With my knife I cut off a large piece which I twisted about

Produced by Al Haines.

A BOY CRUSOE

OR

The Golden Treasure of the Virgin Islands

BY

ALLAN ERIC

M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY

CHICAGO -- NEW YORK

[Transcriber's note:

This book was also published as "A Yankee Crusoe".]

MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

*CONTENTS.*

Chapter.

I. Early Life; Off for a Voyage

II. Heavy Weather; the Sargasso Sea

III. A Terrible Storm; Leaving the Ship

IV. Cast Up by the Sea on a Tropical Island

V. Strange Surroundings; Building a House

VI. The Stockade; a Crusoe's Life

VII. A Cocoanut Calendar; Food Supply

VIII. Thoughts of the Future; Making a Bow-Gun

IX. Starts to Explore the Island; Turtles' Eggs

X. In the Folds of a Snake

XI. The Mountain Cave; a Beacon; Attack by Pigs

XII. Return to the Coast; a Mangrove Swamp; Fever

XIII. A Feathered Companion; Making a Fish Trap

XIV. Another Exploring Trip; Tropical Fruits

XV. A Hurricane and a Ship-Wreck

XVI. Pleasant Companions; Enlarging the House

XVII. Building a Raft; Visits to the Wreck

XVIII. The March Continued; Arrival on the Mountain

XIX. An Ancient Ruin; Wonderful Discovery

XX. "The Golden Treasure;" Its Removal

XXI. Preparing for Departure; Death of the Monster

XXII. Boat-Building; A Startling Sound

XXIII. Rescue at Hand; Leaving the Island

*A BOY CRUSOE*

*CHAPTER I.*

_*Early Life; Off for a Voyage*_*.*

I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the

Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the

average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New

England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work

on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country

schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my

life full to over-flowing. In the winter it was work in the woods,

cutting up the year's supply of fire-wood; and then, before the spring

ploughing time, my brother and myself found pleasant labor and

recreation combined in the maple woods, tapping the trees, gathering the

sap and tending the fire under the great kettles where the sweet product

of the maple was transformed into syrup and sugar.

I really think that I was more thoughtful than the average boy. I know

that I read more. I do not remember ever feeling dissatisfied with my

life or with the prospects that the future held out for me. Probably I

was too young for these things to trouble me much; but I read everything

in the way of books and papers that I could borrow, or purchase by

saving a little money earned in various ways. I was fond of stories of

adventure; but travel and adventure combined, interested me most.

Therefore, as I grew older, I became imbued with a passionate desire to

travel in foreign lands. The tropics were my ideal, and this feeling

became stronger as the years went by.

When I was fifteen years of age my father removed to a large village

where there was a graded school, and I entered the grammar school, then

the high school from which I was graduated.

The passion for travel still had a strong hold upon me, but I saw no

immediate prospect of gratifying it, for I was obliged to look about for

some immediate means of earning a living for myself. When everything

else fails, one can always find an opportunity to canvass for a

publishing house or a novelty concern; so, soon after leaving the high

school, I was trudging up and down the banks of the Penobscot river,

calling from house to house. It was discouraging work, but I succeeded

moderately well.

Late in the fall I went up to Bangor to canvass that city, and it was

there that I made the acquaintance of a gentleman, which led to the

experiences that I am about to relate, and which changed the whole

course of my life.

Mr. William H. Sargent was a wealthy, retired merchant, with impaired

health. His wealth had been acquired by trading with the South American

countries, and the West Indies, and he still retained large interest in

many vessels sailing to that part of the world.

It was his idea to make a voyage in one of these vessels, and the

friendship which had developed between us, mostly through meeting in the

reading room of the Public Library, caused him to suggest that I

accompany him on his voyage to the Southern seas.

I accepted only too gladly, and that very evening I wrote a long letter

to my mother, explaining my good fortune, bidding her not to worry by

exaggerating, in her own mind, the dangers to be encountered.

The next few days I spent mostly with my benefactor, for as such I

looked upon him, helping him in various ways in his preparations for the

voyage. As for myself, I required little more than a modest supply of

clothing.

Mr. Sargent was thoughtful and considerate, however, and insisted upon

my procuring much that I deemed unnecessary for my modest requirements,

paying for the same from his own pocket.

Our craft was a trim bark called the _Ethelyn Hope_, built at Searsport

three years before. She was two hundred and fifty tons gross measurement

and sat in the water jauntily and buoyantly. From her load water-line

to the tips of her topmast she was as trim a craft as one could wish to

see. As she lay at the wharf ready for sea, everything on deck had been

made snug, and not a coil of rope or spare block was out of place. Her

cargo consisted of case oil, salt fish and flour in her hold, and she

carried a good deck-load of lumber. She was bound for Cayenne, French

Guiana, on the north coast of South America.

The _Ethelyn Hope_ was commanded by Captain Thomas Witham; and the

first, second and third mates, with nine able seamen before the mast

comprised the crew.

Nothing remained to be done except to cast off the lines, when, released

from her bonds the bark slowly moved down the river. The sails on the

lower yards and jib-boom were set, and with a light breeze favoring her,

aided by the swift current, the city was soon lost behind High Head.

By daylight the following morning we had passed through the "Narrows",

and just at sunrise all sails were set and the bark squared away for the

mouth of the bay where she was laid on a sou', sou'-east course as she

took her final departure.

My spirits were decidedly buoyant as the bark glided out of the bay into

the open sea, and a delicious sense of elation took possession of me as

I realized that I was really on board a ship, with the land fading away

behind me, bound for a foreign shore, the wonderful tropics, the land of

palms of which I had read so much. I should see for myself the curious

things of the sea, strange countries and people; and perhaps encounter

fierce animals in the virgin forests, the home of birds of rare and

beautiful plumage.

With a strong northwest breeze the bark stood away on her course, with

every sail filled out and drawing handsomely. Although the weather had

been clear and the sea fairly calm, by sunset a thin haze rendered the

outline of the horizon dimly visible, and the Captain began to fear a

blow. His nautical instinct made him sure that there was to be a change

in the weather, and he gave orders for everything to be made secure.

And, sure enough, at dusk the wind freshened and hauled around into the

north-east.

It was about this time that I suddenly became conscious of a peculiar

feeling, a sudden dizziness, like the sensation caused by a boy's first

cigar. I knew well enough that I was experiencing the first sensations

of seasickness, and, suddenly losing interest in the sailing of the

ship, I went below and tumbled into my berth.

Feeling somewhat better, while I lay quiet, I had nearly dropped off to

sleep when I was aroused by a tremendous noise, which brought me to my

senses, when I realized that the vessel was rolling and pitching wildly.

I could hear the howling of the wind around the deck-houses, and the

snapping of the great sails. Now and then I heard the sound of the

Captain's voice on deck as though he were giving brisk orders; and I

rightly concluded that we were having it very rough. I looked across

the cabin and saw that Mr. Sargent was in his berth, but as he was

apparently not asleep I spoke to him, asking if there was any danger.

"Oh, I guess not," he replied. "We are having a pretty stiff blow."

Strangely enough, I suppose, I did not now feel sick, though my head was

a little dizzy, so I concluded to go on deck. I cautiously ascended the

companion way, and found the Captain standing near the wheel, enveloped

in oil-skins, his head being covered by an ample sou'wester.

"Hello, boy," was his greeting, "what are you doing up here? The best

place for you is below; you might get blown over-board."

But I begged to be allowed to remain a little, arguing that I felt

better on deck, and the Captain relented and found a sheltered place

under the lee of the cook's galley, telling me not to try to move about

the deck.

The bark was rolling and tossing, but appeared to be bounding through

the water like a race-horse. Soon I heard the Captain tell the mate that

the wind had shifted around into the east, and that they were in for a

stiff blow, and rain, too, before long.

So it proved, and it was not long before the squall struck in earnest.

The ship careened, and a sea came over her weather rail, until the

lee-scuppers spouted green water, wetting me a little, even in my

sheltered retreat.

The rain began to fall, and the sailors had their hands full. There was

a great commotion of loudly spoken orders, the tramping of feet, the

creaking of blocks, the rush and roar of the sea and the howling of the

blast through the rigging. All hands were called to take in sail, and

the bark, soon close hauled, was lying over nearly to her lee rail. The

heavy sea beat against her bows with all the force which tons of water

could exert, while the staunch little vessel, quivering for a moment

would seem to hesitate, and then plunge forward to meet the next

onslaught like an animate thing possessed of sensible emotions. The

spray, flying back over the bows, drenched the deck from fore to aft.

The topsail halyards had been hauled taut, and the sails filled out and

backed against the masts with a noise like thunder.

I did not long remain in the scanty shelter afforded by the house, but

made the best of my way to the cabin. To make matters worse, I was

again off my "sea-legs," and was getting terribly sick.

*CHAPTER II.*

_*Heavy Weather; the Sargasso Sea*_*.*

The gale continued until the end of the fourth day, and we were south of

the deep blue waters of the Gulf Stream, when it abated somewhat, and

though it continued to blow heavily, the sea was running more regularly,

in long, even swells which made the motion of the bark less

disagreeable, especially for me.

The studding sails were taken in, and the wind was hauled, in order that

the Captain might be given an opportunity to determine our longitude.

The Captain found that we were not far off the course, as the wind had

blown mostly from north, and northeast and east. The sails were

trimmed, and, by sundown the wind veered around into the northwest and

blew steadily, while the sea gradually subsided. We were now about two

hundred miles to the eastward of Watling's Island, one of the Bahamas,

also known as San Salvador, the first land in the New World discovered

by Columbus. The stars shone bright, and the bark, rolling easily,

plowed the warm waters of the sub-tropic sea. I remained with Mr.

Sargent long on deck that night, watching the phosphorence of the water,

which in these latitudes, is sometimes very brilliant.

The morning dawned upon a tropic sea, for the bark had made good

progress during the night, and we were well abreast of the larger

islands of the Bahamas. The breeze was soft and balmy, and the ocean a

deep, crystal blue, of a hue never seen except in these southern

latitudes. This is owing partly to the remarkable reflection of the sky

but more to the extreme depth of the water. Myriads of flying fish rose

in flocks from the water and fluttered away on both sides of the ship as

the bark glided through the weeds of the Sargasso Sea. The Sargasso

weed is a genus by itself, which, thrust away to the south by the mighty

ocean currents, lies in a vast central pool, a great eddy between the

Gulf Stream and the Equatorial current; and here it revolves. It is

ocean born, and long ages have passed since it lost its habit of growing

on the rocky sea-bottom. Forever floating it feeds among its branches

whole families of crabs, cuttle-fish and mollusks, which like the plant

itself, are found in no other seas.

The flying-fish interested me greatly, for I had read much about them.

I noticed that their flight was as perfect as that of some kinds of

birds, and that it very closely resembled that of the swallow, in that

it was a skimming, circling flight. I had read that the flying-fish

rarely leaves the water unless pursued by a shark or some other fish to

which it is a prey; and that, on leaving the water it does not really

fly, but, instead, emerges from the water on an upward plane, enabling

it to skim along for some distance. I had read, also, that the fish is

unable to remain in the air only while its wings are wet. This latter

statement is undoubtedly correct; but I observed that its flight was

perfect, the fish making use of its greatly elongated and highly

developed pectoral fins, as wings. I saw them flying singly and in

flocks or schools, when they were not pursued by sharks and I was

thoroughly convinced that they did actually fly. They gyrated in the air

exactly like swallows, and moved their wings very rapidly like birds.

There seemed to be no limit to the length of their flight, for they

would rise from beneath the bows and fly away in a continuous line until

lost to sight in the distance.

Once one dropped upon the deck in the night and the cook broiled it,

assuring us that its flesh was very delicate, much like that of a fresh

water perch; and indeed, so it proved to be.

The Captain had taken a course much further to the eastward than he

would ordinarily. Usually, in going to the Guianas, the route is through

the Bahama group, by way of the Crooked Island Channel, thence through

the Windward Passage, between Cuba and Haiti and across the Caribbean

sea by the east end of Jamaica. But Mr. Sargent wished to go further to

the eastward so as to pass among the Leeward Islands, perhaps landing

there to await the return of the bark from the coast. This plan could

be followed without detriment, as a little delay in reaching Guiana was

more than likely to result in an improved market for the cargo. This

explains the unusual course of the _Ethelyn Hope_.

*CHAPTER III.*

_*A Terrible Storm; Leaving the Ship*_*.*

The weather continued fine for three days, after passing the latitude of

San Salvador, with a fresh breeze blowing from the northwest, which sped

the bark on her course so that she logged better than ten knots; but on

the fourth day the wind swung around to the north and gradually hauled

into the northeast, and the long, steady swells began to rise.

The Captain at once prepared for a gale and ordered the sails trimmed to

meet it. That the apprehensions of the Captain were grave was proven by

the precautions taken; for not only was sail shortened to the last

extremity, but the hatches were securely battened down.

The barometer began to fall about noon, and from that time the wind

increased until it was blowing a gale; but just after sunset the wind

almost died away, though the mountainous foam-flecked seas continued.

As the sun went down the sky rapidly became overcast, and a cloud of

inky blackness appeared along the horizon. As we stood watching it a

long line of whiteness appeared between the sea and the black cloud, and

stretched away far toward the east. Gradually the white line came

nearer, until it proved to be a wall of foam. It was advancing toward

the ship with great rapidity; and as it came nearer the air above it was

seen to be filled with flying spray.

The wind began to freshen, and the sailors were hurrying about in

obedience to the orders of the Captain, still shortening sail. All the

upper sails were reefed.

Nearer and nearer came the wall of foam, and with a roar it struck the

ship, and the storm broke in a perfect tornado.

The bark was careened until the lee scuppers were submerged; and the

staunch craft shook from end to end. For an instant she seemed buried

beneath the raging sea, and then rose and plunged into the next wave.

Mr. Sargent and I made haste to go below, where we remained holding

ourselves in our berths while the ship reeled, plunged and groaned in

every timber and plank.

A fearful report like the crack of a rifle told us that some sail had

been carried away; and then followed others. At length, from a change

in the ship's motion, we judged that the Captain was trying to put her

about and run before the gale; but suddenly a fearful crash which seemed

as though the bark had split from stem to stern was followed by a

terrible rolling and plunging.

Crack! Crack! and the bark pitched and groaned worse than ever.

We heard the Captain making his way toward the cabin, and then saw him

enter. His face wore a look of deep anxiety.

"The masts have gone," he said, "and the bark is unmanageable. You must

prepare for the worst. We may have to take to the boats."

"At once, Captain?" asked Mr. Sargent.

"I cannot tell until the well is sounded; but I fear that she must

founder."

At that moment the first mate entered the cabin and stated that the bark

was leaking badly. The water was rising fast in the hold.

"We must remain on the ship to the last moment," said the Captain, "for

a boat could not live in this sea."

The Captain returned to the deck, and how long we clung to the berths I

cannot tell, for I was dazed by the peril which threatened us--Were we

to be lost at sea, drowned, all hands?

The Captain again entered the cabin. "We must take to the boats," he

said, "and Heaven help us."

We hastened on deck just as we were, half clothed, leaving everything

behind. Nothing could be taken.

When we reached the deck we saw the Captain standing by the starboard

boat. The other had been launched, and had instantly disappeared in the

darkness and foaming water.

The Captain, first and second mate, Mr. Sargent and myself now alone

remained on the bark.

We hurried into the boat. "We should not be far from one of the

outlying islands of the Windward group," said the captain; "and if the

boat can live in this sea until daylight we may reach one of the Virgin

Islands."

The tackle was let go, and a great sea caught the boat. She was lifted

up, and up, and up, and then sank, it seemed, into a fathomless abyss.

I saw the first and second mate bend to the oars. The Captain was in

the stern. The boat careened and seemed to start suddenly upward on an

inclined plane.

A rush of water enveloped her. I heard a roaring sound in my ears, and

I knew no more.

*CHAPTER IV.*

_*Cast up by the Sea on a Tropical Island*_*.*

When I regained consciousness I was lying upon a sandy beach. I was

uninjured, but rather stiff, while my body seemed to be bruised in

places. I was, of course, wet to the skin, and I crawled up and lay

upon the sand where my clothing was quickly dried by the hot sun, now

well up.

Meanwhile I looked about me. I had been driven ashore between two

points of land, upon a narrow beach. The vegetation, very thick and

luxuriant, grew close to the line of sand, and all around me, beautiful

trees were waving in the balmy breeze, their shining leaves glistening

in the sunlight.

I stood up and looked behind me, but I saw nothing save lofty mountains

heavily wooded.

I had no doubt but that I was on an island, indeed I could be nowhere

else, and I judged that it must be one of the most northern of the

Leeward group.

Looking toward the sea, I saw only the broad expanse of deep blue water

stretching away to the horizon. There was no other land in sight.

The sea had become calmer, but the influence of the storm was still

evidenced by the heavy surf which broke upon the narrow beach. There

was no wreckage of any kind, no sign of anything or anybody belonging to

the bark.

At first the utter lonesomeness and hopelessness of my situation

depressed me; but it would not do to give way to gloomy thoughts. I was

entirely alone, and, so far as I knew, upon an uninhabited island. My

future was a sealed book. After a while I began to take a more hopeful

view of the situation, and the novelty of my surroundings, and the

strange things about me, aroused my curiosity. So I determined to

explore along the shore.

The vegetation was very dense, and appeared to be interwoven with vines

of monstrous size. One kind of tree, very tall and with a heavy long

narrow leaf seemed to be the most abundant; and from the descriptions

which I had read, and by the clusters of oblong fruit at the bases of

the leaf-heads, I knew them to be cocoanut palms.

"If I am really alone upon an uninhabited island," I thought, "at least

I shall not starve so long as I am able to obtain plenty of cocoanuts."

Slowly I walked along the shore, my face being toward the east as I knew

from the direction of the sun. First I decided to go to the top of the

loftiest headland to see if I could obtain any trace of the bark,

although I felt sure that she had gone down, and that all but myself had

perished; still, the loneliness of my situation caused me to cling to

what I felt was but a vain hope, that some one beside myself had

survived.

With thoughts confused, and laboring under varying emotions, I walked

slowly along, keeping on the sand except when I was obliged to turn

aside to avoid a kind of dagger-like plant whose leaves were armed with

cruel points.

Reaching the headland I was obliged to go through a thicket where my

scanty clothing, as well as my hands, was torn by great thorns. However,

I reached the point of land, and climbing to the top of a high mound I

looked around. Before me, and to my right and left, there was nothing

but the blue, heaving ocean; and behind me, I saw nothing but a dense

forest, with lofty mountains in the distance. There was no sign of life

save brilliant plumaged birds flitting about, and bright colored

butterflies glancing in the sunshine.

Surely I was alone; but whether on an uninhabited island or not, the

future alone would reveal. For the present it did not matter, and I

must certainly depend upon my own resources.

I returned to the spot where I had been cast ashore, meanwhile revolving

in my mind my present condition. What gave me great anxiety just then

was my lack of clothing. I had on only my trousers, and shirt, shoes

and stockings; and these were all I possessed in the world, but I was

overjoyed to find that my knife was still in one of the pockets of my

trousers. It was a good one, large and having two blades. The large

blade was long and strong, and the possession of it might mean much to

me in the future.

Reaching the place where I regained consciousness after being thrown

ashore by the waves. I began to think of finding a good place to build a

temporary shelter. This seemed to be as good a location as any, I

thought, as I looked around. It was in a sheltered cove, a clear,

grassy plat surrounded by trees.

"Why not make my camp right here," I asked myself; and as I reflected it

seemed to be the only place where I should locate for the present, for

here I should be in a position to watch closely in the hope that some

vestige of the bark would yet be washed ashore; for I thought that, if

the vessel had foundered, something belonging to her would very likely

come ashore, and I felt sure that some parts of the boats, and perhaps

the bodies of some of my unfortunate companions would be almost sure to

drift in.

It was, I judged, now near mid-day, and the heat of the sun upon my head

gave me some concern. I must devise some covering for my head. Looking

about with this object in view, I saw hanging from a small palm tree

what looked like coarse canvas. On examining it more closely, I found

that it was really a sort of natural cloth, about the color of hemp, and

composed of fibres that appeared to be very strong, crossing one another

like warp and filling, but not interwoven. Instead, the fibres were

closely stuck together so that a strong, pliant fabric was formed.

With my knife I cut off a large piece which I twisted about in such a

manner as to form a conical cap. The edges I fastened together with

long, sharp thorns that I cut from some bushes near by. This, though

rude, would protect my head for the time being.

Before proceeding to begin the construction of my place of abode, I felt

inclined to look about for some means of satisfying the hunger which I

now felt keenly, for I had eaten nothing since supper the night before

on board the ill-fated bark.

The cocoanut trees suggested the most available source of supply for the

first meal in the strange surroundings in which I found myself; so going

to a cluster of the trees near by, meanwhile wondering how I would

manage to obtain the nuts fifty feet or more above my head, I was

greatly relieved to find plenty of them lying upon the ground. But the

nuts that I saw were not like those common in the markets at home.

Instead, they were oblong and many times larger. I soon discovered that

to get at the meat I must first cut away the outer husk or covering with

which it was enveloped; so I opened my knife and set to work. It was no

easy task, for the husk was thick and tough; but after much labor I

succeeded in removing it until I bared the round, hard shell of the nut,

when, with a large stone I was not long in cracking it, and laying bare

the white meat. With the nut in my hands I walked about among the trees

as I ate. So interested was I in the beautiful, brilliant-colored

flowers, some of which were of enormous size, and in numbers of little

green lizards that hopped about over the leaves of the smaller shrubs,

that I did not at once notice, as I came into a grassy, circular plat,

that the ground beneath a compact, shapely tree was plentifully

besprinkled with golden globes, and I was in a high state of elation

when I discovered that they were oranges. The tree itself was loaded

with green and yellow fruit. I peeled one of the largest, and found

that it was delicious and juicy, but of a rather different flavor from

those to which I had been accustomed. But here was at least both

refreshment and sustenance, so I was in no danger of starving, and I

made a hearty meal.

Crossing the grassy plat where the orange tree grew, I descended a

gentle slope among the palm trees and soon came to a beautiful little

stream of clear water. Having still one of the halves of the cocoanut

shell in my hand, I used it as a cup and took a long draught of the

water, which, though rather warm, appeared to be pure and wholesome.

The stream at this point was quite broad and very shallow, and though

but a few rods from the mouth it flowed quite swiftly. Along the banks

I noticed that a certain tall, reed-like plant grew in great profusion,

and, on closer examination I discovered it to be a kind of wild cane,

with large, feathery, chocolate-colored plumes.

I followed the bank of the stream to the shore, and then returned to my

landing place, walking along the narrow beach.

Hunger satisfied for the time-being, I set about making preparations for

constructing my dwelling. Although in no need of protection from cold

in this tropical climate, I remembered having read that it was not

advisable to be without shelter at night, so I decided that my first

task should be to construct a house, or a hut.

I first chose a clear place a little in among the palms, perhaps a dozen

rods from the beach, and, as accurately as I could by pacing, I measured

off an area ten feet square. Each corner I marked by driving down a

short stick, and then went in search of four corner posts. After a

little searching I found some straight trees about three inches in

diameter, having smooth bark and with but few limbs, each tree forked

about seven feet from the ground. After an hour's hard work, I

succeeded in cutting down four of them with my knife; and after trimming

off the branches and cutting off the tops, leaving ample forks, I

dragged them to the site of lay dwelling. I next felled another pole

which was cut in halves, leaving the butt end about four feet long.

This I sharpened at the thickest end, and with it made holes about

eighteen inches deep at each corner of the square to be occupied by my

house.

Into each of these holes I set one of the forked corner posts, wedging

it firmly with stones from the beach, driven solidly down all around it,

filling in each with earth which I trod down firmly. Four long poles

were now needed to rest one end in each of the upright forks, so as to

form a frame, and I started away again, this time toward the brook,

which I followed up stream. I had gone but a short distance when I came

to a place where the stream widened into a broad pool. The water here

was dark and apparently deep, and all around it, gracefully bending over

the still depths, I found growing tall plants having small, narrow green

leaves. The plants grew in clusters, and some of them were very tall, I

judged from twenty-five to forty feet. I hurried forward with a view to

ascertaining whether they would suit my purpose, when I immediately made

a discovery which at once solved the question of obtaining an ample

supply of material for building operations, both now and in the future;

for the tall, graceful plants proved to be bamboos. I knew them from the

descriptions I had read, and from the regular joints, just like those I

had seen on the bamboo fishing rods at home.

I selected several of the bamboos, each being about two inches in

diameter, and although I found them to be very hard, I managed to cut

them down, and to trim off the branches and the tops. By making three

trips I dragged the bamboos to my building site. Laying them along one

side of the area to be occupied by the house, I found that they were

nearly twenty feet long. Four of them I cut off to the required length.

I then raised one on either side, one end of each pole resting in one of

the forks of the uprights. A pole was then laid across each of the

other sides, resting upon the poles supported by the forks, so that a

sort of scaffold was formed, which needed only to be covered over to be

complete.

I had worked so busily and had become so much interested that I scarcely

noticed that the sun was already sinking behind the palm trees, and

casting long shadows across the beach; so, as I was aware that darkness

very quickly follows sunset in the tropics, I must make haste and

provide a temporary shelter for the night before suspending work. I

therefore cut the rest of the poles in halves and laid them across the

two longer poles resting in the forks, thus forming a gridiron-like

structure. With my knife I cut a large quantity of leafy branches from

the shrubs that grew near at hand, and then went to the brook for an

armful of wild canes. With this material I covered a portion of the

scaffold, making quite a good shelter between myself and the sky.

As the sun sank lower and the shadows deepened, I felt a sense of

loneliness steal over me, for the idea of spending the night alone, I

knew not where, perhaps on an island, with the boundless ocean on one

side, and a deep, unknown forest on the other which might conceal fierce

wild animals, was not at all pleasing. But I must train myself to know

no fear, and the sooner I began to school myself to this end, the

better.

Although I felt sure I should not sleep with nothing to protect me and

with no means of making a fire, I instinctively began to think of

providing some sort of couch; and again I took my knife and cut a

quantity of bushes which I piled in the form of a bed beneath the

scaffold. I next cut several armfuls of the tall grass which grew all

around and with it covered the couch of bushes. I now had an acceptable

bed, so constructed that one end which was to serve as the head, was

about a foot higher than the other.

By the time I had finished it was quite dark; but I still stood leaning

against one of the corner uprights with my face turned toward the

forest, hesitating what to do next, and instinctively listening for some

new sound. There was no breeze stirring, and the sea lightly washed the

sand with a low murmur which tended to increase my feeling of

loneliness. Since sunset the air had become beautifully cool. For a

long time I stood motionless.

The sounds of the night were about me; and once I started violently when

I thought I heard a twig crack. Then I heard, apparently only a little

distance away, a noise like a stone, thrown by some one, striking the

ground; but, after the startled feeling had partly left me I reasoned

that the noise was made by a ripened cocoanut falling from the tree.

The indistinct notes of many insects, new and strange, filled the air,

and one particularly noisy insect gave forth a sharp clipping sound like

that made by shears in the hands of a barber. Sometimes a note like

that of a bird varied the myriads of sounds. Feeling reassured, after a

time, I cautiously lay down upon my couch, but still listening. How

long I remained conscious I cannot say; but I must have been very weary

from the excitement of the ship-wreck, the hardship of being cast ashore

and the busy day's work.

*CHAPTER V.*

_*Strange Surroundings; Building a House*_*.*

My next sensation was that of the sun shining in my face when I awoke in

the morning. At first, as I looked out from beneath my shelter I could

scarcely comprehend where I was or how I came there; but the events of

the day before soon returned to me. For a few minutes I lay still,

looking around upon my beautiful surroundings. What a perfect paradise

it was, and how overjoyed I should be were I here under different

circumstances.

There was a gentle breeze stirring, just enough to move the feathery

leaves of the palms and to slightly bend the tall grass; and though I

could not see any of them, I heard birds giving forth discordant notes

in the forest around.

But I must stir myself, for there was much to do. My house must be

finished, I must devise some articles for personal use, and the problem

of my future sustenance must be solved, for I could not long continue to

work and subsist entirely upon cocoanuts and oranges, although they

would answer well enough for the present.

So I sprang up and going directly to the stream I bathed my face and

hands. Having no towel and seeing no substitute for one, I sat down and

dried myself in the sun.

Cracking another cocoanut in the same manner as I did the day before and

gathering some oranges, I sat down with my back against the palm tree

and proceeded with my frugal breakfast. As I had neglected to provide

myself with a meal ere I retired the night before, I was very hungry and

my appetite was not satisfied until I had eaten nearly a dozen oranges,

beside the cocoanut. Using a half shell of the cocoanut as a cup, I

took a long drink of water from the stream and turned again toward my

embryo dwelling.

I thought it best to construct the walls first in order to provide

against the possible attacks of wild animals, and knowing this to be the

first part of the dry season which, in the latitude in which I judged

myself to be, lasts from the middle of November until May, there was no

immediate necessity for providing shelter from rain.

The necessity of devising some plan for keeping an accurate account of

each day as it passed, now occurred to me, and as I walked back to the

pool for another supply of bamboos, I revolved the question in my mind.

The record which I proposed to keep must be indestructible, and in some

compact, portable form so that I could easily take it with me in the

event of sudden departure from my habitation. One of the halves of the

cocoanut shells which caught my eye as I passed the spot where I had

partaken of breakfast, gave me an idea which I at once adopted.

Then and there I put the plan into execution. It was this: I resolved to

use only the halves of the cocoanut shells that contained the natural

holes through which the shoots of the germinating nut emerge from the

shell. The meat was removed from the half shell, leaving the two holes

through it.

At the close of each day, as near sunset as possible, I would cut a deep

notch in the edge of the shell, and each shell should have as many

notches as there were days in the month. On the completion of the month

I would carve with my knife the name of the month and year; and in this

way I hoped to preserve a correct record of the time. As each month was

finished I proposed to pass a cord through one of the holes; and for the

purpose I at once braided a strong cord from the fibres of the cocoanut

cloth from which I had constructed my head gear.

I remembered, accurately the day of the wreck, and as I had been on

shore one day, I out the first notch, and engraved on the shell:

"December 18th, 18--."

As I marked upon my calendar I wondered how many shells I should have

upon my string ere I was rescued from my lonely position. "Perhaps," I

thought, "I may never see any other place." But I resolved not to

harbor gloomy thoughts; and tying a large hard knot in one end of the

cord, I strung the shell upon it, inserting it from the outside.

Succeeding shells strung upon the cord would fit into one another like a

nest of bowls. Thus I would have a complete record, and a practically

imperishable one.

As I knew the day of the week on which I had commenced my lone life, I

resolved, for each Sunday, to bore a hole instead of cutting a notch,

for I intended to observe the Sabbath by abstaining from work.

Continuing my way to the pool, I set to work cutting bamboos. I

selected only those measuring about two inches in diameter, and before

the sun reached the zenith I had thirty of them cut and trimmed, ready

to drag to my house.

I found it hot work, and I threw myself down to rest. For the first

time I caught sight of the birds that had been making such a babel of

discordant sounds all the morning. Several of them were flying about

near the opposite side of the pool, and I at once recognized them as

parrots.

"What a consolation it would be," I thought, "if I could capture one and

teach it to talk. It certainly would prove far better than no

companion."

Having landed the bamboos at the house, I set about cutting them into

lengths corresponding to the height of the corner posts. These I set

into the ground at regular intervals, in line with the posts, lashing

the upper ends to the horizontal poles resting in the forks, and to the

poles across the other two sides, using for the purpose a long, supple

vine which I found growing in plenty in the edge of the woods, twisting

around the trunks of the trees.

*CHAPTER VI.*

_*The Stockade; A Crusoe's Life*_*.*

By the time I had finished setting the poles into the ground, thus

forming the enclosure of the house, my appetite began to assert itself;

and I was again reminded that I must search for food other than

cocoanuts and oranges. More substantial nourishment I must have if I was

to continue to work and retain my health and strength. But my extreme

anxiety to carry along the construction of my house sufficiently far to

afford a feeling of security at night, decided me to make a few more

meals of the oranges and nuts before suspending work long enough to

discover or develop resources.

Again I went to the pool and cut two more bamboos, each twenty feet

long. I then cut them in halves, making four poles each ten feet long.

Carrying these to the house, I lashed one across the upright palings

midway between the upper pole and the ground, lashing them firmly to

each of the palings. This strengthened the structure, and shaking it

with all my strength I was gratified to find that, though naturally

elastic, it was firm and strong.

As I now had a safe protection from any wild animal of moderate size and

strength, I felt that I should be secure at night. I was on an island

somewhere to the northeast of the Caribbean sea, in fact, I reasoned

that I could be nowhere else; and from this, together with what I had

read, I concluded that there could be no very large or ferocious wild

animals in the forests about me.

I still had some time to work before sunset, and I therefore went to the

bank of the stream to cut a quantity of wild canes which I proposed to

weave in the form of basket work, between the palings, thus forming the

walls of my house.

Cutting the canes was easy work, and by sunset I had a great pile of

them landed by the house.

Again satisfying the cravings of hunger with oranges and cocoanuts,

washed down with water from the brook, I cut another notch in the

cocoanut-shell calendar, and after sitting and listening to the varied

insect sounds until it was quite dark, I retired, to my couch within the

inclosure.

Lying upon my couch, until I fell asleep, I revolved in my mind various

plans for the future. The details for the construction of my house were

pretty well worked out in my mind; and the desirability of surrounding

my abode with some sort of a stockade occurred to me. I had little fear

of attacks from wild animals, but I presumed that the island was

inhabited in some part of it, by what sort of people I had not yet

considered.

Indeed, it was extremely improbable that an island in this quarter of

the world could be totally uninhabited. Whether the islanders proved

friendly or otherwise, the idea of a stockade as a protection against

possible surprise met with my immediate approval.

Another question of extreme importance to be considered was that of a

permanent food supply. Perhaps only cocoanuts and oranges abounded in

my near vicinity; at any rate, I resolved to carefully survey the

adjacent region for the purpose of ascertaining its resources.

Then the question of providing clothing for myself must be considered,

for, at best, my present raiment would not long survive the rough usage

which it was now receiving, and to which it would hereafter be subjected

in the bush. I even thought it might be well to construct a suit from

the cocoanut-fibre cloth, and thus save my civilized clothes for the day

of my rescue.

Many other things passed through my mind in rapid succession as I lay

upon my couch, among them the project of starting out upon a tour of

discovery in an endeavor to ascertain the extent of my domain, and if it

was inhabited in any part of it.

*CHAPTER VII.*

_*A Cocoanut Calendar; Food Supply*_*.*

The notches in the cocoanut calendar grew in number as the days passed,

busy days of hard, incessant labor, and four months of my exile elapsed

ere the house was finished to my satisfaction and a substantial stockade

erected around it. The walls of my house were made of the wild canes

closely woven like basket-work. It had been done very carefully, and,

when completed, I had a perfect shelter, both from the sun and the wind.

The roof was made of the long grass, alternate with layers of bamboos;

and by using the larger bamboos in the centre of the roof, when by

successive layers it reached the proper thickness, I had a roof which

sloped steeply from the centre to each edge, which, carefully covered

with an outside layer of the long grass dressed from the top downward,

would perfectly shed the water during the rainy season. The thickness

of the roof rendered it impervious to wet, and, as I soon discovered,

almost a non-conductor of heat.

I left no windows in the house, as I thought there would be sufficient

ventilation through the interstices of the cane-walls, but I constructed

a door three feet wide and five feet high, by lashing bamboos together

in the form of a gridiron, and then weaving in cane as I had done in

constructing the walls. For hinges I made use of vines twisted

together.

The stockade surrounded the house at a distance of about six feet from

either side, and it cost me several weeks of steady work. I had first

to cut a great number of good-sized bamboos, which, with only my knife,

was very laborious work. I had frequently to sharpen the knife on a

piece of soft, porous rock which I found near the brook.

Each bamboo was cut off to a length of ten feet, and sharpened at the

small, or upper end. These I set into the ground at intervals of one

foot, to a depth of two feet. Then, at a distance of one foot from the

top all around the enclosure, I lashed long bamboos, using the tough

vine which I found in abundance near the edge of the bush, winding it

around each upright bamboo, and around the horizontal poles. Between

the horizontal pole and the ground, I wove a close basketwork of the

vine. It was harder work weaving in this vine, as it was larger than the

canes; but it was very tough, and a wall composed of it closely woven

would prove a very effective defense.

So I kept busily at work, day after day, cutting the vines, trimming off

the leaves, dragging them to the house and weaving them in around the

bamboo uprights, until I finally had a wall about me elastic but capable

of sustaining a great strain, the sharpened ends of the upright bamboos

forming an effectual safeguard against the walls being scaled from the

outside.

After the woven-work of vines was thoroughly seasoned, which did not

take long, I cut round holes six inches in diameter, four on each side,

about five feet from the ground, in order that I might command a view in

all directions without leaving the enclosure.

In the side facing the sea, I made a door, constructed in a manner

similar to that in the house; but, for the stockade door, I devised an

arrangement for securely barring it on the inside, by using two large

bamboos each two feet longer than the door was wide, held in place by

rings of the supple vine which I twisted about the two door-posts.

These rings were made by first bending several inches of one end of the

vine in the form of a circle, and then winding the rest of the vine

around this ring. Through these the ends of the bars passing across the

door were placed, which, if anything, made the opening, when closed and

fastened inside, stronger than any other portion of the structure.

During all this time I had lived solely upon cocoanuts and oranges,

varied with a few shellfish, somewhat resembling periwinkles, only

larger, that I found along the beach. These I ate raw, and found them

rather palatable but somewhat tough. However, as I continued in good

health and strength, I preferred to complete my house and stockade

before making a systematic attempt to provide other food.

Nothing now remained to be done in connection with my dwelling, but to

carry into execution an idea which I had evolved while at work, that of

transplanting some creepers from the edge of the forest and training

them along the stockade, so that, as I calculated, in a short time, in

this tropical land of rapid growth, they would completely cover the

stockade, and render my retreat more safe from observation, should my

solitude be invaded.

During all this time I had suspended work on Sundays, but I had occupied

the time in making short trips inland, and along the coast in either

direction; but finding the forest very dense as I left the shore, I

could not have gone more than four or five miles in any direction. My

trips along the shore were without results, so far as enlightenment

concerning the extent of the island was concerned, for every bend of the

coast revealed only headlands and more coast-line stretching away

beyond.

The results of my wandering in the bush had troubled me not a little,

for I had found no new fruits and vegetables, and had discovered no

animals, or birds that I could bring myself to think edible. There were

only parrots and smaller birds, some of brilliant plumage; and even had

I chosen to eat them I had no means of securing the game. I was

somewhat surprised not to find more humming birds. I saw only one kind,

a large, black species, having two tiny golden feathers each about six

inches long at the sides of its tail. Of snakes, I had seen none, nor

land turtles.

The sea-shore, too, seemed to be as devoid of food supplies, for I had

seen no sea turtle, though I knew that they should be plentiful in this

latitude.

But I refrained from attempting a systematic exploration, feeling it

would be wise to first provide as secure a retreat as possible for my

permanent headquarters.

*CHAPTER VIII.*

_*Thoughts of the Future; Making a Bow-Gun*_*.*

My house was now finished, and I began, with a light heart to think

about starting on a long exploring trip. Before taking my departure,

however, two questions of importance must be solved, if possible,

namely, that of devising a weapon with which I could shoot game, if any

was found; and some means of procuring fire.