于是我们便怡然自得地庆祝起来。在欢声笑语中，我忘掉了我的誓言，忘掉了那场风暴。接下来的五六天都是风和日丽的好天气，我全身心地享受着海上的生活。我很确定，我永远都不会为我当初的选择感到后悔。
几天后，天又暗了下来。疾风劲吹，我大笑着直面风暴。船在惊涛骇浪中前行，所有的船员都到甲板上集合，把一切都安排得妥妥帖帖。
我的胃又开始回应翻滚的海水。我回到船舱，觉得不久就会天朗气清。接着我听到船主从舱门前经过。“仁慈的上帝，请怜悯我们吧，”他祈祷，“不要让我们迷失！”
他的祈祷无论对我的精神还是对我的胃都没有产生积极的影响。我站起来，跌跌撞撞地走出船舱。海面频频掀起巨浪，猛地砸在船上。我们砍断桅杆，防止大风把船吹翻。
一个声音大叫：“所有船员去抽水！”
船体漏水了。虽然恐惧让我变得笨手笨脚，但我还是跟着其他人，一起卖力干起来。
突然，传来轰隆一声巨响，震动了整艘船。我顿时明白了，风暴把船撕成了两半！我软绵绵地瘫倒在地。一个人镇定地从我身上跨过去，接替了我在水泵旁的位置。
又是轰隆一声巨响。我尖叫着问：“什么声音？”
“是枪声，”有人大喊，“船长在发求救信号。”
终于，船长的遇难求救信号得到了回应。一艘轻便的小艇顶着风浪把船员们安全送到了港口。我们刚刚撤离，便眼看着船沉了下去。
等划到岸边，所有人都已经筋疲力尽了。不过好歹是得救了。你能想象我一踏上岸就一溜烟儿地跑回家吗？我脑中浮现出我父母会心点头的景象。因为愚蠢的选择而成为笑柄，我可受不了。


CHAPTER 1 Out to Sea
My name is Robinson Crusoe. I was born in 1632 in the city of York. Being the third son of the family, I had no great hope of inheritance. My father planned for me to study law. I wanted to go to sea.
“Don’t be foolish,” Father scolded when I brought up the subject. “The sea is for the very wealthy or the very poor. The poor need to find fortune. The wealthy seek fame. But your life will be comfortable and steady.”
Comfortable and steady seemed much like gloomy and dull to me. “I believe I can find greater happiness in adventure,” I suggested.
At this my father’s eyes filled with tears. “Do you not remember your brother? He craved a life of adventure and went to war. Where is he now? Would you go the same way?”
How could I press my case against such concern? I put all thoughts of the sea out of my mind for several weeks. But I could not settle down.
I finally spoke to my mother, hoping she might convince Father of my case. “Perhaps a short voyage,” I suggested. “If it turns to misery as Father predicts, I will come home.”
“How could you think such a thing?” Mother demanded. “After the talk you had with your father, we hoped such foolishness would have left you!”
Clearly I had only one option. I ran away. Not immediately, of course. I moped and complained for nearly a year. Then a friend suggested I travel with him by sea to London. Without a word to my parents, I boarded the boat.
On September 1, 1651, we set sail for London. Soon the wind blew heavily, driving waves against us. The ship leaped and bucked like an angry horse. My stomach leaped with it and I was most miserably sick.
I fell to my knees in my cabin and prayed that I would not die for disobeying my parents. Throughout the storm I bargained, begged, and promised. I would take up the law. I would be a good and obedient son.
Then the sea calmed. My stomach settled. The smooth sea with the sun upon it delighted me. And while I gazed upon the sea, my friend walked up and clapped me on the back.
“Did that capful of wind frighten you?” he asked.
“A capful!” I cried. “It was a terrible storm.”
“That squall was nothing,” he laughed. He must have noticed my doubtful face because he added with a grin, “Well, ’tis charming weather now. Let’s settle down and celebrate your survival.”
And so we did. In the merriment I forgot my vows. I forgot the storm. In the next five or six days of good weather, I committed myself completely to the sea. I was certain that I would never regret my choice.
A few days later, the sky darkened. The wind blew hard. I laughed in the face of the storm. All hands gathered on deck to make everything snug as we rode the rough seas.
My stomach began to answer the roll of the sea. I retired to my cabin, sure I would soon see clear skies again. Then I heard the ship’s master passing by my cabin door. “Have mercy on us,” he prayed. “Let us not be lost!”
That begging did not ride well on my mind or my stomach. I got up and stumbled out of my cabin. The sea rose and broke upon us every few minutes. We cut away our masts so that the wind might not push us over.
A voice cried out, “All hands to the pumps!”
The ship had sprung a leak.Though fear made me clumsy, I followed the rest of the men and joined my strength to theirs.
Suddenly, a great boom rocked the ship. I knew the storm had broken the ship in two! I collapsed in a heap on the floor. A man stepped calmly over my body and took my place at the pump.

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