About four o'clock in the afternoon
To the east , I soon saw about half a mile , a breach of the sea upon , some rocks , which caused it again to separate ; and as the main force of it drove away more southwardly , leaving the rocks to the north-east , so the other came back by the repulse of the rocks making a sharp eddy , which returned back again to the north-west with a very swift stream . They who have experienced what it is to be reprieved upon the ladder , or to be saved from thieves , just going to take away their lives , or such as have been in the like calamities with my own , may guess my present excess of joy , how heartily I ran my boat into the stream of this eddy , and how joyfully I spread my sail to the refreshing wind , standing cheerfully before it , with a smart tide under foot . By the assistance of this eddy , I was carried above a league home again , when being in the wake of the island , betwixt the two currents , I found the water to be in a sort of a stand . About four o'clock in the afternoon , I reached within a league of the island , and perceived the points of the rock , which caused this disaster , stretching out , as I observed before , to the southward , which throwing off the current more southwardly had occasioned another eddy to the north . But having a fair brisk gale , I stretched across this eddy , and in an hour came within a mile of the shore , where I soon landed to my unspeakable comfort ; and after an humble prostration , thanking God for my deliverance , with a resolution to lay all thoughts of escaping aside , I brought my boat safe to a little cove , and laid me down to take a welcome repose . When I awoke I was considering how I might get my boat home ; and coasting along the shore , I came to a good bay , which ran up to a rivulet or brook , where finding a safe harbour , I stowed her as safe as if she had been in a dry-dock made on purpose for her . I now perceived myself not far from the place where before I had travelled on foot ; so taking nothing with me except my gun and umbrella , I began my journey , and in the evening came to my bower , where I again laid me down to rest .