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blessings for me。 I would have fain rubbed my eyes and looked
again； for； as far as I could see； the rocks bordering upon the
ocean were covered with seals。 There were thousands of them； and in
the water other thousands disported themselves； while the sound that
went up from all their throats was prodigious and deafening。 I knew
it when： I saw itmeat lay there for the taking； meat sufficient
for a score of ships' companies。
I directly seized my oarthan which there was no other stick of
wood on the islandand cautiously advanced upon all that immensity
of provender。 It was quickly guessed by me that these creatures of
the sea were unacquainted with man。 They betrayed no signals of
timidity at my approach； and I found it a boy's task to rap them on
the head with the oar。
And when I had so killed my third and my fourth； I went immediately
and strangely mad。 Indeed quite bereft was I of all judgment as I
slew and slew and continued to slay。 For the space of two hours I
toiled unceasingly with the oar till I was ready to drop。 What
excess of slaughter I might have been guilty of I know not； for at
the end of that time； as if by a signal； all the seals that still
lived threw themselves into the water and swiftly disappeared。
I found the number of slain seals to exceed two hundred； and I was
shocked and frightened because of the madness of slaughter that had
possessed me。 I had sinned by wanton wastefulness； and after I had
duly refreshed myself with this good wholesome food； I set about as
well as I could to make amends。 But first； ere the great task
began； I returned thanks to that Being through whose mercy I had
been so miraculously preserved。 Thereupon I laboured until dark；
and after dark； skinning the seals； cutting the meat into strips；
and placing it upon the tops of rocks to dry in the sun。 Also； I
found small deposits of salt in the nooks and crannies of the rocks
on the weather side of the island。 This I rubbed into the meat as a
preservative。
Four days I so toiled； and in the end was foolishly proud before God
in that no scrap of all that supply of meat had been wasted。 The
unremitting labour was good for my body； which built up rapidly by
means of this wholesome diet in which I did not stint myself。
Another evidence of God's mercy； never； in the eight years I spent
on that barren islet； was there so long a spell of clear weather and
steady sunshine as in the period immediately following the slaughter
of the seals。
Months were to pass ore ever the seals revisited my island。 But in
the meantime I was anything but idle。 I built me a hut of stone；
and； adjoining it； a storehouse for my cured meat。 The hut I roofed
with many seal…skins； so that it was fairly water…proof。 But I
could never cease to marvel； when the rain beat on that roof； that
no less than a king's ransom in the London fur market protected a
castaway sailor from the elements。
I was quickly aware of the importance of keeping some kind of
reckoning of time； without which I was sensible that I should soon
lose all knowledge of the day of the week； and be unable to
distinguish one from the other； and not know which was the Lord's
day。
I remembered back carefully to the reckoning of time kept in the
longboat by Captain Nicholl； and carefully； again and again； to make
sure beyond any shadow of uncertainty； I went over the tale of the
days and nights I had spent on the island。 Then； by seven stones
outside my hut； I kept my weekly calendar。 In one place on the oar
I cut a small notch for each week； and in another place on the oar I
notched the months； being duly careful indeed； to reckon in the
additional days to each month over and beyond the four weeks。
Thus I was enabled to pay due regard to the Sabbath。 As the only
mode of worship I could adopt； I carved a short hymn； appropriate to
my situation； on the oar； which I never failed to chant on the
Sabbath。 God； in His all…mercy； had not forgotten me； nor did I； in
those eight years； fail at all proper times to remember God。
It was astonishing the work required； under such circumstances； to
supply one's simple needs of food and shelter。 Indeed； I was rarely
idle； that first year。 The hut； itself a mere lair of rocks；
nevertheless took six weeks of my time。 The tardy curing and the
endless scraping of the sealskins； so as to make them soft and
pliable for garments； occupied my spare moments for months and
months。
Then there was the matter of my water supply。 After any heavy gale；
the flying spray salted my saved rainwater； so that at times I was
grievously put to live through till fresh rains fell unaccompanied
by high winds。 Aware that a continual dropping will wear a stone； I
selected a large stone； fine and tight of texture and； by means of
smaller stones； I proceeded to pound it hollow。 In five weeks of
most arduous toil I managed thus to make a jar which I estimated to
hold a gallon and a half。 Later； I similarly made a four…gallon
jar。 It took me nine weeks。 Other small ones I also made from time
to time。 One； that would have contained eight gallons； developed a
flaw when I had worked seven weeks on it。
But it was not until my fourth year on the island； when I had become
reconciled to the possibility that I might continue to live there
for the term of my natural life； that I created my masterpiece。 It
took me eight months； but it was tight； and it held upwards of
thirty gallons。 These stone vessels were a great gratification to
meso much so； that at times I forgot my humility and was unduly
vain of them。 Truly； they were more elegant to me than was ever the
costliest piece of furniture to any queen。 Also； I made me a small
rock vessel； containing no more than a quart； with which to convey
water from the catching…places to my large receptacles。 When I say
that this one…quart vessel weighed all of two stone； the reader will
realize that the mere gathering of the rainwater was no light task。
Thus； I rendered my lonely situation as comfortable as could be
expected。 I had completed me a snug and secure shelter； and； as to
provision； I had always on hand a six months' supply； preserved by
salting and drying。 For these things； so essential to preserve
life； and which one could scarcely have expected to obtain upon a
desert island； I was sensible that I could not be too thankful。
Although denied the privilege of enjoying the society of any human
creature； not even of a dog or a cat； I was far more reconciled to
my lot than thousands probably would have been。 Upon the desolate
spot； where fate had placed me； I conceived myself far more happy
than many； who； for ignominious crimes； were doomed to drag out
their lives in solitary confinement with conscience ever biting as a
corrosive canker。
However dreary my prospects； I was not without hope that that
Providence； which； at the very moment when hunger threaten