Next Day, which was the thirteenth since we arrived there, we resolv'd to put off, but our Float was so heavy that we made very little way; and two of us constantly ply'd the Oars by turns, while the third rested. As good Luck would have it, the Weather was very favourable, and the Season exceeding pleasant, so that I can truly say, we were very much delighted in the Voyage, tho' we did not know what would become of us when we undertook it. 'Twas surprising to see the infinite Shoals of Fish in this fine Lake, leaping and casting on both sides of our Float, which some of them follow'd with their Heads above Water, and playing with their Tails, as if they had been rejoic'd to see us. We were so attentive at this dumb Sport, that we lay upon our Oars sometimes for a great while together to enjoy it. We took up several of them with our Hands, and then toss'd them back again into their own Element, and might have caught what Number we had pleas'd. At the Close of the Day, just as we lost Sight of the Shore we came from, we were overjoy'd to discover that to which we were steering our Course. This agreeable Sight gave us fresh Spirits; we work'd lustily almost all Night, and I think it was next Day about four of the Clock in the Afternoon, when we had the good Luck to touch Land. As soon as we got ashore, we made use of all the Tackle we had to moor our Machine, not only to great Stones upon the Strand, but to a Post or Stump of a Tree, which we drove into the Ground, and which we carry'd with us for that purpose, being uncertain whether we should fare better elsewhere, and whether we should not be oblig'd to come back again the same way. We were so fatigu'd with our Voyage that we took up our Lodging at the distance of an hundred Paces, and stay'd there till next Morning, when we continu'd our Journey.
We had not travell'd half a League but we came to a Wood, as thick as any we had yet met with, tho' we forc'd our way thro' it in less than two Hours. But there we were stopt all on a sudden, by steep Rocks altogether as difficult to ascend as a Wall. This new Barrier occasion'd fresh wrangling betwixt us; my Comrades murmur'd sadly, and I, as usual, did all I could to hearten them, so that I was forc'd at last to assure them, that tho' my Ideas were commonly so confus'd and irregular in my Slumbers, that I could seldom tell what to make of my Dreams, yet I had one last Night, the Connexion and Circumstances of which were so particular, that it was an infallible Presage of something to our Advantage; and thereupon I invented some Fictions _ex-tempore_, which, tho' perhaps not very well concerted, had however all the Effect I expected from them. In the Morning, said I, about an Hour before Sun-rise, methoughts I heard a Rumbling, like the Voice of Thunder, which said to me, _What have you to do there, Child? Rise up, and walk, thy Deliverance is near at hand._ At the same time a young Woman appear'd to me with a smiling Countenance, dress'd in white Raiment, with her dishevell'd Hair flowing about her Shoulders, her Legs bare even to the Knee, and in her Hands a little Basket of fine Ozier, artfully interwoven with all manner of fragrant Flowers, and full of uncommon delicious Fruits, of which she invited me to eat. On my left Hand there appear'd a Field, cover'd all over with Sheaves of the finest Corn that the Earth ever bore; and on my right a Tree, in the Trunk of which there was a Cleft, from whence there gush'd a clear beautiful red Liquor, which smelt like musk. I turn'd about to look behind me, and perceiving a frightful Monster, bristled all over like a Porcupine, I was so affrighted at it, that tho' it turn'd its Back upon me, I started out of my Sleep. To this Dream I gave a favourable Interpretation, which contributed not a little to quicken our Pace.