ter, audacious and independent, so that
he twice suffered imprisonment for his daring. The immortal
"Robinson Crusoe" was published on April 25, 1719. Defoe was
already fifty-eight years of age. It was the first English
work of fiction that represented the men and manners of its
own time as they were. It appeared in several parts, and the
first part, which is here epitomised, was so successful that
no fewer than four editions were printed in as many months.
"Robinson Crusoe" was widely pirated, and its authorship gave
rise to absurd rumours. Some claimed it had been written by
Lord Oxford in the Tower; others that Defoe had appropriated
Alexander Selkirk's papers. The latter idea was only justified
inasmuch as the story was partly founded on Selkirk's
adventures and partly on Dampier's voyages. Defoe died on
April 26, 1731.

_I.--I Go to Sea_

I was born of a good family in the city of York, where my father--a
foreigner, of Bremen--settled after having retired from business. My
father had given me a competent share of learning and designed me for
the law; but I would be satisfied in nothing but going to sea. My mind
was filled with thoughts of seeing the world, and nothing could persuade
me to give up my desire.

At length, on September 1, 1651, I left home, and went on board a ship
bound for London. 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. The next day, however, the wind abated, and for
several days the weather continued calm. My fears being forgotten, and
the current of my desires returned, I entirely forgot the vows to return
home that I made in my distress.

The sixth day of our being at sea we came into Yarmouth Roads and cast
anchor. Our troubles were not yet over, however, for a few days later
the wind increased till it blew a terrible storm indeed. I began to see
terror in the faces even of the seamen themselves; and as the captain
passed me, I could hear him softly to himself say, several times, "We
shall be all lost!"

My horror of mind put me into such a condition that I can by no words
describe it. The storm increased, and the seamen every now and then
cried out the ship would founder. One of the men cried out that we had
sprung a leak, and all hands were