I remembered only that in Crusoe's case he kept his powder dry.

"But there she booms again," I cried, "and how close the flash is now! Almost aboard was that last breaker! But you'll go by, _Spray_, old girl! 'T is abeam now! One surge more! and oh, one more like that will clear your ribs and keel!" And I slapped her on the transom, proud of her last noble effort to leap clear of the danger, when a wave greater than the rest threw her higher than before, and, behold, from the crest of it was revealed at once all there was of the reef.

I fell back in a coil of rope, speechless and amazed, not distressed, but rejoiced.

Aladdin's lamp! My fisherman's own lantern! It was the great revolving light on the island of Trinidad, thirty miles away, throwing flashes over the waves, which had deceived me! The orb of the light was now dipping on the horizon, and how glorious was the sight of it! But, dear Father Neptune, as I live, after a long life at sea, and much among corals, I would have made a solemn declaration to that reef! Through all the rest of the night I saw imaginary reefs, and not knowing what moment the sloop might fetch up on a real one, I tacked off and on till daylight, as nearly as possible in the same track, all for the want of a chart.

I could have nailed the St.Helena goat's pelt to the deck.
My course was now for Grenada, to which I carried letters from Mauritius.