I was now in the months of November and December, expecting my crop of barley and rice. The ground I had manured or dug up for them was not great, but now my crop promised very well. When, on a sudden, I found I was in danger of losing it all again by enemies of several sorts, which it was scarce possible to keep from it. First, the goats, and wild creatures which I called hares, who, tasting the sweetness of the blade, lay in it night and day as soon as it came up and ate it so close it could get no time to shoot up into stalk.
I saw no remedy for this but by making an enclosure about it with a hedge, which I did with a great deal of toil, and the more because it required speed. However, as my arable land was but small and suited to my crop, I got it tolerably well fenced in about three weeks' time. Shooting some of the creatures in the day-time, in a little time the enemies forsook the place and the corn grew very strong and well and began to ripen apace.
But as the goats and hares ruin'd me before, while my corn was in the blade, so the birds were as likely to ruin me now when it was in the ear. Going along by the place to see how it throve I saw my little crop surrounded with fowls who stood, as it were, watching till I should be gone. I immediately let fly among them, for I always had my gun with me. I had no sooner shot but there rose up a little cloud of fowls which I had not seen at all from among the corn itself.
This touched me sensibly, for I foresaw in a few days they would devour all my hopes. I should be starved and never be able to raise a crop at all. What to do I could not tell. However, I resolv’d not to lose my corn if possible, tho’ I should watch it night and day. In the first place, I went among it to see what damage was already done and found they had spoiled a good deal of it. But as it was yet too green for them the loss was not so great. The remainder was likely to be a good crop if it could be saved.
I staid by it to load my gun, and then coming away, I could see the thieves sitting upon all the trees about me, as if they only waited till I was gone away, and the event proved it to be so. As I walked off, as if gone, I was no sooner out of their sight than they dropt down one by one into the corn again. I was so provoked I could not have patience to stay till more came on, knowing every grain they eat now was, as it might be said, a peck-loaf to me in the consequence. I rush’d on them and my cries with the scent of the beast did make them run off again, this time all the farther, tho' I did suspect they would return for the sweet corn, a feast they had never tasted afore.
As it would be, however, this was the first night of the November moon. I did stay by my crops until the mantle of the beast did come upon me, and peer'd with great intent thru the smok'd lens, or as best could be done through the intoxicated muddle the beast made of my mind.
In the morn I did follow the tracks and spoor of the beast and located some of its prey. Half of a hare, and another all but whole the beast had kill'd just for the joy of the hunt, and a she-goat which had been gutt'd and eaten out. This was what I wished for. I took them up and served them as we serve notorious thieves in England, viz. hanged them in chayns, for a terror to others. It is impossible to imagine this should have such an effect as it had. The fowls not only never came to the corn, but, in short, they forsook all that part of the island and I could never see a bird near the place as long as my scare-crows hung there.
This I was very glad of, you may be sure, and about the latter end of December, which was our second harvest of the year, I reaped my corn. At the end of all my harvesting, I found that out of my half peck of seed I had near two bushels of rice, and above two bushels and a half of barley, by my guess, for I had no measure.
However, this was great encouragement to me. I foresaw that, in time, it would please God to supply me with bread. Yet here I was perplexed again. I neither knew how to grind, or make meal of my corn, or indeed how to clean it and part it. Nor if made into meal, how to make bread of it, and if how to make it, yet I knew not how to bake it. These things being added to my desire of having a good quantity for store, and to secure a constant supply, I resolv’d not to taste any of this crop, but to preserve it all for seed against the next season, and in the mean time to employ all my study and hours of working to accomplish this great work of providing myself with corn and bread.
It might be truly said, now I worked for my bread. It is a little wonderful, and what I believe few people have thought much upon, viz. the strange multitude of little things necessary in the providing, producing, curing, dressing, making, and finishing this one article of bread.