The Solitary of Juan Fernandez, or the Real Robinson Crusoe

n.-The passing Bird.-The browsing Goat.-The bending Tre

given the name of Stradling,-that name, importing to him misfortune,

footing, experiencing only a general numbness, and some pain caused by the c

h his knife, to form steps. Some fragments of roots project here and there through the interstices of the stones; he hopes to find a point of support by which to scale these abrupt walls. The little solidity of the roots, which give way in

ay his captivity was to be still closer! that his steps would be chained, that the sight even of his island would be int

consequence of all his sufferings of body and soul, he resigns himself to his fate; with his foot, he prepares his last couch, composed of sand and dried

g of a bird. To these vibrating notes another song replies from afar, on a more simple and almost plaintive key. It is doubtless the female, who, with a sort of modest and repres

t of youth and delirium; and it was this false love

at smiling country where coolness dwells, where labor is so easy, life so sweet and calm, the paterna

y banishes; his dear remembrances he sacrifice

her head over the edge of the precipice, and for an instant fixes on him her astonished glance. Then, as if re-assured,

nctively lays his hand on th

t which devours me, her flesh will appease my hunger. But of what use would it be? Whence

h he has just seized, he again folds his arms

number of days, abstinence had cured him, and when his friends, in the number of whom he reckoned Cicero, exhorted him to take nourishment, persisting in his first re

thus; besides, his friends, where are they, to

glare of the lightning he sees a tree, situated not far from the t

elkirk; 'should the tree fall on this side, if its branches do not crus

which passes away, carrying with

r and thirst are no longer felt; the complete annihilation of his strength is to

, afterwards approach, and are repeated with increasing strength. He awakes, he listens; the bushes around him crackle and rustle; even the earth emits a dull sound, as beneath the bounding of a goat; the cries are renewe

imon

ries of joy, leaps and gambols on the edge of the cavity, and, quickly finding a way to join

to supply the place of that speech which alone is wanting, and which she almost seems to have. Good Marimonda! her humid and shivering skin, her bruised and bleeding feet, he

his condition. Swift as a bird she climbs the sides of the tunnel; she repeatedly goes and returns, bringing each time fruits and canes f

with so much facility, who knows but with her aid he may be able in his turn to leave it? He remembers his lasso; he puts one end of it into Mari

monkeys. At her master's orders, Marimonda would seize the end of the cord, then immediately ab

to encircle Marimonda with the noose of the lasso, and, by a gesture, t

e other extremity: this chain, the only bridge thrown for him b

nd when these methods are insufficient,-when Marimonda, exhausted with lassitude, seated on the verge of the tunnel, persists in remaining motionless, he has recourse to projectiles. To compel her to second him in his work, the possible realization of which he himself scarcely

t violently; his fever returns, but only to restore to him, at this decisive moment, his former vigor. He hastily digs new steps in the interstices of the rock; with his hands sus

is head becomes dizzy, the cord escapes his grasp. But, by a mechanical movement, he has

ertaking, attentive to himself alone, staggering, with a buzzing sound in h

he trunk of the same tree which the night before, during the storm, had agitated its dishevelled branches above the deep couch of the dying man. This trunk had se

yes starting from their sockets. Kneeling beside her, he loosens the bonds which still detain her. Excited

without a painful effort, not without being obliged to pause on the w

inds deserted a

night has overthrown the rest. Before leaving, they had ravaged the garden, destroyed the promises of the approaching harvest, and devoured even the bark of the young trees. The cats have followed the goats. Selk

f her, he watches over her, he leaves her only to seek in the woods, or on the mountains, the herb which may h

tire island to the assistance of Marimonda. From each of his trees he borrows a branch; from his bushes, his rocks, his streams-a plant, a fruit, a leaf, a root! For the first time he ventures across the pajonals-spongy marshes formed by the sea along the cliffs,

he offers her, the water which he himsel

a cannot be healed! In her breast, bruised by the folds of the lasso, exists an important lesion

me from that precipice from which I drove her with blows of stones! Marimonda, my companion, my friend,-no! thou shalt not die! He who sent thee to me as a consolation will not take thee away so soon, to leave me a thousand times more alone, more unhappy, than ever! God, in clothing thee with a form almost human, has undoubtedly given thee a soul almost like ours;

ith his forehead upon the grou

er; her eyes become dim and glassy; her limbs frightfu

who was in a violent fever, Selkirk was preparing to retire to rest; she detained him, and, taki

elf beside her

r's knee, and fell asleep in this position. Selkirk dares not stir,

monda remains in the same attitude as the evening before, but her hands are cold, and

s a c

having cast an angry look towards heaven, wip

mpanions, in war or at sea, fall beneath a furious sword, or under the fire of batteries! Among the sentiments which honor humanity, which eleva

eep? why dost t

hy monkey