It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had; and this extremity roused my application. We had several spare yards, and two or three large spars of wood, and a spare topmast or two in the ship; I resolved to fall to work with these, and I flung as many of them overboard as I could manage for their weight, tying every one with a rope, that they might not drive away.
Nu had ik slechts eene boot noodig, om mij van vele dingen te voorzien, die ik voorzag, dat mij van veel nut zouden zijn. Stil te zitten en te wenschen naar wat ik niet had, baatte mij echter weinig, en de nood scherpte mijn vernuft.