tented and happy.

V

THE SHIPWRECK

Several weeks went by. Robinson had long ago forgotten his resolutions
to return home. It was very hot. The glowing sun beat down upon the
ship. The wide surface of the sea glistened. No breeze stirred. The
sails hung loose on the top of the mast. But far away on the shore could
be seen a black bank of clouds.

All at once the ship was thrown violently to one side by a fierce gust
of wind. Robinson threw himself on the deck. The sea began to rise and
fall. The waves were as high as mountains. Now the ship was borne aloft
to the skies, and now it would seem that it must be overwhelmed in the
sea. When it sank down between the great waves of water, Robinson
thought it would never again rise. The waves beat violently on the
ship's side. Robinson went down the steps into his little room, but he
came back full of anxiety. He believed every minute he would meet death
in the waves. The night at last came on. The lightning flashed. The
storm howled. The ship trembled. The water roared. So the night wore on.
The storm raged for six days. Then on the seventh day it was somewhat
abated. But the hope was soon dashed. The storm had abated but to get
new strength. Suddenly it bore down with frightful power on the doomed
vessel, struck it, and shot it like an arrow through the water. Then
Robinson felt a fearful crash. The ship groaned as if it would fall into
a thousand pieces. It had struck a rock and there held fast. At the same
moment the sailors raised the cry, "The ship has sprung a leak!" The
water surged into the ship. All called for help. Each one thought only
of himself. There was only one boat. The others had all been torn away.
It was soon let down into the sea. All sprang in. For a moment the
sailors forgot the waves, but all at once a wave, mountains high, struck
the boat and swallowed it up. Robinson shut his eyes. The water roared
in his ears. He sank into the sea.

VI

ROBINSON SAVED

Robinson was borne down far, far into the ocean. He attempted to work
himself up, so that he could see light and breathe the air. But again
and again the waves carried him down. Finally a wave threw him up and he
saw, for a moment, the light of day and got a breath of air, but the
next instant he was deep under the water. Then another wave bore him on
its crest. He breathed a deep breath and at the same time saw land not
far away. He bent all his strength toward reaching the l