However, I went down thus two or three days, and having seen nothing, I began to be a little bolder, and to think there was really nothing in it but my own imagination; but I could not persuade myself fully of this till I should go down to the shore again, and see this print of a foot, and measure it by my own, and see if there was any similitude or fitness, that I might be assured it was my own foot: but when I came to the place, first, it appeared evidently to me, that when I laid up my boat I could not possibly be on shore anywhere thereabouts; secondly, when I came to measure the mark with my own foot, I found my foot not so large by a great deal.
Toen ik echter twee of drie dagen uitgegaan was, en niets had gezien, begon ik wat moediger te worden; en te begrijpen, dat mijne verbeelding, mij dien schrik had veroorzaakt. Ik kon echter mij zelven hiervan niet geheel overtuigen, dus besloot ik naar het strand te gaan, om dien voetstap met den mijnen te vergelijken.