Page 55 - Purple Butterfly Book 2
P. 55

Date:
 Wave after wave washed him further and further upon the beach. At last a wave left him beside a rock, to which he clung until the water flowed back to the sea. Then he jumped up and ran for his life.
Robinson Crusoe was the only person from the ship who was not drowned. He was thankful indeed for his escape.
After resting for a time, Crusoe looked about him. He was wet, cold, and hungry. It was growing very dark, and he was afraid of wild animals.
He found his knife still in his pocket, so he cut a stick with which to protect himself. Then he climbed into a tree and hid among the branches. He was soon sound asleep.
When Crusoe awoke in the morning, the storm was over, and the sea was calm. He found that the ship had been driven by the waves much nearer to the shore. By noon the water was low. The tide had ebbed so far out that he could walk almost to the ship.
He swam for a short distance. When he reached the vessel, he could find no way to climb up, but at last he discovered a rope hanging over the side. By the help of the rope, he managed to pull himself to the deck.
Everything in the stern of the ship was safe and dry, and the food was not spoiled. Crusoe filled his pockets with biscuits and ate them as he went about his work. He had no time to spare.
Crusoe needed a boat, to carry to the shore many necessary things.
“It is of no use to wish for a boat,” he thought, “I must set to work to make one.”
First he took some spars of wood and a top mast or two that were on the deck, and threw them overboard, tying each with a rope so that it would not drift away.
Then he climbed down the side of the ship, and fastened the spars together to make a raft. It was a long time before he was able to make the raft strong enough to hold the things that he wished to take ashore.
Crusoe loaded the raft with three sailor’s chests. He had filled these chests with bread, rice, cheese, dried goat’s flesh, and other articles of food. He also took all the clothing he could find.
Then Crusoe dragged a carpenter’s tool chest to the side of the ship. He placed this on the raft. Nothing on the ship was of more use to him than the tools in this chest.
He secured guns, pistols, and shot, also two barrels of dry gunpowder.
The trouble now was to land his cargo safely.
Crusoe had only a broken oar, but he rigged up a sail, and the tide helped him. At last he reached the mouth of a little river. The strong tide carried him to land.
He was able to push the raft into a little bay. When the tide flowed out, the raft was left high and dry on the sand, and everything was taken safely ashore.
unit
      53
6














































































   53   54   55   56   57