Everyone in the boat rowed as hard as they could. Eventually, we landed at Yarmouth . There were many people on the shore,
waiting to help shipwrecked
sailors , and they gave us a place to stay. After two or three days in Yarmouth I saw my friend again and he introduced me to his father, who asked me how I was.
4
I said, ‘I’m better now, thank you. I was really scared in the storm, but I’d never been to sea before. I’m sure it will be
better in the future.’
My friend’s father looked at me strangely. ‘ That was your first time at sea? ’ he asked me.
‘Yes, it was,’ I replied. My friend’s father looked very serious. ‘I’m sorry,
Robinson, but you should never go to sea again. Stay on land,’ he said. ‘ There is something about you that’s unlucky.’
In years to come I would often remember his words.