Scannable Text

What is happening

Crusoe stops wishing and starts building. He makes a raft from ship materials, then loads it with supplies and tries to reach shore safely.

Step by step

1) Build the raft

• Throws wood spars and mast pieces overboard, ties each with rope so they do not drift away.
• Ties four pieces together, adds short planks across the top.
• Reinforces it by cutting a topmast into three parts and adding them (hard work, but necessary).

2) Decide what to take

• Loads boards and uses three seamen’s chests to organize cargo.
• Focuses on what he will need first on shore: food, tools, and weapons.

3) Attempt the trip

• Encouragements: calm sea, rising tide toward shore, light wind toward land.
• Raft drifts, suggesting an inlet or river nearby, which could work as a landing port.

Inventory snapshot

Food and drink

• Provisions: bread, rice, three Dutch cheeses, dried goat flesh, remaining European corn.
• Loss: barley and wheat ruined by rats.
• Liquors: cordial waters and about five to six gallons of rack.

Tools and weapons

• Tools: carpenter’s chest (more valuable than gold to him), plus saws, axe, hammer.
• Arms: two fowling pieces, two pistols, powder horns, shot, two old swords, powder barrels (two dry, one water damaged).

Risk moment

Near shore, the raft runs aground on a shoal. The cargo almost slides into the water. He braces against the chests and holds them in place until the tide rises enough to re-float the raft.

He pushes into the channel and ends up in the mouth of a small river, staying near the coast in hope of seeing ships.