I had been now thirteen days ashore and had been eleven times on board the ship, in which time I had brought away all one pair of hands could well be supposed capable to bring. I believe, had the calm weather held, I should have brought away the whole ship piece by piece. Tho’ I thought I had rummaged the cabin so as nothing could be found, on my twelfth visit I discovered a locker with drawers in it, in one of which I found two or three razors, and one pair of large scissars with some dozen of good knives and forks. In another I found about thirty-six pounds value in money, some European coin, some Brasil, some pieces of eight, some gold, and some silver.
I smil’d to myself at the sight of this money: “O drug!” said I aloud, "what art thou good for? E'en remain where thou art, and go to the bottom, as a creature whose life is not worth saving.” However, upon second thoughts, I took it away. Wrapping all this in a piece of canvas, I began to think of making another raft. But while I was preparing this, I found the sky over-cast, and the wind began to rise. In a quarter of an hour it blew a fresh gale from the shore. It occur’d to me it was in vain to pretend to make a raft with the wind off shore. It was my business to be gone before the tyde of flood began, or otherwise I might not be able to reach the shore at all. Accordingly, I let myself down into the water and swam across the channel which lay between the ship and the sands, and even that with difficulty enough, with the weight of the things I had about me and the roughness of the water. The wind rose and, before it was quite high water, it blew a storm.
But I got home to my little tent, where I lay with all my wealth about me very secure. It blew very hard all night. In the morning, when I looked out, behold, no more ship was to be seen! I was a little surprised, but recovered myself with this satisfactory reflection. I had lost no time, nor abated no diligence, to get every thing out of her that could be useful to me, and, indeed, there was little left in her I was able to bring away if I had had more time. I now gave over any more thoughts of the ship, or of any thing out of her, except what might drive on shore from her wreck.
My thoughts were now employ’d about securing myself against savages, if any should appear, and also against the wild acts of the beast, for if it were to destroy any of the many treasures I had saved from the ship, my life would become the harsher for it. I had many thoughts of the method how to do this and what kind of dwelling to make, whether I should make me a cave in the earth or a tent upon the earth. In short, I resolv’d upon both, the manner and description of which it may not be improper to give an account of.
I soon found the place I was in was not for my settlement because it was upon a low, moorish ground, near the sea. I believed it would not be wholesome because there was no fresh water near it. So I resolv’d to find a more healthy and more convenient spot of ground.
I consulted several things in my situation, which I found would be proper for me: 1st, health and fresh water, I just now mentioned: 2dly, shelter from the heat of the sun: 3dly, security from ravenous creatures, whether men or the beast: 4thly, a view to the sea, that if God sent any ship in sight, I might not lose any advantage for my deliverance, of which I was not willing to banish all my expectation yet.
In search for a place proper for this, I found a little plat of land on the side of a rising hill, whose front, towards this plain, was steep as a house-side, so nothing could come down upon me from the top. On the side of this rock there was a hollow place, worn a little way in, like the entrance of a cave, but there was not really any cave at all.
On the flat of the green, just before this hollow place, I resolv’d to pitch my tent. Before I set it up, I drew a half-circle before the hollow place which took in about ten yards in its semi-diameter from the rock, and twenty yards in its diameter from its beginning and ending.
In this half-circle I pitched two rows of strong stakes, driving them into the ground till they stood very firm like piles, the biggest end being out of the ground about five feet and a half and sharpened on the top. The two rows did not stand above six inches from one another, and this fence was so strong neither man nor the beast could get into it or over it. This cost me a great deal of time and labour, to cut the piles in the woods, bring them to the place, and drive them into the earth, but I thought it time well spent to know my livelihood would not be endangered by the beast.
The entrance into this place I made to be not by a door, but by a short ladder to go over the top, which, when I was in, I lifted over after me. I was fenced in and fortified from all the world and consequently slept secure in the night, which otherwise I could not have done.