DANIEL DEFOE (1661-1731)

Daniel Defoe was the son of wealthy parents and received a good education. His father wanted him to become a priest, but young De­foe refused to be a priest and for many years he was a merchant, then he became a journalist. In his articles he attacked the church and the government. He published over 250 works including a vast number of pamphlets on all sorts of life.

At the age of 52 Daniel Defoe was a well-known writer and jour­nalist. He had had a full and interesting life. He had travelled, tried many professions and written a lot of books and pamphlets. But he had not yet started the work that was to make him famous.

In 1712 Defoe met Alexander Selkirk, a sailor whose unusual ad­ventures impressed the writer. After a conflict with his officer, Sel­kirk had been left on a desert island. For more than four years he had lived alone on that island, managing not only to stay alive but also to make himself rather comfortable. At last the sailor had been saved by a passing ship. When Selkirk had finally returned to London he had been much talked about. Several articles of his adventures had been published, read and admired. However, by the time Daniel Defoe met Selkirk, the sailor had been forgotten. So Defoe started to write a book of a man named Robinson Crusoe. With his skill as a journalist, he was able to make his story dramatic and impressive.

The book became popular at once. It was read, enjoyed and be­lieved. And it had been read, enjoyed and believed ever since. The book is known all over the world, while the true story of Selkirk is forgotten today.

A FOOTPRINT IN THE SAND

Then something very strange happened. One day I was going along the shore towards my boat when I saw a man's footprint in the sand. I stood there too surprised to move. I listened, I looked all round me, but I could not hear or see anything. I went up a hill to look farther; I went up and down the shore, but there was no one, and no other foot­prints. I went to the print again to make sure I had not imagined it. There it was, very clear indeed. I turned and ran home, looking behind me "every few steps". Every bush or tree I saw, I thought was a man; and my mind was full of wild imaginings.

I went up my ladder and pulled it after me; my heart was racing and my mouth was dry. 11 did not sleep that night. Sometimes I thought the footprint was the devil'; for how could any human being reach my is­land? Where was the ship that brought him, and where were the prints of any other feet? Then I realized how foolish I was... Would the devil really take human shape simply to leave a footprint to frighten me? Surely he could have left his footprint nearer my home, rather than on the sand where the tide would wash it away.

Then I wondered if the footprint came from one of the Indians of the mainland. Perhaps they had been driven to my island by winds and currents in their boats, then gone away again.

Then I wondered if they had found my boat, and so realized that someone was living on the island. If so, perhaps they would come again in greater numbers, and kill and eat me. And, even if they did not find me, they might find my fields and carry away my corn and my herd of goats, and leave me to die of hunger. All my confidence in god seemed to leave me. It is strange; at one time I wanted, more than anything else, to see another human being. Now one human footprint filled me with fear.

Perhaps the footprint is my own, after all, I thought, and my worries are in vain. I began, to take courage, and consider leaving my cave. I had stayed there for three days and nights and was getting short of food. Also, my goats needed to be milked, and would already be in pain.

While I milked my goats I was still very frightened; I kept looking behind me, ready to run for my life. However, after two or three days, I became a little braver. When at last I persuaded myself to walk on the shore where I had seen the footprint, I found that the footprint was far larger than my own foot; and all my terrible imaginings began again.

My anxious thoughts kept me awake all night. But in the morn­ing I fell asleep and slept very deeply. When I awoke I began to think more clearly, and I realized that this pleasant island is mine, so near the mainland, was perhaps less lonely than I had thought. Although no one actually lived there, it was quite possible that boats landed there, either on purpose or because winds and currents carried them there.