raw." It was different now and he began to
devise ways of making a catch. How he longed for a fish-hook, such as he
had so often used when loitering along the Hudson River! "But a
fish-hook is not to be thought of," he said to himself, "unless I can
make one of bone." He went down to the brook and searched long for a
fish-bone that he might make use of for this purpose. He found nothing.

"I must try something else," he thought. He remembered the nets he used
to see along the Hudson and wondered if he could not make a small one to
pull through the water and thus catch the fish.

He had now a better source of fibre for weaving and for spinning into
lines and ropes. He had discovered this when he was trying to find a
good strong thread or yarn with which to bind the coils of his
grass-made baskets together. He obtained fibre in great abundance from
the century-like plant. He found if he broke off the long leaves of this
plant and allowed them to decay there remained a long, tough fibrous
substance out of which strong cords could be twisted or yarn made for
weaving a coarse cloth or netting.

Out of this he spun yarn thread to make a net about three or four feet
by two feet. He fastened cords to four corners of this, tied them to a
long pole, and was now prepared to test his plan for catching fish.

The brook he found was too shallow for him to catch fish in this way. At
the sight of him and his net, they scurried away to deep water. Neither
could he succeed in the shallow water along the shore. "I must wade out
as far as I can," he said to himself, "and draw the net through the
water."

As he did this he was surprised at the many forms of sea life, new to
him, that he saw. He, however, was careful and watchful. He walked along
near the shore to a point where some rocks showed above the surface. As
he looked ahead he saw the single eye of a giant cuttle-fish glaring at
him from among the rocks. It was thrusting out its long arms towards
him. He drew back quickly, but as he did so he was terrified to hear the
snap of some huge creature's jaws near him. A great shark had seen him
and had thrown himself on his back to seize him in his rows of sharp
teeth, but was prevented reaching him by the shallowness of the water.

Robinson was too much terrified to continue longer his attempt at
fishing. He went back to his cave with only a few small ones, not worth
the trouble of dressing for his dinner.

The next day undismayed