After I had comforted myself with thoughts of gratitude for my escape, I began to look round me to see what kind of place I was in, and what was the next thing to be done. I soon felt my satisfaction become smaller. My situation was a dreadful one.I was wet, I had no dry clothes to change into, and nothing either to eat or to drink. I saw no future before me but that of dying of hunger or being eaten by wild animals. There was one thing that caused me great anxiety: I had no weapon either to hunt and kill to get food, or to defend myself asgainst any other creature that might wish to kill me for its food. In a word, I had nothing but a knife, a tobacco pipe, and a little tobacco in a box. These were my only possessoions, and I was in such great despair that for a while I ran about like a madman. As night came on I began with a haevy heart to consider what would be my fate if there were any fiece and hungry wild animals in that country, for night is the time when they always come out looking for their prey.
The only plan that came tomy mind at that time was to climb up into a thick, bushy tree, which grew near me, and where I resolved to sit all night. The next day I wolud consider what death Ishould die, for I saw no possibility of life. I walked a short way inland, to see if I could find any fresh water to drink, which I did, to my great joy. Having drunk, and put a little tobacco in my mouth to prevent hunger, I went to the tree, climbed up into it, and tried to lace myself in such a position that I might not fall if I should sleep. I cut a short thick stick for my defence and then settled myslf. Quite tired out by the events of the day, I fell fast asleep, and slept as comfortably, I believe, as few could have done in my condition.
When I awoke it was already daylight. The weather was good and the storm was over, so thatthe sea was now calm. What surprised me most was that the ship had been lifted off in the night from the sandbank on which she lay, by the rising tide, and was now lying not far from the rock which I have mentioned, where I was so badly hurt by being thrown against it. This was only about a mile from where I wasw on shore, and, as the ship seemed to be upright, I thought I should go on board so that I might have some necessary things for my use.
A little after noon I found the sea very calm, and the tide had gone so far out that I could walk within a quarter of a mile of the ship. I now had reason to renew my sorrow, for I saw clearly that if we had all stayed on board, we should have been safe, that is to say, we could all have got on shore safely, and I should have been left alone and miserable as I now was. This forced tears from my eyes again, but as there was little relief in that, I determined, if possible, to get to the ship.