We have hundreds more books for your enjoyment. Read them all!
|
|
"It was morning when I awoke, and my first care was to visit the fire.
I uncovered it, and a gentle breeze quickly fanned it into a flame.
I observed this also and contrived a fan of branches, which roused
the embers when they were nearly extinguished. When night came again
I found, with pleasure, that the fire gave light as well as heat
and that the discovery of this element was useful to me in my food,
for I found some of the offals that the travellers had left
had been roasted, and tasted much more savoury than the berries
I gathered from the trees. I tried, therefore, to dress my food
in the same manner, placing it on the live embers. I found
that the berries were spoiled by this operation, and the nuts
and roots much improved.
"Food, however, became scarce, and I often spent the whole day
searching in vain for a few acorns to assuage the pangs of hunger.
When I found this, I resolved to quit the place that I had
hitherto inhabited, to seek for one where the few wants
I experienced would be more easily satisfied. In this emigration
I exceedingly lamented the loss of the fire which I had obtained
through accident and knew not how to reproduce it. I gave several hours
to the serious consideration of this difficulty, but I was obliged
to relinquish all attempt to supply it, and wrapping myself up in my cloak,
I struck across the wood towards the setting sun. I passed three days
in these rambles and at length discovered the open country.
A great fall of snow had taken place the night before, and the fields
were of one uniform white; the appearance was disconsolate,
and I found my feet chilled by the cold damp substance
that covered the ground.
|