I followed the
noise, and the thing seemed to stop sometimes, but always fled and
blew as I approached. I followed it so long and so far that at last
I perceived a light resembling a star; I went on towards that
light, and sometimes lost sight of it, but always found it again,
and at last discovered that it came through a hole in the rock
large enough for a man to get out at.
Upon this I stopped some time to rest myself, being much fatigued
with pursuing this discovery so fast. Afterwards coming up to the
hole I went out at it, and found myself upon the shore of the sea.
I leave you to guess the excess of my joy; it was such that I could
scarce persuade myself of its being real.
But when I had recovered from my surprise, and was convinced of the
truth of the matter, I found that the thing which I had followed
and heard puff and blow was a creature which came out of the sea,
and was accustomed to enter at that hole to feed upon the dead
carcasses.
I examined the mountain, and perceived it to be situated betwixt
the sea and the town, but without any passage or way to communicate
with the latter, the rocks on the side of the sea were so rugged
and steep. I fell down upon the shore to thank God for this mercy,
and afterwards entered the cave again to fetch bread and water,
which I did by daylight, with a better appetite than I had done
since my interment in the dark hole.
Pages:
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352