First, I found all the ship's provisions were dry and untouched by the water. Being very well disposed to eat, I went to the bread-room and fill’d my pockets with bisket, and ate it as I went about other things, for I had no time to lose. I also found some rum in the great cabin, of which I took a large dram, and which I had indeed need enough of to spirit me for what was before me. Now I wanted nothing but a boat to furnish myself with many things which I foresaw would be very necessary to me.
It was in vain to sit still and wish for what was not to be had, and this extremity roused my application. We had several spare yards, and two or three large sparrs of wood, and a spare top-mast or two in the ship. I resolv’d to fall to work with these, and flung as many overboard as I could manage for their weight, tying every one with a rope that they might not drive away. When this was done I went down the ship's side and, pulling them to me, I tied four of them fast together at both ends, as well as I could, in the form of a raft. Laying two or three short pieces of plank upon them, crossways, I found I could walk upon it very well but it was not able to bear any great weight, the pieces being too light. I went to work, and with the carpenter's saw I cut a spare top-mast into three lengths and added them to my raft with a great deal of labour and pains. But the hope of furnishing myself with necessaries encouraged me to go beyond what I should have been able to have done upon another occasion.
My raft was now strong enough to bear any reasonable weight. My next care was what to load it with and how to preserve what I laid upon it from the surf of the sea, but I was not long considering this. I first laid all the planks or boards upon it I could get, and having considered well what I most wanted, I got three of the seamen's chests, which I had broken open and empty’d, and lowered them down upon my raft; these I fill’d with provisions. There had been some barley and wheat together, but, to my great disappointment I found the rats had eaten or spoiled it all. As for liquors, I found several cases of bottles belonging to our skipper in which were some cordial waters. These I stowed by themselves, there being no need to put them into the chests, nor any room for them.
While I was doing this, I found the tyde began to flow and I had the mortification to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left upon the sand, swim away. My breeches, which were only linen and open-knee'd, I swam on board in them and my stockings. This put me upon rummaging for cloathes, of which I found enough but took no more than I wanted for present use, for I had other things which my eye was more upon. It was after long searching I found the carpenter's chest, which was indeed a very useful prize to me, and much more valuable than a ship-lading of gold would have been at that time. I got it down to my raft, even whole as it was, without losing time to look into it for I knew in general what it contained.
My next care was for some ammunition and arms. There were two good fowling-pieces in the great cabin and two pistols. These I secured first with some powder-horns, and a small bag of shot, and two old rusty swords. I knew there were three barrels of powder in the ship but knew not where our gunner had stowed them. With much search I found them, two of them dry and good, the third had taken water. Those two I got to my raft. And now I thought myself pretty well freighted and began to think how I should get to shore with them, having neither sail, oar, nor rudder. The least cap-full of wind would have overset all my navigation.
I had three encouragements; 1, a smooth, calm sea; 2, the tide rising, and setting in to the shore; 3, what little wind there was blew me towards the land. And thus, having found two or three broken oars belonging to the long-boat, with this cargo I put to sea. For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very well, only I found it drive a little distant from the place where I had landed before. I perceived there was some indraft of the water, and consequently I hoped to find some creek or river there which I might make use of as a port to get to land with my cargo.