I sat down upon the grass to rest, and then went into the island to explore it.  It seemed to be a delicious garden.  Everywhere I found fruit and streams of fresh, pure water.  Of these I ate and drank.

When I had gone a little way into the island, I saw an old man who appeared very weak and infirm.  He was sitting on the bank of a stream, and at first I took him to be one who had been shipwrecked like myself.  I went towards him and saluted him, but he only slightly bowed his head.  I asked him why he sat so still, but, instead of answering me, he made a sign for me to take him upon my back, and carry him over the brook.

I believed him really to stand in need of my help, took him upon my back, and, having carried him over, bade him get down.  To that end, I stooped, that he might get off with ease; but instead of doing so—­and I laugh every time I think of it—­the old man, who to me appeared quite feeble, threw his legs nimbly about my neck.  He sat astride upon my shoulders, and held my throat so tight that I thought he would have strangled me, and I fainted away.

In spite of my fainting, the ill-natured old fellow still kept his seat upon my neck.  When I got my breath again, he thrust one of his feet against my side, and struck me so rudely with the other, that he forced me to rise up against my will.  Then he made me carry him under the trees, and obliged me now and then to stop, that he might gather and eat fruit.  He never left his seat all day; and when I lay down to rest at night, he laid himself down with me, holding still fast about my neck.  Every morning he pinched me to make me awake, and afterwards forced me to get up and walk, and spurred me with his feet.

One day I found several dry gourds that had fallen from a tree.  I took a large one, and, after cleaning it, pressed into it some juice of grapes, which abounded in the island.  Having filled the gourd, I put it by, and, going for it some days after, tasted and found the wine so good that it gave me new vigor, and so raised my spirits that I began to sing and dance as I carried my burden.

The old man, noticing the effect of the wine upon me, made me a sign to give him some of it.  I handed him the gourd, and, the liquor pleasing his palate, he drank it off.  As there was some quantity of it, he soon began to sing, and to move from side to side in his seat upon my shoulders, and by degrees to loosen his legs from about me.  Finding that he did not press me as before, I threw him upon the ground, where he lay without motion; then I took up a great stone and slew him.

I was extremely glad to be thus freed forever from this troublesome fellow.  I now walked towards the beach, where I met the crew of a ship that had cast anchor, to take in water.  When I told them of my adventure, they said, “You fell into the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, and are the first who ever escaped strangling.  He never quitted those he had once embraced till he had destroyed them, and many are the men he has slain.”