Inthisworthyemployment，however，Ihadnearlylostmylife。
Returningfromcarryingcorn，thewindrose，anddrovetheboattosea。Inotunderstandingthemanagementofthehelm，andtheservantsawkwardlyhandlingthesails，theboatintackingwasoverset。Thebenefitoflearningtoswim，Iagainexperienced，andmyfaithfulservant，whohadgainedtherock，aidedmewhenalmostspent。Thegoodpeoplewhohadseentheshallopoverset，cameoffintheirboatstomyassistance。AnhonestCalmuc，whomIhadbroughtfromRussia，andanotherofmyservantsperished。IsawthefirstsinkafterIhadreachedtheshore。
ThekindSwedesbroughtmeonboard，andalsorightedandreturnedwiththeshallop。ForsomedaysIwassea—sick。Weweighedanchor，andsailedfortheTexel，themouthofwhichwesaw，andthepilotscomingoff，whenanotherstormarose，anddroveustotheportofBahus，inNorway，intowhichweran，withoutfartherdamage。Insomefewdaysweagainsetsail，withafairwind，andatlengthreachedAmsterdam。
HereImadenolongstay；forthedayaftermyarrival，anextraordinaryadventurehappened，inwhichIwasengagedchieflybymyownrashness。
Iwasaspectatorwhiletheharpoonersbelongingtothewhalefisherywereexercisingthemselvesindartingtheirharpoons，mostofwhomweredrunk。Oneofthem，HermanRogaarbyname，aheroamongthesepeople，forhisdexteritywithhissnickasnee，cameup，andpassedsomeofhiscoarsejestsuponmyTurkishsabre，andofferedtofillipmeonthenose。Ipushedhimfromme，andthefellowthrewdownhiscap，drewhissnickasnee，challengedme，calledmemonkey—tail，andaskedwhetherIchoseastraight，acircular，oracrosscut。