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visited by navigators。
Among other things； where the seals hauled up out of the sea； I
built wide…spreading wings of low rock walls that narrowed to a cul
de sac； where I might conveniently kill such seals as entered
without exciting their fellows outside and without permitting any
wounded or frightening seal to escape and spread a contagion of
alarm。 Seven months to this structure alone were devoted。
As the time passed； I grew more contented with my lot； and the devil
came less and less in my sleep to torment the old Adam in me with
lawless visions of tobacco and savoury foods。 And I continued to
eat my seal meat and call it good； and to drink the sweet rainwater
of which always I had plenty； and to be grateful to God。 And God
heard me； I know； for during all my term on that island I knew never
a moment of sickness； save two； both of which were due to my
gluttony； as I shall later relate。
In the fifth year； ere I had convinced myself that the keels of
ships did on occasion plough these seas； I began carving on my oar
minutes of the more remarkable incidents that had attended me since
I quitted the peaceful shores of America。 This I rendered as
intelligible and permanent as possible； the letters being of the
smallest size。 Six； and even five； letters were often a day's work
for me； so painstaking was I。
And； lest it should prove my hard fortune never to meet with the
long…wished opportunity to return to my friends and to my family at
Elkton； I engraved； or nitched； on the broad end of the oar； the
legend of my ill fate which I have already quoted near the beginning
of this narrative。
This oar； which had proved so serviceable to me in my destitute
situation； and which now contained a record of my own fate and that
of my shipmates； I spared no pains to preserve。 No longer did I
risk it in knocking seals on the head。 Instead； I equipped myself
with a stone club； some three feet in length and of suitable
diameter； which occupied an even month in the fashioning。 Also； to
secure the oar from the weather （for I used it in mild breezes as a
flagstaff on top of my pyramid from which to fly a flag I made me
from one of my precious shirts） I contrived for it a covering of
well…cured sealskins。
In the month of March of the sixth year of my confinement I
experienced one of the most tremendous storms that was perhaps ever
witnessed by man。 It commenced at about nine in the evening； with
the approach of black clouds and a freshening wind from the south…
west； which； by eleven； had become a hurricane； attended with
incessant peals of thunder and the sharpest lightning I had ever
witnessed。
I was not without apprehension for the safety of the island。 Over
every part the seas made a clean breach； except of the summit of my
pyramid。 There the life was nigh beaten and suffocated out of my
body by the drive of the wind and spray。 I could not but be
sensible that my existence was spared solely because of my diligence
in erecting the pyramid and so doubling the stature of the island。
Yet； in the morning； I had great reason for thankfulness。 All my
saved rainwater was turned brackish； save that in my largest vessel
which was sheltered in the lee of the pyramid。 By careful economy I
knew I had drink sufficient until the next rain； no matter how
delayed； should fall。 My hut was quite washed out by the seas； and
of my great store of seal meat only a wretched； pulpy modicum
remained。 Nevertheless I was agreeably surprised to find the rocks
plentifully distributed with a sort of fish more nearly like the
mullet than any I had ever observed。 Of these I picked up no less
than twelve hundred and nineteen； which I split and cured in the sun
after the manner of cod。 This welcome change of diet was not
without its consequence。 I was guilty of gluttony； and for all of
the succeeding night I was near to death's door。
In the seventh year of my stay on the island； in the very same month
of March； occurred a similar storm of great violence。 Following
upon it； to my astonishment； I found an enormous dead whale； quite
fresh； which had been cast up high and dry by the waves。 Conceive
my gratification when in the bowels of the great fish I found deeply
imbedded a harpoon of the common sort with a few fathoms of new line
attached thereto。
Thus were my hopes again revived that I should finally meet with an
opportunity to quit the desolate island。 Beyond doubt these seas
were frequented by whalemen； and； so long as I kept up a stout
heart； sooner or later I should be saved。 For seven years I had
lived on seal meat； so that at sight of the enormous plentitude of
different and succulent food I fell a victim to my weakness and ate
of such quantities that once again I was well nigh to dying。 And
yet； after all； this； and the affair of the small fish； were mere
indispositions due to the foreignness of the food to my stomach；
which had learned to prosper on seal meat and on nothing but seal
meat。
Of that one whale I preserved a full year's supply of provision。
Also； under the sun's rays； in the rock hollows； I tried out much of
the oil； which； with the addition of salt； was a welcome thing in
which to dip my strips of seal…meat whilst dining。 Out of my
precious rags of shirts I could even have contrived a wick； so that；
with the harpoon for steel and rock for flint； I might have had a
light at night。 But it was a vain thing； and I speedily forwent the
thought of it。 I had no need for light when God's darkness
descended； for I had schooled myself to sleep from sundown to
sunrise； winter and summer。
I； Darrell Standing； cannot refrain from breaking in on this recital
of an earlier existence in order to note a conclusion of my own。
Since human personality is a growth； a sum of all previous
existences added together； what possibility was there for Warden
Atherton to break down my spirit in the inquisition of solitary？ I
am life that survived； a structure builded up through the ages of
the pastand such a past！ What were ten days and nights in the
jacket to me？to me； who had once been Daniel Foss； and for eight
years learned patience in that school of rocks in the far South
Ocean？
At the end of my eighth year on the island in the month of
September； when I had just sketched most ambitious plans to raise my
pyramid to sixty feet above the summit of the island； I awoke one
morning to stare out upon a ship with topsails aback and nearly
within hail。 That I might be discovered； I swung my oar in the air；
jumped from rock to rock； and was guilty of all manner of
livelinesses of action； until I could see the officers on the
quarter…deck looking at me through their spyglasses。 They answered
by pointing to the extreme westerly end of the island； whither I
hastened and discovered their boat manned by half a dozen men。 It
seems； as I was to learn afterward； the ship had been attracted by
my pyramid and had altered its course to make closer examination of
so strange a structure that was greater of height than the wild
island on which it stood。
But the surf proved to be too great to permit the boat to land on my
inhospitable shore。 After divers unsuccessful attempts they
signalled me that they must return to the ship。 Conceive my despair
at thus being unable to quit the desolate island。 I seized my oar
（which I had long since determined to present to the Philadelphia
Museum if ever I were preserved） and with it plunged headlong into
the foaming surf。 Such was my good fortune； and my strength and
agility； that I gained the boat。
I cannot refrain from telling here a curious incident。 The ship had
by this time drifted so far away； that we were all of an hour in
getting aboard。 During this time I yielded to my propensities that
had been baffled for eight long years； and begged of the second
mate； who steered； a piece of tobacco to chew。 This granted； the
second mate also proffered me his pipe； filled with prime Virginia
leaf。 Scarce had ten minutes passed when I was taken violently
sick。 The reason for this was clear。 My system was entirely purged
of tobacco； and what I now suffered was tobacco poisoning such as
afflicts any boy at the time of his first smoke。 Again I had reason
to be grateful to God； and from that day to the day of my death； I
neither used nor desired the foul weed。
I； Darrell Standing； must now complete the amazingness of the
details of this existence which I relived while unconscious in the
strait…jacket in San Quentin prison。 I often wondered if Daniel
Foss had been true in his resolve and deposited the carved oar in
the Philadelphia Museum。
It is a difficult matter for a prisoner in solitary to communicate
with the outside world。 Once； with a guard； and once with a short…
timer in solitary； I entrusted； by memorization； a letter of inquiry
addressed