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.
Hoe het aan den anderen kant van het eiland was, wist ik niet, maar onderstellende, dat daar de stroom even hevig oostelijk tegen de kust aanliep, zou ik hetzelfde gevaar loopen van door den stroom medegesleept en tegen het eiland geworpen te worden, als ik vroeger geloopen had van er afgesleept te worden. Deze gedachten deden mij tevreden zijn zonder boot, schoon ik zooveel maanden had gewerkt om er eene te maken, en nog zoovele maanden om die te water te brengen.