I must confess to you at the same time that while I was
thus employed I could not but reflect upon myself as the cause of
my own ruin, and repented that I had ever undertaken this last
voyage; nor did I stop at reflections only, but had well nigh
hastened my own death, and began to tear my hands with my teeth.
But it pleased God once more to take compassion on me, and put it
in my mind to go to the bank of the river which ran into the great
cave; where, considering the river with great attention, I said to
myself, 'This river, which runs thus under ground, must come out
somewhere or other. If I make a raft, and leave myself to the
current, it will bring me to some inhabited country, or drown me.
If I be drowned I lose nothing, but only change one kind of death
for another; and if I get out of this fatal place, I shall not only
avoid the sad fate of my comrades, but perhaps find some new
occasion of enriching myself. Who knows but fortune waits, upon my
getting off this dangerous shelf, to compensate my shipwreck with
interest?'
I immediately went to work on a raft. I made it of large pieces of
timber and cables, for I had choice of them, and tied them together
so strongly that I had made a very solid little raft.
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