and. He got
almost to it, when a wave caught him and hurled him on a jutting rock.
With all his strength he seized the rock with both hands and held on.

Presently he worked himself up a little and at last got a foothold. But,
scarcely had he done so, when his strength left him and he fell on the
ground as one dead. But he soon revived. He opened his eyes and looked
around. He saw above him the blue sky, and under him the solid brown
earth, and before him the gray angry sea. He felt to see if he still
breathed. The storm had destroyed the ship. The waves had overwhelmed
the boat. The water wished to draw him into the deep. The rocks seemed
to want to hurl him back, but storm and wave and rock had accomplished
nothing. There was One who was stronger than they.

Then Robinson sank on his knees and folded his hands. Tears came to his
eyes. He breathed hard. At last he said, "Dear Father in Heaven, I live.
Thou hast saved me. I thank Thee."

VII

THE FIRST NIGHT ON LAND

"Where are my companions?" That was his first thought. He began to call
and halloo: "Where are you? Come here!" But no one answered. Then he
wished to see if anyone lived on the land, and he cried, "Is there no
one here? Hello!" but all remained still.

All at once he drew himself together and shrank back. He heard a bush
rustle and the thought came like a flash, "That is a wild animal that
will pounce upon me and tear my flesh with his teeth and claws. How
shall I save myself? Where shall I fly for safety? Where shall I turn? I
have nothing but my clothes and my life saved from the water. All that I
had the waves have swallowed up."

And then hunger and thirst began to trouble him. He had eaten nothing
the whole day and the salt water had made him sick.

In the meantime the night had come on. Robinson was very tired.
Everything was new and strange. He did not know which way to move. He
was in the greatest terror.

He expected to hear the roar of wild beasts from every secluded spot.
Lions and tigers and dreadful serpents filled his thoughts. He must find
shelter from them. But where should he pass the night? Not a house, a
hut or a cave was to be seen. He stood a long time hesitating and did
not know what to do. Finally he thought, "I will do as the birds do and
get into a tree." He very soon found a tree which had such thick
branches that it would hold him up.

Robinson climbed up into the tree, made himself as comfortable as
possible