As I had a raft, my next design was to make a cruise round the island. As I had been on the other side in one place, crossing, as I have already described it, over the land, so the discoveries I made in that little journey made me very eager to see other parts of the coast.
And thus I every now and then took a little voyage upon the sea, but never went far out, nor far from the little creek. At last, being eager to view the circumference of my little kingdom, I resolv’d upon my cruise. It was the sixth of November, in the sixth year of my reign, that I set out on this voyage, and I found it much longer than I expected. For tho’ the island it self was not very large, yet when I came to the east side of it, I found a great ledge of black rocks lye out about two leagues into the sea, some above water, some under it, which I could not recall having seen there before. Like great teeth they did rise from the sea, some pointed and some angled and some flat, and but for their senseless angles and shapes some of these black rocks would seem carv'd. Beyond that ledge was a shoal of sand, lying dry half a league more, so I was obliged to go a great way out to sea to double the point.
But I am a warning piece again to all rash and ignorant pilots. No sooner was I come to the point, when I was not even my raft's length from the shore, but I found myself in a great depth of water and a current like the sluice of a mill. It carried my raft along with it with such violence all I could do could not keep her so much as on the edge of it. I found it hurried me farther and farther out, and all I could do with my paddles for more than a day signify’d nothing. Now I began to give myself over for lost. I had no prospect before me but of perishing, not by the sea, for that was calm enough, but of starving for hunger. I had my victuals, but what was all this to being driven into the vast ocean where there was no shore, no main land, or island for a thousand leagues at least?
However, I found being between two great currents, viz. that on the south side, which had hurried me away, and that on the north, which lay about a league on the other side in the wake of the island, I found the water at least still and running no way. Having still a breeze of wind fair for me, I kept on paddling for the island, tho’ not making such fresh way as I did heading out away from it.
About four o'clock in the evening on the fourth day, being then within a league of the island, I found the point of the rocks which occasioned this disaster, stretching out, as is described before, to the southward, and casting off the current more southerly, had, of course, made another eddy to the north. I stretched across this eddy, slanting north-west and, in about an hour, came within about a mile of the shore, where, it being smooth water, I soon got to land.
When I was on shore, I fell on my knees, and gave God thanks for my deliverance. Refreshing myself with such things as I had, I brought my raft close to the shore, in a little cove I had spied under some trees, and laid me down to sleep, being quite spent with the labour and fatigue of the voyage.
I was now at a great loss which way to get home with my raft. I had run so much hazard, and knew too much of the case to think of attempting it by the way I went out. What might be at the other side (I mean the west side) I knew not, nor had I any mind to run any more ventures. So I only resolv’d in the morning to make my way westward along the shore and to see if there was no creek where I might lay up my raft in safety, so as to have her again if I wanted her. In about three miles or thereabouts, coasting the shore, I came to a very good inlet about a mile over where I found a very convenient harbour for my boat and where she lay as if she had been in a little dock made on purpose for her. Here I put in, and having stowed my raft very safe I went on shore to look about me and see where I was.
I soon found I had but a little passed by the place where I had been before, when I travel’d on foot to that shore. So taking nothing from my raft but my gun, I began my march. The way was comfortable enough after such a voyage as I had been upon, and I reached my old bower in the evening, where I found every thing standing as I left it. I always kept it in good order, being, as I have said before, my country house.
I got over the fence and laid me down in the shade to rest my limbs, for I was very weary, and fell asleep. But judge, you that read my story, if you can, what a surprise I must be in when I was awaked out of my sleep by a voice calling me by my name several times. "Robin, Robin, Robin Crusoe. Poor Robin Crusoe! Where are you, Robin Crusoe? Where are you?"