]
The two rocs approached with a frightful noise, which they redoubled
when they saw the egg broken, and their young one gone. They flew back
in the direction they had come, and disappeared for some time, while
we made all the sail we could in the endeavor to prevent that which
unhappily befell us.
They soon returned, and we observed that each of them carried between
its talons an enormous rock. When they came directly over my ship,
they hovered, and one of them let go his rock; but by the dexterity of
the steersman it missed us and fell into the sea. The other so exactly
hit the middle of the ship as to split it into pieces. The mariners
and passengers were all crushed to death or fell into the sea. I
myself was of the number of the latter; but, as I came up again, I
fortunately caught hold of a piece of the wreck, and swimming,
sometimes with one hand and sometimes with the other, but always
holding fast the plank, the wind and the tide favoring me, I came to
an island, and got safely ashore.
I sat down upon the grass, to recover myself from my fatigue, after
which I went into the island to explore it. It seemed to be a
delicious garden. I found trees everywhere, some of them bearing green
and others ripe fruits, and streams of fresh pure water. I ate of the
fruits, which I found excellent; and drank of the water, which was
very light and good.
When I was a little advanced into the island, I saw an old man, who
appeared very weak and infirm.
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