Page 22 - An American Robinson Crusoe

He placed these in the ground, forming the corners of a square about ten feet long. In the forks he placed poles
running around about eight feet from the ground. At about every three feet he fastened others, running in the
same way, with heavy cords made of fibre. He found his greatest trouble with the roof. It must be sloped to
shed rain. He had to find two more forked posts, three or four feet longer than the others. These he placed
opposite each other in the centers of two sides. Upon these he placed a ridge pole. He then laid other poles
lengthwise from ridge pole to the edge of the frames.

His frame was now done. His plan was now to cover this frame with straw or grasses tied in bundles. He had
seen the barns in the country thatched in this way by the Dutch farmers in New York State. He gathered the
straw of the wild rice. It was long, straight and tough. It was easily tied into flat bundles. These he bound
securely on to the frame work with cords. He began at the bottom so that the ends of the row would lap over
the tops of the last one put on.

[Illustration: ROBINSON'S BOWER]

In this way he built a very comfortable and rainproof bower. It was easy to make a bed of poles covered with
straw. A table and bench were added and shelves of poles.

Robinson felt great joy over this new home. "I will not now be sick any more," he said. "In case of danger I
can get into my cave. But at all other times I will live in my bower." He had use still for his cave. He could
use it to store some things in. But he had to be careful about the dampness in wet weather.

Robinson was getting to feel at home. He was no longer so sad. He did not grieve so much for home. He
looked upon his home with great delight. It was secure. He had his herd of goats always in his sight. At
evening he would do his milking. He found he could keep the milk for some time in the cave. He was tempted
to try making some butter from the good, rich cream. "But," said Robinson, "I have neither vessels to make it
in nor bread to eat it on."

He planned many things to do. "I will make a hammock some day for my bower and some vessels to use in
my work," he thought.

X X V

ROBINSON AG AIN EXPLORES HIS ISLAND

When Robinson recovered his strength he had a strong desire to see more of the island. At first he had been in
constant fear of wild animals, but now he thought he would like to see all there was to see in the island. On
the 15th of July he started out. First he went to a brook which ran into the sea near his cave. Its water was
clear and pure; along its shore lay beautiful meadows. As he came to the upper course of the brook the
meadow gave way to forest. On the border of the forest he found melons and grapes.

The night came on and he slept again in a tree. The next morning he went farther and came to a clear rivulet.
Here the region was wonderfully beautiful. The flowers bloomed as in a garden, and near the flowers stood
splendid apple and orange trees. He took as much of the fruit as he could carry and went on his way. This
journey continued three days. The grapes which he had carried he dried in the sun and made raisins.

The 10th of September came, one year had passed on the island. He was many hundred miles from home,
alone on an island. With tears he cried out, "Ah! what are my dear parents saying? They have no doubt long
given me up as dead. If I could only send them a message to comfort them and let them know how much I
love them!"