船因經不起風浪，不得不隨風嚮海上飄去；當他們從我們附近經過時，船長就下令放一槍，作為求救的信號。我當時不知道為什麽要放槍，聽到槍聲大吃一驚，以為船破了，或是發生了什麽可怕的事情。一句話，我嚇得暈倒在抽水機旁。
這種時候，人人都衹顧自己的生命，那裏還會有人來管我死活，也沒有人會看一下我到底發生了什麽事。另一個人立刻上來接替我抽水；他上來時把我一腳踢到一邊，由我躺在那裏。他一定以為我已經死了。過了好一會兒我纔蘇醒過來。
我們繼續不斷地抽水，但底艙裏進水越來越多。我們的船顯然不久就會沉沒。這時，儘管風勢略小了些，但船是肯定不可能駛進港灣了。船長衹得不斷鳴槍求救。有一艘輕量級的船順風從我們前面飄過，就冒險放下一隻小艇來救我們。
小艇上的人冒着極大的危險纔劃近我們的大船，但我們無法下到他們的小艇，他們也無法靠攏我們的大船。最後，小艇上的人拚命劃漿，捨死相救；我們則從船尾拋下一根帶有浮筒的繩子，並盡量把繩子放長。小艇上的人幾經努力，終於抓住了繩子。我們就慢慢把小艇拖近船尾，全體船員纔得以下了小艇。此時此刻，我們已無法再回到他們的船上去了，大傢一致同意任憑小艇隨波飄流，並努力嚮岸邊劃去。我們的船長許諾，萬一小艇在岸邊觸礁，他將給他們船長照價賠償。
這樣，小艇半劃着，半隨浪逐流，逐漸嚮北方的岸邊飄去，最後靠近了溫特頓岬角。
離開大船不到一刻鐘，我們就看到它沉下去了。這時，我纔平生第一次懂得大海沉船是怎麽回事。說實在話，當水手們告訴我大船正在下沉時，我幾乎不敢擡頭看一眼。當時，與其說是我自己爬下了小艇，還不如說是水手們把我丟進小艇的。從下小艇一刻起，我已心如死灰；一方面這是由於受風暴的驚嚇，另一方面由於想到此行兇吉未卜，內心萬分恐懼。
儘管我們處境危難，水手們還是奮力嚮岸邊劃去。當小艇被衝上浪尖時，我們已能看到海岸了，並見到岸上有許多人奔來奔去，想等我們小艇靠岸時救助我們。但小艇前進速度極慢，而且怎麽也靠不了岸。最後，我們竟劃過了溫特頓燈塔。海岸由此嚮西凹進，並嚮剋羅默延伸。這樣，陸地擋住了一點風勢，我們終於費了九牛二虎之力靠了岸。全體安全上岸後，即步行至雅茅斯。我們這些受難的人受到了當地官員、富商和船主們的熱情款待；他們妥善安置我們住宿，還為我們籌足了旅費。我們可以按自己的意願或去倫敦，或回赫爾。
當時，我要是還有點頭腦，就應回到赫爾，並回到傢裏。
我一定會非常幸福。我父親也會像耶穌講道中所說的那個喻言中的父親，殺肥牛迎接我這回頭的浪子。因為，傢裏人聽說我搭乘的那條船在雅茅斯錨地遇難沉沒，之後又過了好久纔得知我並沒有葬身魚腹。
但我惡運未盡，它以一種不可抗拒的力量迫使我不思悔改。有好幾次，在我頭腦冷靜時，理智也曾嚮我大聲疾呼，要我回傢，但我卻沒有勇氣聽從理智的召喚。我不知道，也不想知道該怎麽稱呼這種驅使自己冥頑不化的力量，但這是一種神秘而無法逃避的定數；它往往會驅使我們自尋絶路，明知大禍臨頭，還是自投羅網。很顯然，正是這種定數使我命中註定無法擺脫厄運。也正是這種定數的驅使，我纔違背理智的召喚，甚至不願從初次航海所遭遇的兩次災難中接受教訓。
我的朋友，即船長的兒子，正是他使我鐵下心來上了他父親的船，現在膽子反而比我小了。當時，我們在雅茅斯市被分別安置在好幾個地方住宿，所以兩、三天之後他纔碰到我。我剛纔說了，這是我們上岸分開後第一次見面。我們一交談，我就發現他的口氣變了。他看上去精神沮喪，且不時地搖頭。他問了我的近況，並把我介紹給他父親。他對他父親說，我這是第一次航海，衹是試試罷了，以後想出洋遠遊。
聽了這話，他父親用十分嚴肅和關切的口吻對我說，"年輕人，你不應該再航海了。這次的災難是一個兇兆，說明你不能當水手"。"怎麽啦，先生，"我問，"難道你也不再航海了嗎？"“那是兩碼事，"他說，"航海是我的職業，因此也是我的職責。
你這次出海，雖然衹是一種嘗試，老天爺已給你點滋味嘗嘗了；你若再一意孤行，必無好結果的。也許，我們這次大難臨頭，正是由於你上了我們的船的緣故，就像約拿上了開往他施的船一樣。請問，"船長接着說，"你是什麽人？你為什麽要坐我們的船出海？"於是，我簡略地嚮他談了談自己的身世。他聽我講完後，忽然怒氣衝天，令人莫可名狀。他說，"我作了什麽孽，竟會讓你這樣的災星上船。我以後絶不再和你坐同一條船，給我一千鎊我也不幹！"我覺得，這是因為沉船的損失使他心煩意亂，想在我身上泄憤。其實，他根本沒有權利對我大發脾氣。可是，後來他又鄭重其事與我談了一番，敦促我回到父親身邊，不要再惹怒老天爺來毀掉自己。他說，我應該看到，老天爺是不會放過我的。"年輕人，"他說，"相信我的話，你若不回傢，不論你上哪兒，你衹會受難和失望。到那時，你父親的話就會在你身上應驗了。"我對他的話不置可否，很快就跟他分手了。從此再也沒有見到過他，對他的下落，也一無所知。至於我自己，口袋裏有了點錢，就從陸路去倫敦。在赴倫敦途中，以及到了倫敦以後，我一直在作劇烈的思想鬥爭，不知道該選擇什麽樣的生活道路：是回傢呢，還是去航海？
一想到回傢，羞恥之心使我歸心頓消。我立即想到街坊鄰居會怎樣譏笑我；我自己也不僅羞見雙親，也羞見別人。這件事使我以後時常想起，一般人之心情多麽荒誕可笑，而又那樣莫名其妙；尤其是年輕人，照例在這種時刻，應聽從理智的指導。然而，他們不以犯罪為恥，反而以悔罪為恥；他們不以幹傻事為恥，反而以改過為恥。而實際上他們若能覺悟，別人才會把他們看作聰明人呢。
我就這樣過了好幾天，內心十分矛盾，不知何去何從，如何纔好。但一想到回傢，一種厭惡感油然升起，難以抑製。這樣過了一些日子，對災禍的記憶逐漸淡忘，原來動搖不定的歸傢念頭也隨之日趨淡薄，最後甚至丟到了九霄雲外。這樣，我又重新嚮往起航海生活來了。
I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an English regiment of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against the Spaniards. What became of my second brother I never knew, any more than my father or mother knew what became of me.
Being the third son of the family and not bred to any trade, my head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts. My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as house-education and a country free school generally go, and designed me for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that propensity of nature, tending directly to the life of misery which was to befall me.
My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent counsel against what he foresaw was my design. He called me one morning into his chamber, where he was confined by the gout, and expostulated very warmly with me upon this subject. He asked me what reasons, more than a mere wandering inclination, I had for leaving father's house and my native country, where I might be well introduced, and had a prospect of raising my fortune by application and industry, with a life of ease and pleasure. He told me it was men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things were all either too far above me or too far below me; that mine was the middle state, or what might be called the upper station of low life, which he had found, by long experience, was the best state in the world, the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries and hardships, the labour and sufferings of the mechanic part of mankind, and not embarrassed with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the upper part of mankind. He told me I might judge of the happiness of this state by this one thing - viz. that this was the state of life which all other people envied; that kings have frequently lamented the miserable consequence of being born to great things, and wished they had been placed in the middle of the two extremes, between the mean and the great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the standard of felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty nor riches.
He bade me observe it, and I should always find that the calamities of life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind, but that the middle station had the fewest disasters, and was not exposed to so many vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of mankind; nay, they were not subjected to so many distempers and uneasinesses, either of body or mind, as those were who, by vicious living, luxury, and extravagances on the one hand, or by hard labour, want of necessaries, and mean or insufficient diet on the other hand, bring distemper upon themselves by the natural consequences of their way of living; that the middle station of life was calculated for all kind of virtue and all kind of enjoyments; that peace and plenty were the handmaids of a middle fortune; that temperance, moderation, quietness, health, society, all agreeable diversions, and all desirable pleasures, were the blessings attending the middle station of life; that this way men went silently and smoothly through the world, and comfortably out of it, not embarrassed with the labours of the hands or of the head, not sold to a life of slavery for daily bread, nor harassed with perplexed circumstances, which rob the soul of peace and the body of rest, nor enraged with the passion of envy, or the secret burning lust of ambition for great things; but, in easy circumstances, sliding gently through the world, and sensibly tasting the sweets of living, without the bitter; feeling that they are happy, and learning by every day's experience to know it more sensibly,
After this he pressed me earnestly, and in the most affectionate manner, not to play the young man, nor to precipitate myself into miseries which nature, and the station of life I was born in, seemed to have provided against; that I was under no necessity of seeking my bread; that he would do well for me, and endeavour to enter me fairly into the station of life which he had just been recommending to me; and that if I was not very easy and happy in the world, it must be my mere fate or fault that must hinder it; and that he should have nothing to answer for, having thus discharged his duty in warning me against measures which he knew would be to my hurt; in a word, that as he would do very kind things for me if I would stay and settle at home as he directed, so he would not have so much hand in my misfortunes as to give me any encouragement to go away; and to close all, he told me I had my elder brother for an example, to whom he had used the same earnest persuasions to keep him from going into the Low Country wars, but could not prevail, his young desires prompting him to run into the army, where he was killed; and though he said he would not cease to pray for me, yet he would venture to say to me, that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless me, and I should have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel when there might be none to assist in my recovery.
I observed in this last part of his discourse, which was truly prophetic, though I suppose my father did not know it to be so himself - I say, I observed the tears run down his face very plentifully, especially when he spoke of my brother who was killed: and that when he spoke of my having leisure to repent, and none to assist me, he was so moved that he broke off the discourse, and told me his heart was so full he could say no more to me.
I was sincerely affected with this discourse, and, indeed, who could be otherwise? and I resolved not to think of going abroad any more, but to settle at home according to my father's desire. But alas! a few days wore it all off; and, in short, to prevent any of my father's further importunities, in a few weeks after I resolved to run quite away from him. However, I did not act quite so hastily as the first heat of my resolution prompted; but I took my mother at a time when I thought her a little more pleasant than ordinary, and told her that my thoughts were so entirely bent upon seeing the world that I should never settle to anything with resolution enough to go through with it, and my father had better give me his consent than force me to go without it; that I was now eighteen years old, which was too late to go apprentice to a trade or clerk to an attorney; that I was sure if I did I should never serve out my time, but I should certainly run away from my master before my time was out, and go to sea; and if she would speak to my father to let me go one voyage abroad, if I came home again, and did not like it, I would go no more; and I would promise, by a double diligence, to recover the time that I had lost.
This put my mother into a great passion; she told me she knew it would be to no purpose to speak to my father upon any such subject; that he knew too well what was my interest to give his consent to anything so much for my hurt; and that she wondered how I could think of any such thing after the discourse I had had with my father, and such kind and tender expressions as she knew my father had used to me; and that, in short, if I would ruin myself, there was no help for me; but I might depend I should never have their consent to it; that for her part she would not have so much hand in my destruction; and I should never have it to say that my mother was willing when my father was not.
Though my mother refused to move it to my father, yet I heard afterwards that she reported all the discourse to him, and that my father, after showing a great concern at it, said to her, with a sigh, "That boy might be happy if he would stay at home; but if he goes abroad, he will be the most miserable wretch that ever was born: I can give no consent to it."
It was not till almost a year after this that I broke loose, though, in the meantime, I continued obstinately deaf to all proposals of settling to business, and frequently expostulated with my father and mother about their being so positively determined against what they knew my inclinations prompted me to. But being one day at Hull, where I went casually, and without any purpose of making an elopement at that time; but, I say, being there, and one of my companions being about to sail to London in his father's ship, and prompting me to go with them with the common allurement of seafaring men, that it should cost me nothing for my passage, I consulted neither father nor mother any more, nor so much as sent them word of it; but leaving them to hear of it as they might, without asking God's blessing or my father's, without any consideration of circumstances or consequences, and in an ill hour, God knows, on the 1st of September 1651, I went on board a ship bound for London. Never any young adventurer's misfortunes, I believe, began sooner, or continued longer than mine. The ship was no sooner out of the Humber than the wind began to blow and the sea to rise in a most frightful manner; and, as I had never been at sea before, I was most inexpressibly sick in body and terrified in mind. I began now seriously to reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was overtaken by the judgment of Heaven for my wicked leaving my father's house, and abandoning my duty. All the good counsels of my parents, my father's tears and my mother's entreaties, came now fresh into my mind; and my conscience, which was not yet come to the pitch of hardness to which it has since, reproached me with the contempt of advice, and the breach of my duty to God and my father.
All this while the storm increased, and the sea went very high, though nothing like what I have seen many times since; no, nor what I saw a few days after; but it was enough to affect me then, who was but a young sailor, and had never known anything of the matter. I expected every wave would have swallowed us up, and that every time the ship fell down, as I thought it did, in the trough or hollow of the sea, we should never rise more; in this agony of mind, I made many vows and resolutions that if it would please God to spare my life in this one voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land again, I would go directly home to my father, and never set it into a ship again while I lived; that I would take his advice, and never run myself into such miseries as these any more. Now I saw plainly the goodness of his observations about the middle station of life, how easy, how comfortably he had lived all his days, and never had been exposed to tempests at sea or troubles on shore; and I resolved that I would, like a true repenting prodigal, go home to my father.
These wise and sober thoughts continued all the while the storm lasted, and indeed some time after; but the next day the wind was abated, and the sea calmer, and I began to be a little inured to it; however, I was very grave for all that day, being also a little sea-sick still; but towards night the weather cleared up, the wind was quite over, and a charming fine evening followed; the sun went down perfectly clear, and rose so the next morning; and having little or no wind, and a smooth sea, the sun shining upon it, the sight was, as I thought, the most delightful that ever I saw.
I had slept well in the night, and was now no more sea-sick, but very cheerful, looking with wonder upon the sea that was so rough and terrible the day before, and could be so calm and so pleasant in so little a time after. And now, lest my good resolutions should continue, my companion, who had enticed me away, comes to me; "Well, Bob," says he, clapping me upon the shoulder, "how do you do after it? I warrant you were frighted, wer'n't you, last night, when it blew but a capful of wind?" "A capful d'you call it?" said I; "'twas a terrible storm." "A storm, you fool you," replies he; "do you call that a storm? why, it was nothing at all; give us but a good ship and sea-room, and we think nothing of such a squall of wind as that; but you're but a fresh-water sailor, Bob. Come, let us make a bowl of punch, and we'll forget all that; d'ye see what charming weather 'tis now?" To make short this sad part of my story, we went the way of all sailors; the punch was made and I was made half drunk with it: and in that one night's wickedness I drowned all my repentance, all my reflections upon my past conduct, all my resolutions for the future. In a word, as the sea was returned to its smoothness of surface and settled calmness by the abatement of that storm, so the hurry of my thoughts being over, my fears and apprehensions of being swallowed up by the sea being forgotten, and the current of my former desires returned, I entirely forgot the vows and promises that I made in my distress. I found, indeed, some intervals of reflection; and the serious thoughts did, as it were, endeavour to return again sometimes; but I shook them off, and roused myself from them as it were from a distemper, and applying myself to drinking and company, soon mastered the return of those fits - for so I called them; and I had in five or six days got as complete a victory over conscience as any young fellow that resolved not to be troubled with it could desire. But I was to have another trial for it still; and Providence, as in such cases generally it does, resolved to leave me entirely without excuse; for if I would not take this for a deliverance, the next was to be such a one as the worst and most hardened wretch among us would confess both the danger and the mercy of.
The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the wind having been contrary and the weather calm, we had made but little way since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to an anchor, and here we lay, the wind continuing contrary - viz. at south-west - for seven or eight days, during which time a great many ships from Newcastle came into the same Roads, as the common harbour where the ships might wait for a wind for the river.
We had not, however, rid here so long but we should have tided it up the river, but that the wind blew too fresh, and after we had lain four or five days, blew very hard. However, the Roads being reckoned as good as a harbour, the anchorage good, and our ground- tackle very strong, our men were unconcerned, and not in the least apprehensive of danger, but spent the time in rest and mirth, after the manner of the sea; but the eighth day, in the morning, the wind increased, and we had all hands at work to strike our topmasts, and make everything snug and close, that the ship might ride as easy as possible. By noon the sea went very high indeed, and our ship rode forecastle in, shipped several seas, and we thought once or twice our anchor had come home; upon which our master ordered out the sheet-anchor, so that we rode with two anchors ahead, and the cables veered out to the bitter end.
By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed; and now I began to see terror and amazement in the faces even of the seamen themselves. The master, though vigilant in the business of preserving the ship, yet as he went in and out of his cabin by me, I could hear him softly to himself say, several times, "Lord be merciful to us! we shall be all lost! we shall be all undone!" and the like. During these first hurries I was stupid, lying still in my cabin, which was in the steerage, and cannot describe my temper: I could ill resume the first penitence which I had so apparently trampled upon and hardened myself against: I thought the bitterness of death had been past, and that this would be nothing like the first; but when the master himself came by me, as I said just now, and said we should be all lost, I was dreadfully frighted. I got up out of my cabin and looked out; but such a dismal sight I never saw: the sea ran mountains high, and broke upon us every three or four minutes; when I could look about, I could see nothing but distress round us; two ships that rode near us, we found, had cut their masts by the board, being deep laden; and our men cried out that a ship which rode about a mile ahead of us was foundered. Two more ships, being driven from their anchors, were run out of the Roads to sea, at all adventures, and that with not a mast standing. The light ships fared the best, as not so much labouring in the sea; but two or three of them drove, and came close by us, running away with only their spritsail out before the wind.
Towards evening the mate and boatswain begged the master of our ship to let them cut away the fore-mast, which he was very unwilling to do; but the boatswain protesting to him that if he did not the ship would founder, he consented; and when they had cut away the fore-mast, the main-mast stood so loose, and shook the ship so much, they were obliged to cut that away also, and make a clear deck.
Any one may judge what a condition I must be in at all this, who was but a young sailor, and who had been in such a fright before at but a little. But if I can express at this distance the thoughts I had about me at that time, I was in tenfold more horror of mind upon account of my former convictions, and the having returned from them to the resolutions I had wickedly taken at first, than I was at death itself; and these, added to the terror of the storm, put me into such a condition that I can by no words describe it. But the worst was not come yet; the storm continued with such fury that the seamen themselves acknowledged they had never seen a worse. We had a good ship, but she was deep laden, and wallowed in the sea, so that the seamen every now and then cried out she would founder. It was my advantage in one respect, that I did not know what they meant by FOUNDER till I inquired. However, the storm was so violent that I saw, what is not often seen, the master, the boatswain, and some others more sensible than the rest, at their prayers, and expecting every moment when the ship would go to the bottom. In the middle of the night, and under all the rest of our distresses, one of the men that had been down to see cried out we had sprung a leak; another said there was four feet water in the hold. Then all hands were called to the pump. At that word, my heart, as I thought, died within me: and I fell backwards upon the side of my bed where I sat, into the cabin. However, the men roused me, and told me that I, that was able to do nothing before, was as well able to pump as another; at which I stirred up and went to the pump, and worked very heartily. While this was doing the master, seeing some light colliers, who, not able to ride out the storm were obliged to slip and run away to sea, and would come near us, ordered to fire a gun as a signal of distress. I, who knew nothing what they meant, thought the ship had broken, or some dreadful thing happened. In a word, I was so surprised that I fell down in a swoon. As this was a time when everybody had his own life to think of, nobody minded me, or what was become of me; but another man stepped up to the pump, and thrusting me aside with his foot, let me lie, thinking I had been dead; and it was a great while before I came to myself.
我有兩個哥哥。大哥是駐佛蘭德的英國步兵團中校。著名的洛剋哈特上校曾帶領過這支部隊。大哥是在敦刻爾剋附近與西班牙人作戰時陣亡的。至於二哥的下落，我至今一無所知，就像我父母對我後來的境況也全然不知一樣。
我是傢裏的小兒子，父母親沒讓我學謀生的手藝，因此從小衹是喜歡鬍思亂想，一心想出洋遠遊。當時，我父親年事已高，但他還是讓我受了相當不錯的教育。他曾送我去寄宿學校就讀，還讓我上免費學校接受鄉村義務教育，一心一意想要我將來學法律。但我對一切都沒有興趣，衹是想航海。
我完全不顧父願，甚至違抗父命，也全然不聽母親的懇求和朋友們的勸阻。我的這種天性，似乎註定了我未來不幸的命運。
我父親頭腦聰明，為人慎重。他預見到我的意圖必然會給我帶來不幸，就時常嚴肅地開導我，並給了我不少有益的忠告。一天早晨，他把我叫進他的臥室；因為，那時他正好痛風病發作，行動不便。他十分懇切地對我規勸了一番。他問我，除了為滿足我自己漫遊四海的癖好外，究竟有什麽理由要離棄父母，背井離鄉呢？在家乡，我可以經人引薦，在社會上立身。如果我自己勤奮努力，將來完全可以發傢致富，過上安逸快活的日子。他對我說，一般出洋冒險的人，不是窮得身無分文，就是妄想暴富；他們野心勃勃，想以非凡的事業揚名於世。但對我來說，這樣做既不值得，也無必要。就我的社會地位而言，正好介於兩者之間，即一般所說的中間地位。從他長期的經驗判斷，這是世界上最好的階層，這種中間地位也最能使人幸福。他們既不必像下層大衆從事艱苦的體力勞動而生活依舊無着；也不會像那些上層人物因驕奢淫逸、野心勃勃和相互傾軋而弄得心力交瘁。他說，我自己可以從下面的事實中認識到，中間地位的生活確實幸福無比；這就是，人人羨慕這種地位，許多帝王都感嘆其高貴的出身給他們帶來的不幸後果，恨不得自己出生於貧賤與高貴之間的中間階層。明智的人也證明，中間階層的人能獲得真正的幸福。《聖經》中的智者也曾祈禱："使我既不貧窮，也不富裕。"他提醒我，衹要用心觀察，就會發現上層社會和下層社會的人都多災多難，唯中間階層災禍最少。中間階層的生活，不會像上層社會和下層社會的人那樣盛衰榮辱，瞬息萬變。而且，中間地位不會像闊佬那樣因揮霍無度、腐化墮落而弄得身心俱病；也不會像窮人那樣因終日操勞、缺吃少穿而搞得憔悴不堪。唯有中間地位的人可享盡人間的幸福和安樂。中等人常年過着安定富足的生活。適可而止，中庸剋己，健康安寧，交友娛樂，以及生活中的種種樂趣，都是中等人的福份。這種生活方式，使人平靜安樂，怡然自得地過完一輩子，不受勞心勞力之苦。他們既不必為每日生計勞作，或為窘境所迫，以至傷身煩神；也不會因妒火攻心，或利欲薫心而狂躁不安。中間階層的人可以平靜地度過一生，盡情地體味人生的甜美，沒有任何艱難困苦；他們感到幸福，並隨着時日的過去，越來越深刻地體會到這種幸福。
接着，他態度誠摯、充滿慈愛地勸我不要耍孩子氣，不要急於自討苦吃；因為，不論從人之常情來說，還是從我的家庭出身而言，都不會讓我吃苦。他說，我不必為每日生計去操勞，他會為我作好一切安排，並將盡力讓我過上前面所說的中間階層的生活。如果我不能在世上過上安逸幸福的生活，那完全是我的命運或我自己的過錯所致，而他已盡了自己的責任。因為他看到我將要采取的行動必然會給我自己帶來苦難，因此嚮我提出了忠告。總而言之，他答應，如果我聽他的話，安心留在傢裏，他一定盡力為我作出安排。他從不同意我離傢遠遊。如果我將來遭遇到什麽不幸，那就不要怪他。談話結束時，他又說，我應以大哥為前車之鑒。他也曾經同樣懇切地規勸過大哥不要去佛蘭德打仗，但大哥沒聽從他的勸告。當時他年輕氣盛，血氣方剛，决意去部隊服役，結果在戰場上喪了命。他還對我說，他當然會永遠為我祈禱，但我如果執意采取這種愚蠢的行動，那麽，他敢說，上帝一定不會保佑我。當我將來呼援無門時，我會後悔自己沒有聽從他的忠告。
事後想起來，我父親最後這幾句話，成了我後來遭遇的預言；當然我相信我父親自己當時未必意識到有這種先見之明。我註意到，當我父親說這些話的時候，老淚縱橫，尤其是他講到我大哥陳屍戰場，講到我將來呼援無門而後悔時，更是悲不自勝，不得不中斷了他的談話。最後，他對我說，他憂心如焚，話也說不下去了。
我為這次談話深受感動。真的，誰聽了這樣的話會無動於衷呢？我决心不再想出洋的事了，而是聽從父親的意願，安心留在傢裏。可是，天哪！衹過了幾天，我就把自己的决心丟到九霄雲外去了。簡單地說，為了不讓我父親再糾纏我，在那次談話後的好幾個星期裏，我一直遠遠躲開他。但是，我並不倉促行事，不像以前那樣頭腦發熱時想幹就幹，而是等我母親心情較好的時候去找了她。我對她說，我一心想到外面去見見世面，除此之外我什麽事也不想幹。父親最好答應我，免得逼我私自出走。我說，我已經十八歲了，無論去當學徒，或是去做律師的助手都太晚了。而且，我絶對相信，即使自己去當學徒或做助手，也必定不等滿師就會從師傅那兒逃出來去航海了。如果她能去父親那兒為我說情，讓他答應我乘船出洋一次，如果我回傢後覺得自己並不喜歡航海，那我就會加倍努力彌補我所浪費的時間。
我母親聽了我的話就大發脾氣。她對我說，她知道去對父親說這種事毫無用處。父親非常清楚這事對我的利害關係，决不會答應我去做任何傷害自己的事情。她還說，父親和我的談話那樣語重心長、諄諄善誘，而我竟然還想離傢遠遊，這實在使她難以理解。她說，總而言之，如果我執意自尋絶路，那誰也不會來幫助我。她要我相信，無論是母親，還是父親，都不會同意我出洋遠航，所以我如果自取滅亡，與她也無關，免得我以後說，當時我父親是不同意的，但我母親卻同意了。
儘管我母親當面拒絶了我的請求，表示不願意嚮父親轉達我的話，但事後我聽說，她還是把我們的談話原原本本地告訴了父親。父親聽了深為憂慮。他對母親嘆息說，這孩子要是能留在傢裏，也許會很幸福的；但如果他要到海外去，就會成為世界上最不幸的人，因此，說什麽他也不能同意我出去。
事過了一年光景，我終於離傢出走了，而在這一年裏，儘管傢裏人多次建議我去幹點正事，但我就是頑固不化，一概不聽，反而老是與父母親糾纏，要他們不要那樣反對自己孩子的心願。有一天，我偶然來到赫爾市。當時，我還沒有私自出走的念頭。但在那裏，我碰到了一個朋友。他說他將乘他父親的船去倫敦，並慫恿我與他們一起去。他用水手們常用的誘人航海的辦法對我說，我不必付船費。這時，我既不同父母商量，也不給他們捎個話，我想我走了以後他們遲早會聽到消息的。同時，我既不嚮上帝祈禱，也沒有要父親為我祝福，甚至都不考慮當時的情況和將來的後果，就登上了一艘開往倫敦的船。時間是一六五一年九月一日。誰知道這是一個惡時辰啊！我相信，沒有一個外出冒險的年輕人會像我這樣一出門就倒黴，一倒黴就這麽久久難以擺脫。我們的船一駛出恆比爾河就颳起了大風，風助浪勢，煞是嚇人。因為我第一次出海，人感到難過得要命，心裏又怕得要死。這時，我開始對我的所作所為感到後悔了。我這個不孝之子，背棄父母，不盡天職，老天就這麽快懲罰我了，真是天公地道。
這時，我父母的忠告，父親的眼淚和母親的祈求，都涌進了我的腦海。我良心終究尚未喪盡，不禁譴責起自己來：我不應該不聽別人的忠告，背棄對上帝和父親的天職。
這時風暴越颳越猛，海面洶涌澎湃，波浪滔天。我以前從未見過這種情景。但比起我後來多次見到過的咆哮的大海，那真是小巫見大巫了；就是與我過幾天後見到的情景，也不能相比。可是，在當時，對我這個初次航海的年輕人來說，足已令我膽顫心驚了，因為我對航海的事一無所知。我感到，海恆比爾河，又作亨伯河，發源於英格蘭中部，流入北海。
浪隨時會將我們吞沒。每次我們的船跌入浪渦時，我想我們會隨時傾覆沉入海底再也浮不起來，了。在這種惶恐不安的心情下，我一次又一次地發誓，下了無數次决心，說如果上帝在這次航行中留我一命，衹要讓我雙腳一踏上陸地，我就馬上回到我父親身邊，今生今世再也不乘船出海了。我將聽從父親的勸告，再也不自尋煩惱了。同時，我也醒悟到，我父親關於中間階層生活的看法，確實句句在理。就拿我父親來說吧，他一生平安舒適，既沒有遇到過海上的狂風惡浪，也沒有遭到過陸上的艱難困苦。我决心，我要像一個真正回頭的浪子，回到傢裏，回到我父親的身邊。
這些明智而清醒的思想，在暴風雨肆虐期間，乃至停止後的短時間內，一直在我腦子裏盤旋。到了第二天，暴風雨過去了，海面平靜多了，我對海上生活開始有點習慣了。但我整天仍是愁眉苦臉的；再加上有些暈船，更是打不起精神來。到了傍晚，天氣完全晴了，風也完全停了，繼之而來的是一個美麗可愛的黃金昏。當晚和第二天清晨天氣晴朗，落日和日出顯得異常清麗。此時，陽光照在風平浪靜的海面上，令人心曠神怡。那是我以前從未見過的美景。
那天晚上我睡得很香，所以第二天也不再暈船了，精神也為之一爽。望着前天還奔騰咆哮的大海，一下子竟這麽平靜柔和，真是令人感到不可思議。那位引誘我上船的朋友唯恐我真的下定决心不再航海，就過來看我。"喂，鮑勃，"他拍拍我的肩膀說，"你現在覺得怎樣？我說，那天晚上吹起一點微風，一定把你嚇壞了吧？""你說那是一點微風？"我說，"那是一場可怕的風暴啊！""風暴？你這傻瓜，"他回答說，"你把那也叫風暴？那算得了什麽！衹要船穩固，海面寬闊，像這樣的一點風我們根本不放在眼裏。當然，你初次出海，也難怪你，鮑勃。來吧，我們弄碗甜酒喝喝，把那些事統統忘掉吧！你看，天氣多好啊！"我不想詳細敘述這段傷心事。
簡單一句話，我們因循一般水手的生活方式，調製了甜酒，我被灌得酩酊大醉。那天晚上，我盡情喝酒胡闹，把對自己過去行為的懺悔與反省，以及對未來下的决心，統統丟到九霄雲外去了。簡而言之，風暴一過，大海又平靜如鏡，我頭腦裏紛亂的思緒也隨之一掃而光，怕被大海吞沒的恐懼也消失殆盡，我熱衷航海的願望又重新涌上心頭。我把自己在危難中下的决心和發的誓言一概丟之腦後。有時，我也發現，那些懺悔和决心也不時地會回到腦海裏來。但我卻竭力擺脫它們，並使自己振作起來，就好像自己要從某種壞情緒中振作起來似的。因此，我就和水手們一起照舊喝酒胡闹。不久，我就控製了自己的衝動，不讓那些正經的念頭死灰復燃。不到五六天，我就像那些想擺脫良心譴責的年輕人那樣，完全戰勝了良心。為此，我必定會遭受新的災難。上帝見我不思悔改，就决定毫不寬恕地懲罰我，並且，這完全是我自作自受，無可推諉。既然我自己沒有把平安渡過第一次災難看作是上帝對我的拯救，下一次大禍臨頭就會變本加厲；那時，就連船上那些最兇殘陰險、最膽大包天的水手，也都要害怕，都要求饒。
出海第六天，我們到達雅茅斯錨地①。在大風暴之後，我們的船沒有走多少路，因為儘管天氣晴朗，但卻一直颳着逆風，因此，我們不得不在這海中停泊處拋錨。逆風吹了七八天，風是從西南方向吹來的。在此期間，許多從紐卡斯爾來的船衹也都到這一開放錨地停泊，因為這兒是海上來往必經的港口，船衹都在這兒等候順風，駛入耶爾河。
我們本來不該在此停泊太久，而是應該趁着潮水駛入河口。無奈風颳得太緊，而停了四五天之後，風勢更猛。但這塊錨地素來被認為是個良港，加上我們的錨十分牢固，船上的錨索、轆轤、纜篷等一應設備均十分結實，因此水手們對大風都滿不在乎，而且一點也不害怕，照舊按他們的生活方式休息作樂。到第八天早晨，風勢驟然增大。於是全體船員都動員起來，一起動手落下了中帆，並把船上的一切物件都安頓好，使船能頂住狂風，安然停泊。到了中午，大海捲起了狂瀾。我們的船頭好幾次鑽入水中，打進了很多水。有一兩次，我們以為脫了船錨，因此，船長下令放下備用大錨。這樣，我們在船頭下了兩個錨，並把錨索放到最長的限度。
這時，風暴來勢大得可怕，我看到，連水手們的臉上也顯出驚恐的神色。船長雖然小心謹慎，力圖保牢自己的船，但當他出入自己的艙房而從我的艙房邊經過時，我好幾次聽到他低聲自語，"上帝啊，可憐我們吧！我們都活不了啦！我們都要完蛋了！"他說了不少這一類的話。在最初的一陣紛亂中，我不知所措，衹是一動不動地躺在自己的船艙裏--我的艙房在船頭，我無法形容我當時的心情。最初，我沒有像第一次那樣懺悔，而是變得麻木不仁了。我原以為死亡的痛苦已經過去，這次的風暴與上次一樣也會過去。但我前面說過，當船長從我艙房邊經過，並說我們都要完蛋了時，可把我嚇壞了。我走出自己的艙房嚮外一看，衹見滿目凄涼；這種慘景我以前從未見過：海上巨浪滔天，每隔三四分鐘就嚮我們撲來。再嚮四面一望，境況更是悲慘。我們發現，原來停泊在我們附近的兩艘船，因為載貨重，已經把船側的桅桿都砍掉了。突然，我們船上的人驚呼起來。原來停在我們前面約一海裏遠的一艘船已沉沒了。另外兩艘船被狂風吹得脫了錨，衹得冒險離開錨地駛嚮大海，連船上的桅桿也一根不剩了。小船的境況要算最好了，因為在海上小船容易行駛。但也有兩三衹小船被風颳得從我們船旁飛馳而過，船上衹剩下角帆而嚮外海飄去。
到了傍晚，大副和水手長懇求船長砍掉前桅；此事船長當然是絶不願意幹的。但水手長說，如果船長不同意砍掉前桅，船就會沉沒。這樣，船長也衹好答應了。但船上的前桅一砍下來，主桅隨風搖擺失去了控製，船也隨着劇烈搖晃，於是他們又衹得把主桅也砍掉。這樣就衹剩下一個空蕩蕩的甲板了。
誰都可以想象我當時的心情。因為我衹是一個初次航海的小青年，不久前那次小風浪已把我嚇得半死，更何況這次真的遇上了大風暴。此時此刻，當我執筆記述我那時的心情，我感到，那時我固然也害怕死，使我更害怕的是想到自己違背了自己不久前所作的懺悔，並且又像在前次危難中那樣重新下定種種决心，這種恐懼感比我害怕死更甚。當時的心情既然如此，再加上對風暴的恐怖，那種心理狀態即使現在我也無法用筆墨描述。但當時的情景還不算是最糟的呢！更糟的是風暴越颳越猛，就連水手們自己也都承認，他們平生從未遇到過這麽厲害的大風暴。我們的船雖然堅固，但因載貨太重，吃水很深，一直在水中劇烈地搖擺顛簸。衹聽見水手們不時地喊叫着船要沉了。當時我還不知道"沉"是什麽意思，這於我倒也是件好事。後來我問過別人後纔明白究竟。這時風浪更加兇猛了，我看到了平時很少見到的情況：船長、水手長，以及其他一些比較有頭腦的人都不斷地祈禱，他們都感到船隨時有沉沒的危險。到了半夜，更是災上加災。那些到船艙底下去檢查的人中間，忽然有一個人跑上來喊道：船底漏水了；接着又有一個水手跑上來說，底艙裏已有四英尺深的水了。於是全船的人都被叫去抽水。我聽到船底漏水時，感到我的心就好像突然停止了跳動；我當時正坐在自己的艙房的床邊，一下子感到再也支持不住了，就倒在了船艙裏。這時有人把我叫醒，說我以前什麽事也不會幹，現在至少可以去幫着抽水。聽了這話我立即打起精神，來到抽水機旁，十分賣力地幹起來。正當大傢全力抽水時，船長發現有幾艘小煤船因經不起風浪，不得不隨風嚮海上飄去；當他們從我們附近經過時，船長就下令放一槍，作為求救的信號。我當時不知道為什麽要放槍，聽到槍聲大吃一驚，以為船破了，或是發生了什麽可怕的事情。一句話，我嚇得暈倒在抽水機旁。
這種時候，人人都衹顧自己的生命，那裏還會有人來管我死活，也沒有人會看一下我到底發生了什麽事。另一個人立刻上來接替我抽水；他上來時把我一腳踢到一邊，由我躺在那裏。他一定以為我已經死了。過了好一會兒我纔蘇醒過來。
我們繼續不斷地抽水，但底艙裏進水越來越多。我們的船顯然不久就會沉沒。這時，儘管風勢略小了些，但船是肯定不可能駛進港灣了。船長衹得不斷鳴槍求救。有一艘輕量級的船順風從我們前面飄過，就冒險放下一隻小艇來救我們。
小艇上的人冒着極大的危險纔劃近我們的大船，但我們無法下到他們的小艇，他們也無法靠攏我們的大船。最後，小艇上的人拚命劃漿，捨死相救；我們則從船尾拋下一根帶有浮筒的繩子，並盡量把繩子放長。小艇上的人幾經努力，終於抓住了繩子。我們就慢慢把小艇拖近船尾，全體船員纔得以下了小艇。此時此刻，我們已無法再回到他們的船上去了，大傢一致同意任憑小艇隨波飄流，並努力嚮岸邊劃去。我們的船長許諾，萬一小艇在岸邊觸礁，他將給他們船長照價賠償。
這樣，小艇半劃着，半隨浪逐流，逐漸嚮北方的岸邊飄去，最後靠近了溫特頓岬角。
離開大船不到一刻鐘，我們就看到它沉下去了。這時，我纔平生第一次懂得大海沉船是怎麽回事。說實在話，當水手們告訴我大船正在下沉時，我幾乎不敢擡頭看一眼。當時，與其說是我自己爬下了小艇，還不如說是水手們把我丟進小艇的。從下小艇一刻起，我已心如死灰；一方面這是由於受風暴的驚嚇，另一方面由於想到此行兇吉未卜，內心萬分恐懼。
儘管我們處境危難，水手們還是奮力嚮岸邊劃去。當小艇被衝上浪尖時，我們已能看到海岸了，並見到岸上有許多人奔來奔去，想等我們小艇靠岸時救助我們。但小艇前進速度極慢，而且怎麽也靠不了岸。最後，我們竟劃過了溫特頓燈塔。海岸由此嚮西凹進，並嚮剋羅默延伸。這樣，陸地擋住了一點風勢，我們終於費了九牛二虎之力靠了岸。全體安全上岸後，即步行至雅茅斯。我們這些受難的人受到了當地官員、富商和船主們的熱情款待；他們妥善安置我們住宿，還為我們籌足了旅費。我們可以按自己的意願或去倫敦，或回赫爾。
當時，我要是還有點頭腦，就應回到赫爾，並回到傢裏。
我一定會非常幸福。我父親也會像耶穌講道中所說的那個喻言中的父親，殺肥牛迎接我這回頭的浪子。因為，傢裏人聽說我搭乘的那條船在雅茅斯錨地遇難沉沒，之後又過了好久纔得知我並沒有葬身魚腹。
但我惡運未盡，它以一種不可抗拒的力量迫使我不思悔改。有好幾次，在我頭腦冷靜時，理智也曾嚮我大聲疾呼，要我回傢，但我卻沒有勇氣聽從理智的召喚。我不知道，也不想知道該怎麽稱呼這種驅使自己冥頑不化的力量，但這是一種神秘而無法逃避的定數；它往往會驅使我們自尋絶路，明知大禍臨頭，還是自投羅網。很顯然，正是這種定數使我命中註定無法擺脫厄運。也正是這種定數的驅使，我纔違背理智的召喚，甚至不願從初次航海所遭遇的兩次災難中接受教訓。
我的朋友，即船長的兒子，正是他使我鐵下心來上了他父親的船，現在膽子反而比我小了。當時，我們在雅茅斯市被分別安置在好幾個地方住宿，所以兩、三天之後他纔碰到我。我剛纔說了，這是我們上岸分開後第一次見面。我們一交談，我就發現他的口氣變了。他看上去精神沮喪，且不時地搖頭。他問了我的近況，並把我介紹給他父親。他對他父親說，我這是第一次航海，衹是試試罷了，以後想出洋遠遊。
聽了這話，他父親用十分嚴肅和關切的口吻對我說，"年輕人，你不應該再航海了。這次的災難是一個兇兆，說明你不能當水手"。"怎麽啦，先生，"我問，"難道你也不再航海了嗎？"“那是兩碼事，"他說，"航海是我的職業，因此也是我的職責。
你這次出海，雖然衹是一種嘗試，老天爺已給你點滋味嘗嘗了；你若再一意孤行，必無好結果的。也許，我們這次大難臨頭，正是由於你上了我們的船的緣故，就像約拿上了開往他施的船一樣。請問，"船長接着說，"你是什麽人？你為什麽要坐我們的船出海？"於是，我簡略地嚮他談了談自己的身世。他聽我講完後，忽然怒氣衝天，令人莫可名狀。他說，"我作了什麽孽，竟會讓你這樣的災星上船。我以後絶不再和你坐同一條船，給我一千鎊我也不幹！"我覺得，這是因為沉船的損失使他心煩意亂，想在我身上泄憤。其實，他根本沒有權利對我大發脾氣。可是，後來他又鄭重其事與我談了一番，敦促我回到父親身邊，不要再惹怒老天爺來毀掉自己。他說，我應該看到，老天爺是不會放過我的。"年輕人，"他說，"相信我的話，你若不回傢，不論你上哪兒，你衹會受難和失望。到那時，你父親的話就會在你身上應驗了。"我對他的話不置可否，很快就跟他分手了。從此再也沒有見到過他，對他的下落，也一無所知。至於我自己，口袋裏有了點錢，就從陸路去倫敦。在赴倫敦途中，以及到了倫敦以後，我一直在作劇烈的思想鬥爭，不知道該選擇什麽樣的生活道路：是回傢呢，還是去航海？
一想到回傢，羞恥之心使我歸心頓消。我立即想到街坊鄰居會怎樣譏笑我；我自己也不僅羞見雙親，也羞見別人。這件事使我以後時常想起，一般人之心情多麽荒誕可笑，而又那樣莫名其妙；尤其是年輕人，照例在這種時刻，應聽從理智的指導。然而，他們不以犯罪為恥，反而以悔罪為恥；他們不以幹傻事為恥，反而以改過為恥。而實際上他們若能覺悟，別人才會把他們看作聰明人呢。
我就這樣過了好幾天，內心十分矛盾，不知何去何從，如何纔好。但一想到回傢，一種厭惡感油然升起，難以抑製。這樣過了一些日子，對災禍的記憶逐漸淡忘，原來動搖不定的歸傢念頭也隨之日趨淡薄，最後甚至丟到了九霄雲外。這樣，我又重新嚮往起航海生活來了。
I had two elder brothers, one of whom was lieutenant-colonel to an English regiment of foot in Flanders, formerly commanded by the famous Colonel Lockhart, and was killed at the battle near Dunkirk against the Spaniards. What became of my second brother I never knew, any more than my father or mother knew what became of me.
Being the third son of the family and not bred to any trade, my head began to be filled very early with rambling thoughts. My father, who was very ancient, had given me a competent share of learning, as far as house-education and a country free school generally go, and designed me for the law; but I would be satisfied with nothing but going to sea; and my inclination to this led me so strongly against the will, nay, the commands of my father, and against all the entreaties and persuasions of my mother and other friends, that there seemed to be something fatal in that propensity of nature, tending directly to the life of misery which was to befall me.
My father, a wise and grave man, gave me serious and excellent counsel against what he foresaw was my design. He called me one morning into his chamber, where he was confined by the gout, and expostulated very warmly with me upon this subject. He asked me what reasons, more than a mere wandering inclination, I had for leaving father's house and my native country, where I might be well introduced, and had a prospect of raising my fortune by application and industry, with a life of ease and pleasure. He told me it was men of desperate fortunes on one hand, or of aspiring, superior fortunes on the other, who went abroad upon adventures, to rise by enterprise, and make themselves famous in undertakings of a nature out of the common road; that these things were all either too far above me or too far below me; that mine was the middle state, or what might be called the upper station of low life, which he had found, by long experience, was the best state in the world, the most suited to human happiness, not exposed to the miseries and hardships, the labour and sufferings of the mechanic part of mankind, and not embarrassed with the pride, luxury, ambition, and envy of the upper part of mankind. He told me I might judge of the happiness of this state by this one thing - viz. that this was the state of life which all other people envied; that kings have frequently lamented the miserable consequence of being born to great things, and wished they had been placed in the middle of the two extremes, between the mean and the great; that the wise man gave his testimony to this, as the standard of felicity, when he prayed to have neither poverty nor riches.
He bade me observe it, and I should always find that the calamities of life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind, but that the middle station had the fewest disasters, and was not exposed to so many vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of mankind; nay, they were not subjected to so many distempers and uneasinesses, either of body or mind, as those were who, by vicious living, luxury, and extravagances on the one hand, or by hard labour, want of necessaries, and mean or insufficient diet on the other hand, bring distemper upon themselves by the natural consequences of their way of living; that the middle station of life was calculated for all kind of virtue and all kind of enjoyments; that peace and plenty were the handmaids of a middle fortune; that temperance, moderation, quietness, health, society, all agreeable diversions, and all desirable pleasures, were the blessings attending the middle station of life; that this way men went silently and smoothly through the world, and comfortably out of it, not embarrassed with the labours of the hands or of the head, not sold to a life of slavery for daily bread, nor harassed with perplexed circumstances, which rob the soul of peace and the body of rest, nor enraged with the passion of envy, or the secret burning lust of ambition for great things; but, in easy circumstances, sliding gently through the world, and sensibly tasting the sweets of living, without the bitter; feeling that they are happy, and learning by every day's experience to know it more sensibly,
After this he pressed me earnestly, and in the most affectionate manner, not to play the young man, nor to precipitate myself into miseries which nature, and the station of life I was born in, seemed to have provided against; that I was under no necessity of seeking my bread; that he would do well for me, and endeavour to enter me fairly into the station of life which he had just been recommending to me; and that if I was not very easy and happy in the world, it must be my mere fate or fault that must hinder it; and that he should have nothing to answer for, having thus discharged his duty in warning me against measures which he knew would be to my hurt; in a word, that as he would do very kind things for me if I would stay and settle at home as he directed, so he would not have so much hand in my misfortunes as to give me any encouragement to go away; and to close all, he told me I had my elder brother for an example, to whom he had used the same earnest persuasions to keep him from going into the Low Country wars, but could not prevail, his young desires prompting him to run into the army, where he was killed; and though he said he would not cease to pray for me, yet he would venture to say to me, that if I did take this foolish step, God would not bless me, and I should have leisure hereafter to reflect upon having neglected his counsel when there might be none to assist in my recovery.
I observed in this last part of his discourse, which was truly prophetic, though I suppose my father did not know it to be so himself - I say, I observed the tears run down his face very plentifully, especially when he spoke of my brother who was killed: and that when he spoke of my having leisure to repent, and none to assist me, he was so moved that he broke off the discourse, and told me his heart was so full he could say no more to me.
I was sincerely affected with this discourse, and, indeed, who could be otherwise? and I resolved not to think of going abroad any more, but to settle at home according to my father's desire. But alas! a few days wore it all off; and, in short, to prevent any of my father's further importunities, in a few weeks after I resolved to run quite away from him. However, I did not act quite so hastily as the first heat of my resolution prompted; but I took my mother at a time when I thought her a little more pleasant than ordinary, and told her that my thoughts were so entirely bent upon seeing the world that I should never settle to anything with resolution enough to go through with it, and my father had better give me his consent than force me to go without it; that I was now eighteen years old, which was too late to go apprentice to a trade or clerk to an attorney; that I was sure if I did I should never serve out my time, but I should certainly run away from my master before my time was out, and go to sea; and if she would speak to my father to let me go one voyage abroad, if I came home again, and did not like it, I would go no more; and I would promise, by a double diligence, to recover the time that I had lost.
This put my mother into a great passion; she told me she knew it would be to no purpose to speak to my father upon any such subject; that he knew too well what was my interest to give his consent to anything so much for my hurt; and that she wondered how I could think of any such thing after the discourse I had had with my father, and such kind and tender expressions as she knew my father had used to me; and that, in short, if I would ruin myself, there was no help for me; but I might depend I should never have their consent to it; that for her part she would not have so much hand in my destruction; and I should never have it to say that my mother was willing when my father was not.
Though my mother refused to move it to my father, yet I heard afterwards that she reported all the discourse to him, and that my father, after showing a great concern at it, said to her, with a sigh, "That boy might be happy if he would stay at home; but if he goes abroad, he will be the most miserable wretch that ever was born: I can give no consent to it."
It was not till almost a year after this that I broke loose, though, in the meantime, I continued obstinately deaf to all proposals of settling to business, and frequently expostulated with my father and mother about their being so positively determined against what they knew my inclinations prompted me to. But being one day at Hull, where I went casually, and without any purpose of making an elopement at that time; but, I say, being there, and one of my companions being about to sail to London in his father's ship, and prompting me to go with them with the common allurement of seafaring men, that it should cost me nothing for my passage, I consulted neither father nor mother any more, nor so much as sent them word of it; but leaving them to hear of it as they might, without asking God's blessing or my father's, without any consideration of circumstances or consequences, and in an ill hour, God knows, on the 1st of September 1651, I went on board a ship bound for London. Never any young adventurer's misfortunes, I believe, began sooner, or continued longer than mine. The ship was no sooner out of the Humber than the wind began to blow and the sea to rise in a most frightful manner; and, as I had never been at sea before, I was most inexpressibly sick in body and terrified in mind. I began now seriously to reflect upon what I had done, and how justly I was overtaken by the judgment of Heaven for my wicked leaving my father's house, and abandoning my duty. All the good counsels of my parents, my father's tears and my mother's entreaties, came now fresh into my mind; and my conscience, which was not yet come to the pitch of hardness to which it has since, reproached me with the contempt of advice, and the breach of my duty to God and my father.
All this while the storm increased, and the sea went very high, though nothing like what I have seen many times since; no, nor what I saw a few days after; but it was enough to affect me then, who was but a young sailor, and had never known anything of the matter. I expected every wave would have swallowed us up, and that every time the ship fell down, as I thought it did, in the trough or hollow of the sea, we should never rise more; in this agony of mind, I made many vows and resolutions that if it would please God to spare my life in this one voyage, if ever I got once my foot upon dry land again, I would go directly home to my father, and never set it into a ship again while I lived; that I would take his advice, and never run myself into such miseries as these any more. Now I saw plainly the goodness of his observations about the middle station of life, how easy, how comfortably he had lived all his days, and never had been exposed to tempests at sea or troubles on shore; and I resolved that I would, like a true repenting prodigal, go home to my father.
These wise and sober thoughts continued all the while the storm lasted, and indeed some time after; but the next day the wind was abated, and the sea calmer, and I began to be a little inured to it; however, I was very grave for all that day, being also a little sea-sick still; but towards night the weather cleared up, the wind was quite over, and a charming fine evening followed; the sun went down perfectly clear, and rose so the next morning; and having little or no wind, and a smooth sea, the sun shining upon it, the sight was, as I thought, the most delightful that ever I saw.
I had slept well in the night, and was now no more sea-sick, but very cheerful, looking with wonder upon the sea that was so rough and terrible the day before, and could be so calm and so pleasant in so little a time after. And now, lest my good resolutions should continue, my companion, who had enticed me away, comes to me; "Well, Bob," says he, clapping me upon the shoulder, "how do you do after it? I warrant you were frighted, wer'n't you, last night, when it blew but a capful of wind?" "A capful d'you call it?" said I; "'twas a terrible storm." "A storm, you fool you," replies he; "do you call that a storm? why, it was nothing at all; give us but a good ship and sea-room, and we think nothing of such a squall of wind as that; but you're but a fresh-water sailor, Bob. Come, let us make a bowl of punch, and we'll forget all that; d'ye see what charming weather 'tis now?" To make short this sad part of my story, we went the way of all sailors; the punch was made and I was made half drunk with it: and in that one night's wickedness I drowned all my repentance, all my reflections upon my past conduct, all my resolutions for the future. In a word, as the sea was returned to its smoothness of surface and settled calmness by the abatement of that storm, so the hurry of my thoughts being over, my fears and apprehensions of being swallowed up by the sea being forgotten, and the current of my former desires returned, I entirely forgot the vows and promises that I made in my distress. I found, indeed, some intervals of reflection; and the serious thoughts did, as it were, endeavour to return again sometimes; but I shook them off, and roused myself from them as it were from a distemper, and applying myself to drinking and company, soon mastered the return of those fits - for so I called them; and I had in five or six days got as complete a victory over conscience as any young fellow that resolved not to be troubled with it could desire. But I was to have another trial for it still; and Providence, as in such cases generally it does, resolved to leave me entirely without excuse; for if I would not take this for a deliverance, the next was to be such a one as the worst and most hardened wretch among us would confess both the danger and the mercy of.
The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads; the wind having been contrary and the weather calm, we had made but little way since the storm. Here we were obliged to come to an anchor, and here we lay, the wind continuing contrary - viz. at south-west - for seven or eight days, during which time a great many ships from Newcastle came into the same Roads, as the common harbour where the ships might wait for a wind for the river.
We had not, however, rid here so long but we should have tided it up the river, but that the wind blew too fresh, and after we had lain four or five days, blew very hard. However, the Roads being reckoned as good as a harbour, the anchorage good, and our ground- tackle very strong, our men were unconcerned, and not in the least apprehensive of danger, but spent the time in rest and mirth, after the manner of the sea; but the eighth day, in the morning, the wind increased, and we had all hands at work to strike our topmasts, and make everything snug and close, that the ship might ride as easy as possible. By noon the sea went very high indeed, and our ship rode forecastle in, shipped several seas, and we thought once or twice our anchor had come home; upon which our master ordered out the sheet-anchor, so that we rode with two anchors ahead, and the cables veered out to the bitter end.
By this time it blew a terrible storm indeed; and now I began to see terror and amazement in the faces even of the seamen themselves. The master, though vigilant in the business of preserving the ship, yet as he went in and out of his cabin by me, I could hear him softly to himself say, several times, "Lord be merciful to us! we shall be all lost! we shall be all undone!" and the like. During these first hurries I was stupid, lying still in my cabin, which was in the steerage, and cannot describe my temper: I could ill resume the first penitence which I had so apparently trampled upon and hardened myself against: I thought the bitterness of death had been past, and that this would be nothing like the first; but when the master himself came by me, as I said just now, and said we should be all lost, I was dreadfully frighted. I got up out of my cabin and looked out; but such a dismal sight I never saw: the sea ran mountains high, and broke upon us every three or four minutes; when I could look about, I could see nothing but distress round us; two ships that rode near us, we found, had cut their masts by the board, being deep laden; and our men cried out that a ship which rode about a mile ahead of us was foundered. Two more ships, being driven from their anchors, were run out of the Roads to sea, at all adventures, and that with not a mast standing. The light ships fared the best, as not so much labouring in the sea; but two or three of them drove, and came close by us, running away with only their spritsail out before the wind.
Towards evening the mate and boatswain begged the master of our ship to let them cut away the fore-mast, which he was very unwilling to do; but the boatswain protesting to him that if he did not the ship would founder, he consented; and when they had cut away the fore-mast, the main-mast stood so loose, and shook the ship so much, they were obliged to cut that away also, and make a clear deck.
Any one may judge what a condition I must be in at all this, who was but a young sailor, and who had been in such a fright before at but a little. But if I can express at this distance the thoughts I had about me at that time, I was in tenfold more horror of mind upon account of my former convictions, and the having returned from them to the resolutions I had wickedly taken at first, than I was at death itself; and these, added to the terror of the storm, put me into such a condition that I can by no words describe it. But the worst was not come yet; the storm continued with such fury that the seamen themselves acknowledged they had never seen a worse. We had a good ship, but she was deep laden, and wallowed in the sea, so that the seamen every now and then cried out she would founder. It was my advantage in one respect, that I did not know what they meant by FOUNDER till I inquired. However, the storm was so violent that I saw, what is not often seen, the master, the boatswain, and some others more sensible than the rest, at their prayers, and expecting every moment when the ship would go to the bottom. In the middle of the night, and under all the rest of our distresses, one of the men that had been down to see cried out we had sprung a leak; another said there was four feet water in the hold. Then all hands were called to the pump. At that word, my heart, as I thought, died within me: and I fell backwards upon the side of my bed where I sat, into the cabin. However, the men roused me, and told me that I, that was able to do nothing before, was as well able to pump as another; at which I stirred up and went to the pump, and worked very heartily. While this was doing the master, seeing some light colliers, who, not able to ride out the storm were obliged to slip and run away to sea, and would come near us, ordered to fire a gun as a signal of distress. I, who knew nothing what they meant, thought the ship had broken, or some dreadful thing happened. In a word, I was so surprised that I fell down in a swoon. As this was a time when everybody had his own life to think of, nobody minded me, or what was become of me; but another man stepped up to the pump, and thrusting me aside with his foot, let me lie, thinking I had been dead; and it was a great while before I came to myself.
不久之前，那種的力量驅使我離傢出走。我年幼無知，想入非非，妄想發財。這種念頭，根深蒂固，竟使我對一切忠告充耳不聞，對父親的懇求和嚴命置若罔聞。我是說，現在，又正是這同一種的力量--不管這是一種什麽力量，使我開始了一種最不幸的冒險事業。我踏上了一艘駛往非洲海岸的船；用水手們的俗話說，到幾內亞去！
在以往的冒險活動中，我在船上從未當過水手。這是我的不幸。本來，我可以比平時艱苦些，學會做一些普通水手們做的工作。到一定時候，即使做不了船長，說不定也能當上個大副或船長助手什麽的。可是，命中註定我每次都會作出最壞的選擇，這一次也不例外。口袋裏裝了幾個錢，身上穿着體面的衣服，我就像往常一樣，以紳士的身份上了船。船上的一切事務，我從不參與，也從不學着去做。
在倫敦，我交上了好朋友。這又是我命裏註定的。這種好事通常不會落到像我這樣一個放蕩不羈、誤入歧途的年輕人身上。魔鬼總是早早給他們設下了陷井。但對我卻不然。一開始，我就認識了一位船長。他曾到過幾內亞沿岸；在那兒，他做了一筆不錯的買賣，所以决定再走一趟。他對我的談話很感興趣，因為那時我的談吐也許不怎麽令人討厭。他聽我說要出去見見世面，就對我說，假如我願意和他一起去，可以免費搭他的船，並可做他的夥伴，和他一起用餐。如果我想順便帶點貨，他將告訴我帶什麽東西最能賺錢，這樣也許我能賺點錢。
對船長的盛情，我正是求之不得，並和船長成了莫逆之交。船長為人真誠其實，我便上了他的船，並捎帶了點貨物。
由於我這位船長朋友的正直無私，我賺了一筆不小的錢。因為，我聽他的話，帶了一批玩具和其他小玩意兒，大約值四十英鎊。這些錢我是靠一些親戚的幫助搞來的。我寫信給他們；我相信，他們就告訴我父親，或至少告訴了我母親，由父親或母親出錢，再由親戚寄給我，作為我第一次做生意的本錢。
可以說，這是我一生冒險活動中唯一成功的一次航行。這完全應歸功於我那船長朋友的正直無私。在他的指導下，我還學會了一些航海的數學知識和方法，學會了記航海日志和觀察天文。一句話，懂得了一些做水手的基本常識。他樂於教我，我也樂於跟他學。總之，這次航行使我既成了水手，又成了商人。這次航行，我帶回了五磅零九盎司金沙；回到倫敦後，我換回了約三百英鎊，賺了不少錢。這更使我躊躇滿志，因而也由此斷送了我的一生。
然而，這次航行也有我的不幸。尤其是因為我們做生意都是在非洲西海岸一帶，從北緯１５度一直南下至赤道附近，天氣異常炎熱，所以我得了航行於熱帶水域水手們常得的熱病，三天兩頭髮高燒，說鬍話。
現在，我儼然成了做幾內亞生意的商人了。不幸的是，我那位當船長的朋友在回倫敦後不久就去世了。儘管如此，我還是决定再去幾內亞走一趟，就踏上了同一條船。這時，原來船上的大副做了船長。這是一次最倒黴的航行。雖然我上次賺了點錢，但我衹帶了不到一百英鎊的貨物，餘下的二百英鎊通通寄存在船長寡婦那裏。她像船長一樣，待我公正無私。但是，在這次航行中，我卻屢遭不幸。第一件不幸的事情是：我們的船嚮加那利群島駛去，或者，說得更確切些，正航行於這些群島和非洲西海岸之間。一天拂曉，突然有一艘從薩纍開來的土耳其海盜船，扯滿了帆，從我們後面追了上來。我們的船也張滿了帆試圖逃跑。但海盜船比我們快，逐漸逼近了我們。看情形，再過幾小時，他們肯定能追上我們。我們立即開始作戰鬥準備。我們船上有十二門炮，但海盜船上有十八門。大約到了下午三點鐘光景，他們趕了上來。
他們本想攻擊我們的船尾，結果卻橫衝到我們的後舷。我們把八門炮搬到了這一邊，一起嚮他們開火。海盜船邊後退，邊還擊；他們船上二百來人一起用槍嚮我們射擊。我們的人隱蔽得好，無一受傷。海盜船準備對我們再次發動攻擊，我們也全力備戰。這一次他們從後舷的另一側靠上我們的船，並有六十多人跳上了我們的甲板。強盜們一上船就亂砍亂殺，並砍斷了我們的桅索等船具。我們用槍、短柄矛和炸藥包等各種武器奮力抵抗，把他們擊退了兩次。我不想細說這件不幸的事。總之，到最後，我們的船失去了戰鬥力，而且死了三個人，傷了八人，衹得投降。我們全部被俘，被押送到薩纍，那是摩爾人的一個港口。
我在那兒受到的待遇，並沒有像我當初擔心的那麽可怕。
其他人都被送到皇帝的宮裏去，遠離了海岸；我卻被海盜船長作為他自己的戰利品留下，成了他的奴隸。這是因為我年輕伶俐，對他有用處。我的境況發生了突變，從一個商人一下子變成了可憐的奴隸。這真使我悲痛欲絶。這時，我不禁回憶起我父親的預言；他說過我一定會受苦受難，並會呼援無門。現在我纔感到，父親的話完全應驗了。我現在的境況已再糟不過了。我受到了老天的懲罰，誰也救不了我。可是，唉，我的苦難纔剛剛開始呢，下面我再接着細說吧。
我的主人把我帶回他傢中。我滿以為他出海時會帶上我。
如這樣，我想，他遲早會被西班牙或葡萄牙的戰艦俘獲，那時我就可恢復自由了。但我的這個希望很快就破滅了。他每次出海時，總把我留在岸上照看他那座小花園，並在傢裏做各種奴隸幹的苦活。當他從海上航行回來時，又叫我睡到船艙裏替他看船。
在這裏，我頭腦裏整天盤算着如何逃跑，但怎麽也想不出稍有希望的辦法。從當時的情況來看，我根本沒有條件逃跑。我沒有人可以商量，沒有人與我一起逃跑。我孤身一人形單影衹，周圍沒有其他奴隸，也沒有英格蘭人、愛爾蘭人或蘇格蘭人。這樣過了整整兩年。在這兩年中，逃跑的計劃衹有在我想象中實現，並藉此，卻怎麽也無法付諸實施。
大約兩年之後，出現了一個特殊的情況，這使我重新升起了爭取自由的希望。這一次，我主人在傢裏呆的時間比以往長。據說是因為手頭缺錢，他沒有為自己的船配備出航所必需的設備。在這段時間裏，他經常坐一隻舢舨去港口外的開放錨地捕魚；每星期至少一、兩次，天氣好的話，去的次數更多一些。那衹舢舨是他大船上的一隻小艇。每次出港捕魚，他總讓我和一個摩爾小孩替他搖船。我們兩個小年輕頗能得他的歡心，而我捕魚也確實有一手，因此，有時他就衹叫我與他的一個摩爾族親戚和那個摩爾小孩一起去替他打點魚來吃；那個摩爾小孩名叫馬列司科。
一天早晨，我們又出海打魚。天氣晴朗，海面風平浪靜。
突然，海上升起濃霧。我們劃了纔一海裏多點，就看不見海岸了。當時，我們已辯不清東南西北了，衹是拚命划船。這樣劃了一天一夜，到第二天早晨纔發現，我們不僅沒有劃近海岸，反而嚮外海劃去了，離岸至少約六海裏。最後，我們費了很大的勁，冒了很大的危險，纔平安抵岸，因為，那天早晨風很大，而且我們大傢都快餓壞了。
這次意外事件給了我們主人一個警告，他决定以後得小心謹慎一些，出海捕魚時帶上指南針和一些食品。正好在他俘獲的我們那艘英國船上，有一隻長舢舨。他就下令他船上的木匠--也是他的一個英國人奴隸--在長舢舨中間做一個小艙，像駁船上的小艙那樣；艙後留了些空間，可以容一個人站在那裏掌舵和拉下帆索；艙前也有一塊地方，可容一兩個人站在那裏升帆或降帆。這長舢舨上所使用的帆叫三角帆，帆桿橫垂在艙頂上。船艙做得很矮，但非常舒適，可容得下他和一兩個奴隸在裏面睡覺，還可擺下一張桌子吃飯；桌子裏做了一些抽屜，裏面放上幾其他愛喝的酒，以及他的面包、大米和咖啡之類的食物和飲料。
我們從此就經常坐這衹長舢舨出海捕魚。因為我捕魚技術高明，所以每次出去他總是帶着我。有一次，他約定要與當地兩三位頗有身份的摩爾人坐我們的長舢舨出海遊玩或捕魚。為了款待客人，他預備了許多酒菜食品，並在頭天晚上就送上了船。他還吩咐我從他大船上取下三支短槍放到舢舨上，把火藥和子彈準備好。看來，他們除了想捕魚外，還打算打鳥。
我按照主人的吩咐，把一切都準備妥當。第二天早晨，船也洗幹淨了，旗子也挂上了；一切安排完畢，我就在舢舨上專候貴客的光臨。不料，過了一會兒，我主人一個人上船來。
他對我說，客人臨時有事，這次不去了，下次再去，但他們將來傢裏吃晚飯，所以要我和那個摩爾人和小孩像往常一樣去打點魚來，以便晚上招待客人。他還特地吩咐，要我們一打到魚就立即回來送到他傢裏。這些事我當然準備一一照辦。
這時，我那爭取自由的舊念頭又突然萌發起來。因為，我覺得自己可以支配一條小船了。主人一走，我就着手準備起來，當然不是準備去捕魚，而是準備遠航。至於去哪兒，連我自己都不知道，也沒有考慮過，衹要離開這兒就行。
我計劃的第一步，先藉口對那個摩爾人說，我們不應當自說自話吃主人的面包，得自己動手準備船上吃的東西。他說我的話非常對，就拿來了一大筐當地甜餅幹，又弄了三罐子淡水，一起搬到舢舨上。我知道主人裝酒的箱子放的地方；看那箱子的樣子，顯然也是從英國人手裏奪來的戰利品。我趁那摩爾人上岸去的時候，就把那箱酒搬上舢舨，放到一個適當的地方，好像主人原來就放在那兒似的。同時我又搬了六十多磅蜜蠟到船上來，還順便拿了一小包粗綫，一把斧頭，一把鋸子和一隻錘子；這些東西後來對我都非常有用，尤其是蜜蠟，可以用來做蠟燭。接着我又想出了一個新花樣，他居然天真地上了圈套。這個摩爾人的名字叫伊斯瑪，但大傢叫他馬利或莫利，所以我也這樣叫他。"莫利，"我說，"我們主人的槍在船上，你去搞點火藥和鳥槍彈來，也許我們還能給自己打幾衹水鳥呢！我知道主人的火藥放在大船上。""對，"他說，"我去拿些來。"果然，他拿來了一大皮袋火藥，足有一磅半重，可能還要多些。另外，他又拿來了一大皮袋鳥槍彈和一些子彈，也有五、六磅重。他把這些全部放到舢舨上。
同時，我又在大艙裏找到了一些主人的火藥。我從箱子裏找出一隻大酒瓶，裏面所剩酒已不多。我把不多的酒倒入另一隻瓶中，把空瓶裝滿火藥。一切準備停當，我們便開始出港去捕魚了。港口堡壘裏的士兵都認識我們，所以也不來註意我們。我們出港不到一海裏光景就下了帆開始捕魚。這時，風嚮東北偏北，正與我的願望相反。因為，假如颳南風，我就有把握把船駛到西班牙海岸，至少也可到西班牙西南部的加第斯海灣。但我决心已下，不管颳什麽風，衹要離開我現在呆的可怕的地方就行；其餘一切，都聽天由命了。
我們釣了一會兒魚，一條也沒有釣到；因為即使魚兒上鈎，我也不釣上來，免得讓那摩爾人看見。然後，我對他說，這樣下去可不行，我們拿什麽款待主人呢？我們得走遠一點。
他一想這樣做也無妨，就同意了。他在船頭，就張起了帆；我在船尾掌舵。就這樣我們把船駛出了約三海裏，然後就把船停下，好像又要準備捕魚似的。我把舵交給摩爾小孩，自己嚮船頭摩爾人站的地方走去。我彎下腰來，裝作好像在他身後找什麽東西似的。突然，我趁其不備，用手臂猛地在他褲襠下一撞，把他一下推入海裏。這個摩爾人是個遊泳高手，一下子就浮出海面。他嚮我呼救，求我讓他上船，並說他願追隨我走遍天涯海角。他在水裏像魚，遊得極快，而這時風不大，小船行駛速度很慢，眼看他很快就會趕上來。我走進船艙，拿起一支鳥槍。我把槍對準了摩爾人，並對他說我並沒想傷害他，如果他不胡闹，也不會傷害他。我說："你泅水泅得很好，你完全可以泅回岸去。現在海上風平浪靜，就趕快泅回去吧。我是不會傷害你的。要是你靠近我的船，那我就打穿你的腦袋！我已决心逃跑爭取自由了！"他立即轉身嚮海岸方向遊回去。我毫不懷疑，他必然能安抵海岸，因為他遊泳的本領確實不賴。
本來，我可以把小孩淹死，帶上那個摩爾人，可我怎麽也不敢信任他。前面提到過，那個摩爾小孩名叫馬列司科，但大傢都叫他"佐立"。那摩爾人走後，我就對他說："佐立，假如你忠於我，我會使你成為一個出色的人。但如果你不打自己的耳光嚮我發誓，如果你不憑着穆罕默德起誓效忠於我，我也把你扔到海裏去。 "那孩子衝着我笑了，並發誓忠於我，願隨我走遍天涯海角。他說這些話時神情天真無邪，使我沒法不信任他。
那個摩爾人在大海裏泅着水，我們的船還在他的視綫之內。這時，我故意讓船逆着風徑直嚮大海駛去。這樣，他們就會以為我是駛嚮直布羅陀海峽（事實上，任何有頭腦的人都會這樣做）。沒有人會想到，我們會駛嚮南方野蠻人出沒的海岸。到那兒，我們還來不及上岸，就會給各個黑人部族的獨木舟所包圍，並把我們殺害；即使我們上了岸，也不是給野獸吃掉，就是給更無情的野人吃掉。
可是，到傍晚時，我改變了航嚮。我們船嚮東南偏東駛去，這樣船可沿着海岸航行。這時風勢極好，海面也平靜，我就張滿帆讓船疾駛。以當時船行速度來看，我估計第二天下午三點鐘就能靠岸。那時我已經在薩纍以南一百五十英裏之外了，遠離摩洛哥皇帝的領土，也不在任何國王的領地之內，因為那兒我們根本就看不到人跡。
但是，我已被摩爾人嚇破了膽，生怕再落到他們的手裏；同時風勢又順，於是也不靠岸，也不下錨，一口氣竟走了五天。這時風勢漸漸轉為南風，我估計即使他們派船來追我．這時也該罷休了。於是我就大膽駛嚮海岸，在一條小河的河口下了錨。我不知道這兒是什麽地方，在什麽緯度，什麽國傢，什麽民族，什麽河流。四周看不到一個人，我也不希望看到任何人。我現在所需要的衹是淡水。我們在傍晚駛進了小河口，决定一等天黑就遊到岸上去，摸一下岸上的情況。但一到天黑，我們就聽到各種野獸狂吠咆哮，怒吼呼嘯，不知道那是些什麽野獸，真是可怕極了！這可把那可憐的孩子嚇得魂飛魄散，哀求我等天亮後再上岸。我說，"好吧，佐立，我不去就是了。不過，說不定白天會碰見人。他們對我們也許像獅子一樣兇呢！"佐立笑着說，"那我們就開槍把他們打跑！"佐立在我們奴隸中能用英語交談，雖然發音不太地道。見到佐立這樣高興，我心裏也很快樂。於是我從主人的酒箱裏拿出酒瓶，倒了一點酒給他喝，讓他壯壯膽子。不管怎麽說，佐立的提議是有道理的，我接受了他的意見。於是，我們就下了錨，靜靜地在船上躺了一整夜。我是說，衹是"靜靜地躺着"，我們事實上整夜都沒合過眼。因為兩三小時後，便有一大群各種各樣的巨獸來到海邊，在水裏打滾，洗澡，或涼爽一下自己的身子；它們是些什麽野獸，我也叫不出名字，而它們那狂呼怒吼的咆哮聲，真是我平生從未聽到過的，煞是嚇人！
佐立嚇壞了，我自己也嚇得要死。然而，更讓我們心驚膽戰的是，我們聽到有一頭巨獸嚮我們船邊遊來。雖然我們看不見，但從其呼吸的聲音來聽，一定是個碩大無比的猛獸。
佐立說是頭獅子，我想也可能是的。可憐的佐立嚮我高聲呼叫，要我起錨把船劃走。"不，"我說，"佐立，我們可以把錨索連同浮筒一起放出，把船嚮海裏移移，那些野獸遊不了太遠的，它們不可能跟上來。"我話音未落，那巨獸離船不到兩槳來遠了。我立刻走進艙裏，拿起槍來，對着那傢夥放了一槍。那猛獸立即調頭嚮岸上泅去。
槍聲一響，不論在岸邊或山裏的群獸漫山遍野地狂呼怒吼起來，那種情景，真令人毛骨悚然。我想，這裏的野獸以前大概從未聽到過槍聲，以至使它們如此驚恐不安。這更使我不得不相信，不用說晚上不能上岸，就是白天上岸也是個問題。落入野人手裏，無異於落入獅子猛虎之口。至少，這兩種危險我們都害怕。
但不管怎樣，我們總得上岸到什麽地方弄點淡水，因為船上剩下的水已不到一品脫了。問題是：什麽時候上岸？在哪兒才能弄到水？佐立說，如果我讓他拿個罐子上岸，他會去找找看有沒有水，有的話就給我帶回來。我問他，為什麽要他去，而不是我去，讓他自己呆在船上呢？這孩子的回答憨厚深情，使我從此喜歡上了他。他說："如果野人來了，他們吃掉我，你可以逃走。""好吧，佐立，"我說，"如果野人來了，我們兩個人一起開槍把他們打死，我們倆誰也不讓他們吃掉。"我拿了一塊幹面包給佐立吃，還從原來主人的酒箱裏拿出酒瓶給他倒了點酒喝。關於這個酒箱的來歷，我前面已經提到過了。我們把船嚮岸邊適當推近一些，兩人就一起涉水上岸。除了槍枝彈藥和兩衹水罐，我們其他什麽都不帶。
我不敢走得離船太遠，唯恐野人的獨木舟從河的上遊順流而下。可那孩子見到一英裏開外處有一塊低地，就信步走去。不一會兒，衹見他飛快嚮我奔來。我以為有野人在追趕他，或者給什麽野獸嚇壞了，急忙迎上去幫助他。但他跑近我時，卻見他肩上背着個野兔似動物，但顔色與野兔不一樣，腿也比野兔長，原來是他打到的獵物。這東西的肉一定很好吃，為此我們都大為高興。然而，更令人高興的是，佐立告訴我，他已找到了淡水，而且也沒有見到有野人。
但後來我們發現，我們不必費那麽大的力氣去取水。沿着我們所在的小河稍稍往上走一點，潮水一退，就可取到淡水。其實，海潮沒進入小河多遠。我們把所有的罐子都盛滿了水，又把殺死的野兔煮了飽餐一頓，就準備上路了。在那一帶，我們始終沒有發現人類的足跡。
過去我曾到這一帶的海岸來過一次，知道加那利群島和佛得角群島離大陸海岸不遠。但船上沒有儀器，無法測量我們所在地點的緯度，而且，我也已不記得這些群島確切的緯度了，因此也無法找到這些群島，也不知道什麽時候該離開海岸，駛嚮海島。要不然，我一定能很容易找到這些海島的。我現在唯一的希望是：沿着海岸航行，直到英國人做生意的地方。在那兒總會遇到來往的商船，他們就會救我們。
我估計，我現在所在的地區正好在摩洛哥王國和黑人部族居住的地區之間；這兒衹有野獸出沒，荒無人煙。黑人因怕摩爾人的騷擾而放棄該地區遷嚮前方；摩爾人則因這兒是蠻荒之地，不願在此居祝另外，這兒群獸出沒，是猛虎、獅子、豹子和其他野獸棲息的地方。所以，不論是摩爾人還是黑人，都放棄了這塊地方。但摩爾人有時也來這兒打獵。每次來的時候，至少有兩三千人，像開來一支軍隊。事實上，我們沿海岸走了約一百英裏，白天衹見一起荒蕪，杳無人跡；晚上衹聽到野獸咆哮，此起彼伏。
有一兩次，在白天，我仿佛遠遠看到了加那利群島高山的山頂--泰尼利夫山山頂。當時我很想冒一下險，把船駛過去。可是試了兩次，都被逆風頂了回來。而且，這時海上風浪很大，我們的船又小，無法駛嚮大海。因此，我决定依照原來的計劃，繼續沿海岸行駛。
我們離開那個地方後，也有好幾次不得不上岸取水。特別有一次，在大清早，我們來到一個小岬角拋了錨。這時正好漲潮，我們想等潮水上來後再往裏駛。佐立的眼睛比我尖，他嚮我低聲叫喚，要我把船駛離岸遠一點。他說，"看那兒，一個可怕的怪物正在小山下睡覺呢！"我朝他手所指的方向看了一下，果然看到一個可怕的怪物，原來那是一頭巨獅，正躺在一片山影下熟睡呢！我說："佐立，你上岸去把它打死吧。"佐立大吃一驚，說："我？我去把它打死？它一口就把我吃掉了。"我就不再對這孩子說什麽了，並叫他乖乖呆在那兒。我自己拿起最大的一支槍，裝了大量的火藥，又裝了兩顆大子彈，放在一旁，然後又拿起第二支槍，裝了兩顆子彈，再把第三支槍裝了五顆小子彈。我拿起第一支大槍，盡力瞄準，對着那獅子的頭開了一槍。但那獅子躺着時，前腿稍稍往上擡起，擋住了鼻子，因此子彈正好打在它膝蓋上，把腿骨打斷了。獅子一驚，狂吼而起，但發覺一腿已斷，復又跌倒在地，然後用三條腿站立起來，發出刺耳的吼叫聲。我見自己沒有打中獅子的頭部，心裏不由暗暗吃驚，這時，那頭獅子似乎想走開，我急忙拿起第二支槍，對準它的頭部又開了一槍，衹見它頽然倒下，輕輕地吼了一聲，便在那兒拼命掙紮。這時佐立膽子大了，要求我讓他上岸。"好吧，你去吧！"我說。於是他便跳到水裏，一手舉着支短槍，一手劃着水，走到那傢夥跟前，把槍口放在它的耳朵邊，嚮它的頭部又開了一槍，終於結果了這猛獸的性命。
這件事對於我們實在是玩樂而已，獅子的肉根本不能吃。
為了這樣一個無用的獵物，浪費了三份火藥和彈丸，實在不值得，我頗感後悔。可是佐立說，他一定得從獅子身上弄點東西下來。於是他上船嚮我要斧子。 "幹什麽，佐立？"我問。
"我要把它的頭砍下來！"他說。結果，佐立沒法把獅子頭砍下來，卻砍下了一隻腳帶回來。那腳可真大得可怕！
我心裏盤算，獅子皮也許對我們會有用處，便决定想法把皮剝下來。於是我和佐立就跑去剝皮。對於這件工作，佐立比我高明得多了，而我完全不知道從何下手。我們兩人忙了一整天，纔把整張皮剝下來。我們把皮攤在船艙的頂上，兩天後皮就曬幹了。以後我就把它用作被來睡覺。
We were not much more than a quarter of an hour out of our ship till we saw her sink, and then I understood for the first time what was meant by a ship foundering in the sea. I must acknowledge I had hardly eyes to look up when the seamen told me she was sinking; for from the moment that they rather put me into the boat than that I might be said to go in, my heart was, as it were, dead within me, partly with fright, partly with horror of mind, and the thoughts of what was yet before me.
While we were in this condition - the men yet labouring at the oar to bring the boat near the shore - we could see (when, our boat mounting the waves, we were able to see the shore) a great many people running along the strand to assist us when we should come near; but we made but slow way towards the shore; nor were we able to reach the shore till, being past the lighthouse at Winterton, the shore falls off to the westward towards Cromer, and so the land broke off a little the violence of the wind. Here we got in, and though not without much difficulty, got all safe on shore, and walked afterwards on foot to Yarmouth, where, as unfortunate men, we were used with great humanity, as well by the magistrates of the town, who assigned us good quarters, as by particular merchants and owners of ships, and had money given us sufficient to carry us either to London or back to Hull as we thought fit.
Had I now had the sense to have gone back to Hull, and have gone home, I had been happy, and my father, as in our blessed Saviour's parable, had even killed the fatted calf for me; for hearing the ship I went away in was cast away in Yarmouth Roads, it was a great while before he had any assurances that I was not drowned.
But my ill fate pushed me on now with an obstinacy that nothing could resist; and though I had several times loud calls from my reason and my more composed judgment to go home, yet I had no power to do it. I know not what to call this, nor will I urge that it is a secret overruling decree, that hurries us on to be the instruments of our own destruction, even though it be before us, and that we rush upon it with our eyes open. Certainly, nothing but some such decreed unavoidable misery, which it was impossible for me to escape, could have pushed me forward against the calm reasonings and persuasions of my most retired thoughts, and against two such visible instructions as I had met with in my first attempt.
My comrade, who had helped to harden me before, and who was the master's son, was now less forward than I. The first time he spoke to me after we were at Yarmouth, which was not till two or three days, for we were separated in the town to several quarters; I say, the first time he saw me, it appeared his tone was altered; and, looking very melancholy, and shaking his head, he asked me how I did, and telling his father who I was, and how I had come this voyage only for a trial, in order to go further abroad, his father, turning to me with a very grave and concerned tone "Young man," says he, "you ought never to go to sea any more; you ought to take this for a plain and visible token that you are not to be a seafaring man." "Why, sir," said I, "will you go to sea no more?" "That is another case," said he; "it is my calling, and therefore my duty; but as you made this voyage on trial, you see what a taste Heaven has given you of what you are to expect if you persist. Perhaps this has all befallen us on your account, like Jonah in the ship of Tarshish. Pray," continues he, "what are you; and on what account did you go to sea?" Upon that I told him some of my story; at the end of which he burst out into a strange kind of passion: "What had I done," says he, "that such an unhappy wretch should come into my ship? I would not set my foot in the same ship with thee again for a thousand pounds." This indeed was, as I said, an excursion of his spirits, which were yet agitated by the sense of his loss, and was farther than he could have authority to go. However, he afterwards talked very gravely to me, exhorting me to go back to my father, and not tempt Providence to my ruin, telling me I might see a visible hand of Heaven against me. "And, young man," said he, "depend upon it, if you do not go back, wherever you go, you will meet with nothing but disasters and disappointments, till your father's words are fulfilled upon you."
We parted soon after; for I made him little answer, and I saw him no more; which way he went I knew not. As for me, having some money in my pocket, I travelled to London by land; and there, as well as on the road, had many struggles with myself what course of life I should take, and whether I should go home or to sea.
As to going home, shame opposed the best motions that offered to my thoughts, and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbours, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else; from whence I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in such cases - viz. that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.
In this state of life, however, I remained some time, uncertain what measures to take, and what course of life to lead. An irresistible reluctance continued to going home; and as I stayed away a while, the remembrance of the distress I had been in wore off, and as that abated, the little motion I had in my desires to return wore off with it, till at last I quite laid aside the thoughts of it, and looked out for a voyage.
在以往的冒險活動中，我在船上從未當過水手。這是我的不幸。本來，我可以比平時艱苦些，學會做一些普通水手們做的工作。到一定時候，即使做不了船長，說不定也能當上個大副或船長助手什麽的。可是，命中註定我每次都會作出最壞的選擇，這一次也不例外。口袋裏裝了幾個錢，身上穿着體面的衣服，我就像往常一樣，以紳士的身份上了船。船上的一切事務，我從不參與，也從不學着去做。
在倫敦，我交上了好朋友。這又是我命裏註定的。這種好事通常不會落到像我這樣一個放蕩不羈、誤入歧途的年輕人身上。魔鬼總是早早給他們設下了陷井。但對我卻不然。一開始，我就認識了一位船長。他曾到過幾內亞沿岸；在那兒，他做了一筆不錯的買賣，所以决定再走一趟。他對我的談話很感興趣，因為那時我的談吐也許不怎麽令人討厭。他聽我說要出去見見世面，就對我說，假如我願意和他一起去，可以免費搭他的船，並可做他的夥伴，和他一起用餐。如果我想順便帶點貨，他將告訴我帶什麽東西最能賺錢，這樣也許我能賺點錢。
對船長的盛情，我正是求之不得，並和船長成了莫逆之交。船長為人真誠其實，我便上了他的船，並捎帶了點貨物。
由於我這位船長朋友的正直無私，我賺了一筆不小的錢。因為，我聽他的話，帶了一批玩具和其他小玩意兒，大約值四十英鎊。這些錢我是靠一些親戚的幫助搞來的。我寫信給他們；我相信，他們就告訴我父親，或至少告訴了我母親，由父親或母親出錢，再由親戚寄給我，作為我第一次做生意的本錢。
可以說，這是我一生冒險活動中唯一成功的一次航行。這完全應歸功於我那船長朋友的正直無私。在他的指導下，我還學會了一些航海的數學知識和方法，學會了記航海日志和觀察天文。一句話，懂得了一些做水手的基本常識。他樂於教我，我也樂於跟他學。總之，這次航行使我既成了水手，又成了商人。這次航行，我帶回了五磅零九盎司金沙；回到倫敦後，我換回了約三百英鎊，賺了不少錢。這更使我躊躇滿志，因而也由此斷送了我的一生。
然而，這次航行也有我的不幸。尤其是因為我們做生意都是在非洲西海岸一帶，從北緯１５度一直南下至赤道附近，天氣異常炎熱，所以我得了航行於熱帶水域水手們常得的熱病，三天兩頭髮高燒，說鬍話。
現在，我儼然成了做幾內亞生意的商人了。不幸的是，我那位當船長的朋友在回倫敦後不久就去世了。儘管如此，我還是决定再去幾內亞走一趟，就踏上了同一條船。這時，原來船上的大副做了船長。這是一次最倒黴的航行。雖然我上次賺了點錢，但我衹帶了不到一百英鎊的貨物，餘下的二百英鎊通通寄存在船長寡婦那裏。她像船長一樣，待我公正無私。但是，在這次航行中，我卻屢遭不幸。第一件不幸的事情是：我們的船嚮加那利群島駛去，或者，說得更確切些，正航行於這些群島和非洲西海岸之間。一天拂曉，突然有一艘從薩纍開來的土耳其海盜船，扯滿了帆，從我們後面追了上來。我們的船也張滿了帆試圖逃跑。但海盜船比我們快，逐漸逼近了我們。看情形，再過幾小時，他們肯定能追上我們。我們立即開始作戰鬥準備。我們船上有十二門炮，但海盜船上有十八門。大約到了下午三點鐘光景，他們趕了上來。
他們本想攻擊我們的船尾，結果卻橫衝到我們的後舷。我們把八門炮搬到了這一邊，一起嚮他們開火。海盜船邊後退，邊還擊；他們船上二百來人一起用槍嚮我們射擊。我們的人隱蔽得好，無一受傷。海盜船準備對我們再次發動攻擊，我們也全力備戰。這一次他們從後舷的另一側靠上我們的船，並有六十多人跳上了我們的甲板。強盜們一上船就亂砍亂殺，並砍斷了我們的桅索等船具。我們用槍、短柄矛和炸藥包等各種武器奮力抵抗，把他們擊退了兩次。我不想細說這件不幸的事。總之，到最後，我們的船失去了戰鬥力，而且死了三個人，傷了八人，衹得投降。我們全部被俘，被押送到薩纍，那是摩爾人的一個港口。
我在那兒受到的待遇，並沒有像我當初擔心的那麽可怕。
其他人都被送到皇帝的宮裏去，遠離了海岸；我卻被海盜船長作為他自己的戰利品留下，成了他的奴隸。這是因為我年輕伶俐，對他有用處。我的境況發生了突變，從一個商人一下子變成了可憐的奴隸。這真使我悲痛欲絶。這時，我不禁回憶起我父親的預言；他說過我一定會受苦受難，並會呼援無門。現在我纔感到，父親的話完全應驗了。我現在的境況已再糟不過了。我受到了老天的懲罰，誰也救不了我。可是，唉，我的苦難纔剛剛開始呢，下面我再接着細說吧。
我的主人把我帶回他傢中。我滿以為他出海時會帶上我。
如這樣，我想，他遲早會被西班牙或葡萄牙的戰艦俘獲，那時我就可恢復自由了。但我的這個希望很快就破滅了。他每次出海時，總把我留在岸上照看他那座小花園，並在傢裏做各種奴隸幹的苦活。當他從海上航行回來時，又叫我睡到船艙裏替他看船。
在這裏，我頭腦裏整天盤算着如何逃跑，但怎麽也想不出稍有希望的辦法。從當時的情況來看，我根本沒有條件逃跑。我沒有人可以商量，沒有人與我一起逃跑。我孤身一人形單影衹，周圍沒有其他奴隸，也沒有英格蘭人、愛爾蘭人或蘇格蘭人。這樣過了整整兩年。在這兩年中，逃跑的計劃衹有在我想象中實現，並藉此，卻怎麽也無法付諸實施。
大約兩年之後，出現了一個特殊的情況，這使我重新升起了爭取自由的希望。這一次，我主人在傢裏呆的時間比以往長。據說是因為手頭缺錢，他沒有為自己的船配備出航所必需的設備。在這段時間裏，他經常坐一隻舢舨去港口外的開放錨地捕魚；每星期至少一、兩次，天氣好的話，去的次數更多一些。那衹舢舨是他大船上的一隻小艇。每次出港捕魚，他總讓我和一個摩爾小孩替他搖船。我們兩個小年輕頗能得他的歡心，而我捕魚也確實有一手，因此，有時他就衹叫我與他的一個摩爾族親戚和那個摩爾小孩一起去替他打點魚來吃；那個摩爾小孩名叫馬列司科。
一天早晨，我們又出海打魚。天氣晴朗，海面風平浪靜。
突然，海上升起濃霧。我們劃了纔一海裏多點，就看不見海岸了。當時，我們已辯不清東南西北了，衹是拚命划船。這樣劃了一天一夜，到第二天早晨纔發現，我們不僅沒有劃近海岸，反而嚮外海劃去了，離岸至少約六海裏。最後，我們費了很大的勁，冒了很大的危險，纔平安抵岸，因為，那天早晨風很大，而且我們大傢都快餓壞了。
這次意外事件給了我們主人一個警告，他决定以後得小心謹慎一些，出海捕魚時帶上指南針和一些食品。正好在他俘獲的我們那艘英國船上，有一隻長舢舨。他就下令他船上的木匠--也是他的一個英國人奴隸--在長舢舨中間做一個小艙，像駁船上的小艙那樣；艙後留了些空間，可以容一個人站在那裏掌舵和拉下帆索；艙前也有一塊地方，可容一兩個人站在那裏升帆或降帆。這長舢舨上所使用的帆叫三角帆，帆桿橫垂在艙頂上。船艙做得很矮，但非常舒適，可容得下他和一兩個奴隸在裏面睡覺，還可擺下一張桌子吃飯；桌子裏做了一些抽屜，裏面放上幾其他愛喝的酒，以及他的面包、大米和咖啡之類的食物和飲料。
我們從此就經常坐這衹長舢舨出海捕魚。因為我捕魚技術高明，所以每次出去他總是帶着我。有一次，他約定要與當地兩三位頗有身份的摩爾人坐我們的長舢舨出海遊玩或捕魚。為了款待客人，他預備了許多酒菜食品，並在頭天晚上就送上了船。他還吩咐我從他大船上取下三支短槍放到舢舨上，把火藥和子彈準備好。看來，他們除了想捕魚外，還打算打鳥。
我按照主人的吩咐，把一切都準備妥當。第二天早晨，船也洗幹淨了，旗子也挂上了；一切安排完畢，我就在舢舨上專候貴客的光臨。不料，過了一會兒，我主人一個人上船來。
他對我說，客人臨時有事，這次不去了，下次再去，但他們將來傢裏吃晚飯，所以要我和那個摩爾人和小孩像往常一樣去打點魚來，以便晚上招待客人。他還特地吩咐，要我們一打到魚就立即回來送到他傢裏。這些事我當然準備一一照辦。
這時，我那爭取自由的舊念頭又突然萌發起來。因為，我覺得自己可以支配一條小船了。主人一走，我就着手準備起來，當然不是準備去捕魚，而是準備遠航。至於去哪兒，連我自己都不知道，也沒有考慮過，衹要離開這兒就行。
我計劃的第一步，先藉口對那個摩爾人說，我們不應當自說自話吃主人的面包，得自己動手準備船上吃的東西。他說我的話非常對，就拿來了一大筐當地甜餅幹，又弄了三罐子淡水，一起搬到舢舨上。我知道主人裝酒的箱子放的地方；看那箱子的樣子，顯然也是從英國人手裏奪來的戰利品。我趁那摩爾人上岸去的時候，就把那箱酒搬上舢舨，放到一個適當的地方，好像主人原來就放在那兒似的。同時我又搬了六十多磅蜜蠟到船上來，還順便拿了一小包粗綫，一把斧頭，一把鋸子和一隻錘子；這些東西後來對我都非常有用，尤其是蜜蠟，可以用來做蠟燭。接着我又想出了一個新花樣，他居然天真地上了圈套。這個摩爾人的名字叫伊斯瑪，但大傢叫他馬利或莫利，所以我也這樣叫他。"莫利，"我說，"我們主人的槍在船上，你去搞點火藥和鳥槍彈來，也許我們還能給自己打幾衹水鳥呢！我知道主人的火藥放在大船上。""對，"他說，"我去拿些來。"果然，他拿來了一大皮袋火藥，足有一磅半重，可能還要多些。另外，他又拿來了一大皮袋鳥槍彈和一些子彈，也有五、六磅重。他把這些全部放到舢舨上。
同時，我又在大艙裏找到了一些主人的火藥。我從箱子裏找出一隻大酒瓶，裏面所剩酒已不多。我把不多的酒倒入另一隻瓶中，把空瓶裝滿火藥。一切準備停當，我們便開始出港去捕魚了。港口堡壘裏的士兵都認識我們，所以也不來註意我們。我們出港不到一海裏光景就下了帆開始捕魚。這時，風嚮東北偏北，正與我的願望相反。因為，假如颳南風，我就有把握把船駛到西班牙海岸，至少也可到西班牙西南部的加第斯海灣。但我决心已下，不管颳什麽風，衹要離開我現在呆的可怕的地方就行；其餘一切，都聽天由命了。
我們釣了一會兒魚，一條也沒有釣到；因為即使魚兒上鈎，我也不釣上來，免得讓那摩爾人看見。然後，我對他說，這樣下去可不行，我們拿什麽款待主人呢？我們得走遠一點。
他一想這樣做也無妨，就同意了。他在船頭，就張起了帆；我在船尾掌舵。就這樣我們把船駛出了約三海裏，然後就把船停下，好像又要準備捕魚似的。我把舵交給摩爾小孩，自己嚮船頭摩爾人站的地方走去。我彎下腰來，裝作好像在他身後找什麽東西似的。突然，我趁其不備，用手臂猛地在他褲襠下一撞，把他一下推入海裏。這個摩爾人是個遊泳高手，一下子就浮出海面。他嚮我呼救，求我讓他上船，並說他願追隨我走遍天涯海角。他在水裏像魚，遊得極快，而這時風不大，小船行駛速度很慢，眼看他很快就會趕上來。我走進船艙，拿起一支鳥槍。我把槍對準了摩爾人，並對他說我並沒想傷害他，如果他不胡闹，也不會傷害他。我說："你泅水泅得很好，你完全可以泅回岸去。現在海上風平浪靜，就趕快泅回去吧。我是不會傷害你的。要是你靠近我的船，那我就打穿你的腦袋！我已决心逃跑爭取自由了！"他立即轉身嚮海岸方向遊回去。我毫不懷疑，他必然能安抵海岸，因為他遊泳的本領確實不賴。
本來，我可以把小孩淹死，帶上那個摩爾人，可我怎麽也不敢信任他。前面提到過，那個摩爾小孩名叫馬列司科，但大傢都叫他"佐立"。那摩爾人走後，我就對他說："佐立，假如你忠於我，我會使你成為一個出色的人。但如果你不打自己的耳光嚮我發誓，如果你不憑着穆罕默德起誓效忠於我，我也把你扔到海裏去。 "那孩子衝着我笑了，並發誓忠於我，願隨我走遍天涯海角。他說這些話時神情天真無邪，使我沒法不信任他。
那個摩爾人在大海裏泅着水，我們的船還在他的視綫之內。這時，我故意讓船逆着風徑直嚮大海駛去。這樣，他們就會以為我是駛嚮直布羅陀海峽（事實上，任何有頭腦的人都會這樣做）。沒有人會想到，我們會駛嚮南方野蠻人出沒的海岸。到那兒，我們還來不及上岸，就會給各個黑人部族的獨木舟所包圍，並把我們殺害；即使我們上了岸，也不是給野獸吃掉，就是給更無情的野人吃掉。
可是，到傍晚時，我改變了航嚮。我們船嚮東南偏東駛去，這樣船可沿着海岸航行。這時風勢極好，海面也平靜，我就張滿帆讓船疾駛。以當時船行速度來看，我估計第二天下午三點鐘就能靠岸。那時我已經在薩纍以南一百五十英裏之外了，遠離摩洛哥皇帝的領土，也不在任何國王的領地之內，因為那兒我們根本就看不到人跡。
但是，我已被摩爾人嚇破了膽，生怕再落到他們的手裏；同時風勢又順，於是也不靠岸，也不下錨，一口氣竟走了五天。這時風勢漸漸轉為南風，我估計即使他們派船來追我．這時也該罷休了。於是我就大膽駛嚮海岸，在一條小河的河口下了錨。我不知道這兒是什麽地方，在什麽緯度，什麽國傢，什麽民族，什麽河流。四周看不到一個人，我也不希望看到任何人。我現在所需要的衹是淡水。我們在傍晚駛進了小河口，决定一等天黑就遊到岸上去，摸一下岸上的情況。但一到天黑，我們就聽到各種野獸狂吠咆哮，怒吼呼嘯，不知道那是些什麽野獸，真是可怕極了！這可把那可憐的孩子嚇得魂飛魄散，哀求我等天亮後再上岸。我說，"好吧，佐立，我不去就是了。不過，說不定白天會碰見人。他們對我們也許像獅子一樣兇呢！"佐立笑着說，"那我們就開槍把他們打跑！"佐立在我們奴隸中能用英語交談，雖然發音不太地道。見到佐立這樣高興，我心裏也很快樂。於是我從主人的酒箱裏拿出酒瓶，倒了一點酒給他喝，讓他壯壯膽子。不管怎麽說，佐立的提議是有道理的，我接受了他的意見。於是，我們就下了錨，靜靜地在船上躺了一整夜。我是說，衹是"靜靜地躺着"，我們事實上整夜都沒合過眼。因為兩三小時後，便有一大群各種各樣的巨獸來到海邊，在水裏打滾，洗澡，或涼爽一下自己的身子；它們是些什麽野獸，我也叫不出名字，而它們那狂呼怒吼的咆哮聲，真是我平生從未聽到過的，煞是嚇人！
佐立嚇壞了，我自己也嚇得要死。然而，更讓我們心驚膽戰的是，我們聽到有一頭巨獸嚮我們船邊遊來。雖然我們看不見，但從其呼吸的聲音來聽，一定是個碩大無比的猛獸。
佐立說是頭獅子，我想也可能是的。可憐的佐立嚮我高聲呼叫，要我起錨把船劃走。"不，"我說，"佐立，我們可以把錨索連同浮筒一起放出，把船嚮海裏移移，那些野獸遊不了太遠的，它們不可能跟上來。"我話音未落，那巨獸離船不到兩槳來遠了。我立刻走進艙裏，拿起槍來，對着那傢夥放了一槍。那猛獸立即調頭嚮岸上泅去。
槍聲一響，不論在岸邊或山裏的群獸漫山遍野地狂呼怒吼起來，那種情景，真令人毛骨悚然。我想，這裏的野獸以前大概從未聽到過槍聲，以至使它們如此驚恐不安。這更使我不得不相信，不用說晚上不能上岸，就是白天上岸也是個問題。落入野人手裏，無異於落入獅子猛虎之口。至少，這兩種危險我們都害怕。
但不管怎樣，我們總得上岸到什麽地方弄點淡水，因為船上剩下的水已不到一品脫了。問題是：什麽時候上岸？在哪兒才能弄到水？佐立說，如果我讓他拿個罐子上岸，他會去找找看有沒有水，有的話就給我帶回來。我問他，為什麽要他去，而不是我去，讓他自己呆在船上呢？這孩子的回答憨厚深情，使我從此喜歡上了他。他說："如果野人來了，他們吃掉我，你可以逃走。""好吧，佐立，"我說，"如果野人來了，我們兩個人一起開槍把他們打死，我們倆誰也不讓他們吃掉。"我拿了一塊幹面包給佐立吃，還從原來主人的酒箱裏拿出酒瓶給他倒了點酒喝。關於這個酒箱的來歷，我前面已經提到過了。我們把船嚮岸邊適當推近一些，兩人就一起涉水上岸。除了槍枝彈藥和兩衹水罐，我們其他什麽都不帶。
我不敢走得離船太遠，唯恐野人的獨木舟從河的上遊順流而下。可那孩子見到一英裏開外處有一塊低地，就信步走去。不一會兒，衹見他飛快嚮我奔來。我以為有野人在追趕他，或者給什麽野獸嚇壞了，急忙迎上去幫助他。但他跑近我時，卻見他肩上背着個野兔似動物，但顔色與野兔不一樣，腿也比野兔長，原來是他打到的獵物。這東西的肉一定很好吃，為此我們都大為高興。然而，更令人高興的是，佐立告訴我，他已找到了淡水，而且也沒有見到有野人。
但後來我們發現，我們不必費那麽大的力氣去取水。沿着我們所在的小河稍稍往上走一點，潮水一退，就可取到淡水。其實，海潮沒進入小河多遠。我們把所有的罐子都盛滿了水，又把殺死的野兔煮了飽餐一頓，就準備上路了。在那一帶，我們始終沒有發現人類的足跡。
過去我曾到這一帶的海岸來過一次，知道加那利群島和佛得角群島離大陸海岸不遠。但船上沒有儀器，無法測量我們所在地點的緯度，而且，我也已不記得這些群島確切的緯度了，因此也無法找到這些群島，也不知道什麽時候該離開海岸，駛嚮海島。要不然，我一定能很容易找到這些海島的。我現在唯一的希望是：沿着海岸航行，直到英國人做生意的地方。在那兒總會遇到來往的商船，他們就會救我們。
我估計，我現在所在的地區正好在摩洛哥王國和黑人部族居住的地區之間；這兒衹有野獸出沒，荒無人煙。黑人因怕摩爾人的騷擾而放棄該地區遷嚮前方；摩爾人則因這兒是蠻荒之地，不願在此居祝另外，這兒群獸出沒，是猛虎、獅子、豹子和其他野獸棲息的地方。所以，不論是摩爾人還是黑人，都放棄了這塊地方。但摩爾人有時也來這兒打獵。每次來的時候，至少有兩三千人，像開來一支軍隊。事實上，我們沿海岸走了約一百英裏，白天衹見一起荒蕪，杳無人跡；晚上衹聽到野獸咆哮，此起彼伏。
有一兩次，在白天，我仿佛遠遠看到了加那利群島高山的山頂--泰尼利夫山山頂。當時我很想冒一下險，把船駛過去。可是試了兩次，都被逆風頂了回來。而且，這時海上風浪很大，我們的船又小，無法駛嚮大海。因此，我决定依照原來的計劃，繼續沿海岸行駛。
我們離開那個地方後，也有好幾次不得不上岸取水。特別有一次，在大清早，我們來到一個小岬角拋了錨。這時正好漲潮，我們想等潮水上來後再往裏駛。佐立的眼睛比我尖，他嚮我低聲叫喚，要我把船駛離岸遠一點。他說，"看那兒，一個可怕的怪物正在小山下睡覺呢！"我朝他手所指的方向看了一下，果然看到一個可怕的怪物，原來那是一頭巨獅，正躺在一片山影下熟睡呢！我說："佐立，你上岸去把它打死吧。"佐立大吃一驚，說："我？我去把它打死？它一口就把我吃掉了。"我就不再對這孩子說什麽了，並叫他乖乖呆在那兒。我自己拿起最大的一支槍，裝了大量的火藥，又裝了兩顆大子彈，放在一旁，然後又拿起第二支槍，裝了兩顆子彈，再把第三支槍裝了五顆小子彈。我拿起第一支大槍，盡力瞄準，對着那獅子的頭開了一槍。但那獅子躺着時，前腿稍稍往上擡起，擋住了鼻子，因此子彈正好打在它膝蓋上，把腿骨打斷了。獅子一驚，狂吼而起，但發覺一腿已斷，復又跌倒在地，然後用三條腿站立起來，發出刺耳的吼叫聲。我見自己沒有打中獅子的頭部，心裏不由暗暗吃驚，這時，那頭獅子似乎想走開，我急忙拿起第二支槍，對準它的頭部又開了一槍，衹見它頽然倒下，輕輕地吼了一聲，便在那兒拼命掙紮。這時佐立膽子大了，要求我讓他上岸。"好吧，你去吧！"我說。於是他便跳到水裏，一手舉着支短槍，一手劃着水，走到那傢夥跟前，把槍口放在它的耳朵邊，嚮它的頭部又開了一槍，終於結果了這猛獸的性命。
這件事對於我們實在是玩樂而已，獅子的肉根本不能吃。
為了這樣一個無用的獵物，浪費了三份火藥和彈丸，實在不值得，我頗感後悔。可是佐立說，他一定得從獅子身上弄點東西下來。於是他上船嚮我要斧子。 "幹什麽，佐立？"我問。
"我要把它的頭砍下來！"他說。結果，佐立沒法把獅子頭砍下來，卻砍下了一隻腳帶回來。那腳可真大得可怕！
我心裏盤算，獅子皮也許對我們會有用處，便决定想法把皮剝下來。於是我和佐立就跑去剝皮。對於這件工作，佐立比我高明得多了，而我完全不知道從何下手。我們兩人忙了一整天，纔把整張皮剝下來。我們把皮攤在船艙的頂上，兩天後皮就曬幹了。以後我就把它用作被來睡覺。
We were not much more than a quarter of an hour out of our ship till we saw her sink, and then I understood for the first time what was meant by a ship foundering in the sea. I must acknowledge I had hardly eyes to look up when the seamen told me she was sinking; for from the moment that they rather put me into the boat than that I might be said to go in, my heart was, as it were, dead within me, partly with fright, partly with horror of mind, and the thoughts of what was yet before me.
While we were in this condition - the men yet labouring at the oar to bring the boat near the shore - we could see (when, our boat mounting the waves, we were able to see the shore) a great many people running along the strand to assist us when we should come near; but we made but slow way towards the shore; nor were we able to reach the shore till, being past the lighthouse at Winterton, the shore falls off to the westward towards Cromer, and so the land broke off a little the violence of the wind. Here we got in, and though not without much difficulty, got all safe on shore, and walked afterwards on foot to Yarmouth, where, as unfortunate men, we were used with great humanity, as well by the magistrates of the town, who assigned us good quarters, as by particular merchants and owners of ships, and had money given us sufficient to carry us either to London or back to Hull as we thought fit.
Had I now had the sense to have gone back to Hull, and have gone home, I had been happy, and my father, as in our blessed Saviour's parable, had even killed the fatted calf for me; for hearing the ship I went away in was cast away in Yarmouth Roads, it was a great while before he had any assurances that I was not drowned.
But my ill fate pushed me on now with an obstinacy that nothing could resist; and though I had several times loud calls from my reason and my more composed judgment to go home, yet I had no power to do it. I know not what to call this, nor will I urge that it is a secret overruling decree, that hurries us on to be the instruments of our own destruction, even though it be before us, and that we rush upon it with our eyes open. Certainly, nothing but some such decreed unavoidable misery, which it was impossible for me to escape, could have pushed me forward against the calm reasonings and persuasions of my most retired thoughts, and against two such visible instructions as I had met with in my first attempt.
My comrade, who had helped to harden me before, and who was the master's son, was now less forward than I. The first time he spoke to me after we were at Yarmouth, which was not till two or three days, for we were separated in the town to several quarters; I say, the first time he saw me, it appeared his tone was altered; and, looking very melancholy, and shaking his head, he asked me how I did, and telling his father who I was, and how I had come this voyage only for a trial, in order to go further abroad, his father, turning to me with a very grave and concerned tone "Young man," says he, "you ought never to go to sea any more; you ought to take this for a plain and visible token that you are not to be a seafaring man." "Why, sir," said I, "will you go to sea no more?" "That is another case," said he; "it is my calling, and therefore my duty; but as you made this voyage on trial, you see what a taste Heaven has given you of what you are to expect if you persist. Perhaps this has all befallen us on your account, like Jonah in the ship of Tarshish. Pray," continues he, "what are you; and on what account did you go to sea?" Upon that I told him some of my story; at the end of which he burst out into a strange kind of passion: "What had I done," says he, "that such an unhappy wretch should come into my ship? I would not set my foot in the same ship with thee again for a thousand pounds." This indeed was, as I said, an excursion of his spirits, which were yet agitated by the sense of his loss, and was farther than he could have authority to go. However, he afterwards talked very gravely to me, exhorting me to go back to my father, and not tempt Providence to my ruin, telling me I might see a visible hand of Heaven against me. "And, young man," said he, "depend upon it, if you do not go back, wherever you go, you will meet with nothing but disasters and disappointments, till your father's words are fulfilled upon you."
We parted soon after; for I made him little answer, and I saw him no more; which way he went I knew not. As for me, having some money in my pocket, I travelled to London by land; and there, as well as on the road, had many struggles with myself what course of life I should take, and whether I should go home or to sea.
As to going home, shame opposed the best motions that offered to my thoughts, and it immediately occurred to me how I should be laughed at among the neighbours, and should be ashamed to see, not my father and mother only, but even everybody else; from whence I have since often observed, how incongruous and irrational the common temper of mankind is, especially of youth, to that reason which ought to guide them in such cases - viz. that they are not ashamed to sin, and yet are ashamed to repent; not ashamed of the action for which they ought justly to be esteemed fools, but are ashamed of the returning, which only can make them be esteemed wise men.
In this state of life, however, I remained some time, uncertain what measures to take, and what course of life to lead. An irresistible reluctance continued to going home; and as I stayed away a while, the remembrance of the distress I had been in wore off, and as that abated, the little motion I had in my desires to return wore off with it, till at last I quite laid aside the thoughts of it, and looked out for a voyage.