stones was the worst of
all, such hard work did I find it. To bake the bread I burnt some wood
down to an ash, which I threw on the hearth to heat it, and then set my
loaves on the hearth, and in this way my bread was made.

The next thing to turn my thoughts to was the ship's boat, which lay on
the high ridge of sand, where it had been thrust by the storm which had
cast me on these shores. But it lay with the keel to the sky, so I had
to dig the sand from it, and turn it up with the help of a pole. When I
had done this I found it was all in vain, for I had not the strength to
launch it. So all I could do now, was to make a boat of less size out
of a tree; and I found one that was just fit for it, which grew not far
from the shore, but I could no more stir this than I could the ship's
boat. What was to be done? I first dug the ground flat and smooth all
the way from the boat to the sea, so as to let it slide down; but this
plan did not turn out well, so I thought I would try a new way, which
was to make a trench, so as to bring the sea up to the boat, as the boat
could not be brought to the sea. But to do this, I must have dug down to
a great depth, which would take one man some years to do. And when too
late, I found it was not wise to work out a scheme, till I had first
thought of the cost and toil.

"Well," thought I, "I must give up the boat, and with it all my hopes
to leave the isle. But I have this to think of: I am lord of the whole
isle; in fact, a king. I have wood with which I might build a fleet, and
grapes, if not corn, to freight it with, though all my wealth is but a
few gold coins." For these I had no sort of use, and could have found it
in my heart to give them all for a peck of peas and some ink, which last
I stood much in need of. But it was best to dwell more on what I had,
than on what I had not.

I now must needs try once more to build a boat, but this time it was to
have a mast, for which the ship's sails would be of great use. I made a
deck at each end, to keep out the spray of the sea, a bin for my food,
and a rest for my gun, with a flap to screen it from the wet. More than
all, the boat was one of such a size that I could launch it.

My first cruise was up and down the creek, but soon I got bold, and made
the whole round of my isle. I took with me bread, cakes, and a pot full
of rice, some rum, half a goat, two great coats, one of which was to
lie on, and one to put on at night. I set sail