I swam out to the ship, and found that her stern lay lifted up on the
bank. All the ship's provisions were dry, and, being well disposed to
eat, I filled my pockets and ate as I went about other things, for I had
no time to lose. We had several spare yards and planks, and with these I
made a raft. I emptied three of the seamen's chests, and let them down
upon the raft, and filled them with provisions. I also let down the
carpenter's chest, and some arms and ammunition--all of which, after
much labour, I got safely to land.

My next work was to view the country. Where I was I yet knew not, but
after I had with great labour got to the top of a hill which rose up
very steep and high, I saw my fate, to my great affliction--_viz._, that
I was in an island, uninhabited except by wild beasts.

I now began to consider that I might yet get a great many things out of
the ship which would be useful to me; so every day at low water I went
on board, and brought away something or other until I had the biggest
magazine that was ever laid up, I believe, for one man. I verily
believe, had the calm weather held, I should have brought away the whole
ship piece by piece; but on the fourteenth day it blew a storm, and next
morning, behold, no more ship was to be seen. I must not forget that I
brought on shore two cats and a dog. He was a trusty servant to me many
years. I wanted nothing that he could fetch me, nor any company. I only
wanted him to talk to me, but that he could not do. Later, I managed to
catch a parrot, which did much to cheer my loneliness. I taught him to
speak, and it would have done your heart good to have heard the pitying
tones in which he used to say, "Robin--poor Robin Crusoe!"

I now went in search of a place where to fix my dwelling. I found a
little plain on the side of a rising hill, which was there as steep as a
house-side, so that nothing could come down on me from the top. On the
side of this rock was a hollow space like the entrance of a cave, before
which I resolved to pitch my tent. Before I set up my tent, I drew a
half-circle before the hollow place, which extended backwards about
twenty yards. In this half-circle I planted two rows of strong stakes,
driving them into the ground like piles, above five feet and a half
high, and sharpened at the top. Then I took some pieces of cable I had
found in the ship, and laid them in rows one upon another between the
stakes; and this fence was so strong that nei