As to the east side of the island, which I had gone round, I knew well enough there was no venturing that way; my very heart would shrink, and my very blood run chill, but to think of it; and as to the other side of the island, I did not know how it might be there; but supposing the current ran with the same force against the shore at the east as it passed by it on the other, I might run the same risk of being driven down the stream, and carried by the island, as I had been before of being carried away from it: so with these thoughts, I contented myself to be without any boat, though it had been the product of so many months’ labour to make it, and of so many more to get it into the sea.
Alia parte orientale già costeggiala, ben sapeva che non era più via da tentarsi: mi si restringeva il cuore e mi si agghiacciava il sangue al solo pensarci sopra. Quanto all’altro lato dell’isola, ignorava come fossero le cose colà; ma se l’impeto della corrente era forte su la spiaggia orientale, come era stato a questa, io correva lo stesso rischio di esserne trascinato e portato lontano dall’isola, come fui l’ultima volta; con sì fatte considerazioni pertanto mi contentai a restarmene senza la mia navicella, ancorchè fosse stata il frutto di tanti mesi di fatica impiegati a fabbricarla e d’altrettanti per metterla in acqua.