THE LITTLE SAVAGE




Chapter I


I am about to write a very curious history, as the reader will agree
with me when he has read this book. We have more than one narrative
of people being cast away upon desolate islands, and being left to
their own resources, and no works are perhaps read with more
interest; but I believe I am the first instance of a boy being left
alone upon an uninhabited island. Such was, however, the case; and
now I shall tell my own story.

My first recollections are, that I was in company with a man upon
this island, and that we walked often along the sea-shore. It was
rocky and difficult to climb in many parts, and the man used to drag
or pull me over the dangerous places. He was very unkind to me, which
may appear strange, as I was the only companion that he had; but he
was of a morose and gloomy disposition. He would sit down squatted in
the corner of our cabin, and sometimes not speak for hours--or he
would remain the whole day looking out at the sea, as if watching for
something, but what I never could tell; for if I spoke, he would not
reply; and if near to him, I was sure to receive a cuff or a heavy
blow. I should imagine that I was about five years old at the time
that I first recollect clearly what passed. I may have been younger.
I may as well here state what I gathered from him at different times,
relative to our being left upon this desolate spot. It was with