CHAPTER FIVE.
It seemed but a moment afterwards that Humphry heard some birdschirruping, and opening his eyes, he found that it was already daylight.He instantly sprang up, recollecting that though the days were long, hehad plenty of work to do. He first knelt down and earnestly offered upa prayer for protection and guidance.
The water in the bay looked bright and clear. Throwing off his clothesand plunging in, he enjoyed a refreshing swim. The warm air soon driedhim, for Ned, as may be supposed, had not thought of providing him withtowels. As he sat on a rock for a few moments to rest, he saw a darkobject floating by in the water, then a triangular fin rose above it,and he observed a pair of fierce-looking eyes gazing up at him. Heshuddered, for he recognised the sailor's enemy, the shark. Howmercifully he had been preserved! Had he remained in a few minuteslonger the monster might have seized him. He must be cautious in futurehow he bathed. He might find, however, some quiet pool into which noshark could enter.
After recovering himself he returned to the camp, and lighted a fire tocook his breakfast, which consisted of salt beef and biscuit. Hethought he should like some tea. He searched in his cask of stores, andto his satisfaction he discovered a large bagful, and another of cocoa.This showed him more than ever how thoughtful his friend had been. Heknew, however, that he must husband it carefully. Having brought waterfrom the fountain, he made a little, which he found very refreshing.After draining off the liquid he put the leaves carefully by, to servefor another time. With this, and some of the cold beef and biscuit, hemade a hearty meal. Then taking his spade in his hand he set to work todig up more ground. He enriched it also with rotten leaves which hecollected, and with the ashes of the grass and roots which he dug up andburned.
He had already spent nearly two days on the island. "I shall forget howtime passes if I don't take some note of it," he thought. "I mustfollow Robinson Crusoe's plan, and notch a stick." He at once went andcut a long one. He made a notch to show the day he had landed, andanother for that which was then passing. He then smoothed off the end,and carved the date--"20th November 1812." "I will cut a notch everymorning, directly I am up, and then I shall not run the risk of missinga day by forgetting to mark it."
He was surprised to find how soon Sunday came round. On board the_Wolf_ that sacred day had only been observed by the men being allowedto mend their clothes; or if they were not so employed, they used to sitidly gambling or singing ribald songs. Humphry had been considering allthe previous day how he should spend it. "We are told by God in theBible to do no work, and to make it a day of rest. I am sure that Iought to obey Him, though it may seem important to me to get my house upor to dig more ground. I will therefore obey His commands, and leavethe rest to Him."
He rose at the usual hour, and went to wash at the waterfall, where hefound that he could take a shower-bath, which was cooler and morerefreshing than even a dip in the sea. He came back to breakfast, andthen taking out his Testament, read for a long time with deep interest.While so employed, it occurred to him that he would learn portions byheart. This amply occupied his mind, and afforded him so muchsatisfaction, that he determined every morning to commit a verse tomemory that he might think of it while he was at work. He began at the"Sermon on the Mount" on Monday morning, so that by the end of anotherweek he had learned six verses.
While waiting for the result of his gardening operations, he beganputting up his house. As he had the greater portion of the summer ofthe Southern hemisphere before him, he was in no hurry about this; soduring a portion of each day he went out with his gun to shoot birds, orsat on a rock with a line catching fish. He never failed to kill asmany birds as he wanted for food, or to catch as many fish as he couldeat. He fitted one of his harpoons, and kept it ready for use in caseany seals appeared, though he suspected that if they visited the islandat all, they would not come till the winter season.
He had gone on increasing his garden, and putting in more seeds.Greatly to his delight those he first sowed now appeared above ground,he watered them regularly, and the plants rapidly increased in size.Some were evidently cabbages, while others put forth roots with tubers;others, again, greatly resembled spinach.
He had now got up his house, and had dug a garden sufficiently large forhis wants. The soil, by being watered every day, became even morefertile than he had expected.
Alone on an Island Page 5