My first task was to explore this island and learn its secrets. I took a gun, some food, and my dog and set off to explore. I climbed to the top of a high hill to see what lay around me. From there, I could see that I was on an island. Water surrounded me on every side as far as I could see. Only in one direction could I see distant land on the horizon. It might be the coast of South America, but I could not be sure. My heart sank when I realized how truly alone I was. The island appeared to be uninhabited by humans. I saw no smoke, no buildings, no signs of civilization. But I did see many birds and animals in the forests below. The island was covered with thick green jungle and tall trees. A small river flowed down from the hills to the sea. This was good news because I would have fresh water to drink. I walked through the forest and discovered many things I could eat. There were wild grapes hanging from the trees. I found lemon and orange trees growing in a sunny valley. Coconut palms grew along the beaches, and their fruit was delicious. I shot a strange bird that I had never seen before. Its meat was tough, but it filled my hungry stomach. I also discovered goats living wild in the hills. They ran away when they saw me, but I knew I could hunt them later. After three days of exploring, I returned to my supplies on the beach. Now I needed to find a proper place to build my home. I wanted a place that was safe from attack. It needed to have fresh water nearby and protection from the sun. I also wanted to see the sea in case a ship passed by. After much searching, I found the perfect spot. It was a small flat area on the side of a hill. Behind it rose a steep rock face that formed a natural wall. There was even a small cave in the rock that I could use for storage. From this spot, I could see the beach and the ocean beyond. A stream of fresh water flowed nearby. This would be my home for as long as I stayed on this island. I began to move all my supplies to this new location. It took many trips to carry everything up the hill. When all my goods were safe, I started building my shelter. I decided to make a strong fence around my camp. I cut down young trees and sharpened their ends. I drove them deep into the ground in a half-circle against the rock. The fence was too tall and strong for any animal to climb over. I did not make a door in the fence. Instead, I used a ladder to climb over and pulled it up after me. This way, nothing could enter my camp without my knowledge. Inside the fence, I set up my tent using the ship's canvas. I made it double-layered to keep out the rain. I hung my hammock inside the tent for sleeping. The cave behind me became my storage room and cellar. I worked every day to dig deeper into the rock. Eventually, I had a large room carved out of the hill. I kept my gunpowder there, safe and dry. I also stored my extra food and tools in the cave. During this time, I began to keep careful records. I made a large wooden post and carved a notch for each day. Every seventh notch was longer to mark the Sundays. I calculated that I had landed on September 30, 1659. I wrote in my journal every day, recording everything I did. Writing helped me feel less alone in my situation. I made a list of the good and bad things about my condition. Bad: I was alone on a deserted island with no hope of rescue. Good: I was alive when all my companions had died. Bad: I had no one to talk to or help me. Good: I had salvaged enough supplies to survive for years. Bad: The climate was hot and uncomfortable. Good: There were no dangerous wild beasts on the island. This exercise helped me see that things could have been much worse. I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself. Instead, I would do everything possible to survive and thrive. God had saved me for a reason, and I would not waste this chance. My new life as an island castaway had truly begun.
B1Chapter 6 / 15770 words70 sentences
Alone on the Island
Chapter 6 · Robinson Crusoe · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
Robinson explores his new home and salvages supplies from the wrecked ship.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What did Robinson discover when he climbed the high hill?
2
How did Robinson enter and exit his fortified camp?
3
Why did Robinson make a list of good and bad things about his situation?
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