I jumped up, and regardless of danger I went, as soon as I could get my clothes on, through my little grove, which, by the way, was by this time grown to be a very thick wood; I say, regardless of danger I went without my arms, which was not my custom to do; but I was surprised when, turning my eyes to the sea, I presently saw a boat at about a league and a half distance, standing in for the shore, with a shoulder-of-mutton sail, as they call it, and the wind blowing pretty fair to bring them in: also I observed, presently, that they did not come from that side which the shore lay on, but from the southernmost end of the island.
Saltai su e senza prevedere alcuna sorta di pericoli, mi vestii in fretta, attraversai il mio boschetto che intanto era giunto a potersi dir folta selva; e non pensando, come dissi, a pericoli, era venuto senz’armi, cosa insolita in me. Qual non fu la mia sorpresa allorchè vôlti gli occhi al mare vidi tosto alla distanza circa di una lega e mezzo una barca che con una di quelle vele chiamate spalla di castrato e protetta da favorevole vento si avviava alla spiaggia, e notai subito che non parea venisse dal punto ove il continente giacea, ma di rimpetto la punta più meridionale dell’isola.