ese I heated in the
fire, and, little by little, shaped them till I made a pick-axe, proper
enough, though heavy.

At first I felt the need of baskets in which to carry things, so I set
to work as a basket-maker. It came to my mind that the twigs of the tree
whence I cut my stakes might serve. I found them to my purpose as much
as I could desire, and, during the next rainy season, I employed myself
in making a great many baskets. Though I did not finish them handsomely,
yet I made them sufficiently serviceable.

I had, however, one want greater than all the others--bread. My barley
was very fine, the grains were large and smooth; but before I could make
bread I must grind the grains into flour. I spent many a day to find out
a Stone to cut hollow and make fit for a mortar, and could find none;
nor were the rocks of the island of hardness sufficient. So I gave it
over and rounded a great block of hard wood and, with the help of fire
and great labour, made a hollow in it. I made a great heavy pestle of
the wood called ironwood.

The baking part was the next thing to be considered; for, first, I had
no yeast. As to that, there was no supplying the want, so I did not
concern myself much about it. But for an oven I was indeed in great
pain. At length I found out an experiment for that also. I made some
earthen vessels, broad but not deep, about two feet across, and about
nine inches deep. These I burned in the fire till they were as hard as
nails and as red as tiles, and when I wanted to bake I made a great fire
upon a hearth which I paved with some square tiles of my own making.

When the fire had all burned I drew the embers forward upon my hearth,
and let them be there till the hearth was very hot. My loaves being
ready, I swept the hearth and set them on the hottest part of it. Over
each loaf I placed one of the large earthen pots, and drew the embers
all round to keep in and add to the heat. And thus I baked my barley
loaves and became, in a little time, a good pastrycook into the bargain.

It need not be wondered at if all these things took up most of the third
year of my abode in the island. I had now brought my state of life to be
much easier than it was at first, and I learned to look more upon the
bright side of my condition and less on the dark.

Had anyone in England met such a man as I was, it must have frightened
them, or raised great laughter. On my head I wore a great, high,
shapeless cap of goat's skin