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76 THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES

 

with us, but the fowls were killed. There had been some barley and
wheat together, but, to my great disappointment, I found afterwards
that the rats had eaten or spoiled it all. As for liquors, I found
several cases of bottles belonging to our skipper, in which were some
cordial waters, and in all above five or six gallons of rack: these I
stowed by themselves, there being no need to put them into the chest,
nor no room for them. While I was doing this, I found the tide
‘egan to flow, though very calm, and I had the mortification to see my
coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left on shore upon the sand,
swim away; as for my breeches, which were only linen, and open-
kneed, I swam'on board in them and my stockings: however, this put
me upon rummaging for clothes, of which I found enough, but took no
more than I wanted for present use, for I had other things which my
eye was more upon: as, firsty tools to work with on shore ; and it was
after long searching that I found out the carpenter’s chest, which was
indeed a very useful prize to me, and much more valuable than a ship-
loading of gold would have been at that time. I got it down to my
raft, even whole as it was, without losing time to look into it, for I
knew in general what it contained.

My next care was for some ammunition and arms. There were two
very good fowling-pieces in the great cabin, and two pistols: these I
secured first, with some powder-horns, and a small bag of shot, and
two old rusty swords. I knew there were three barrels of powder in
the ship, but knew not where our gunner had stowed them; but with
much search I found them, two of them dry and good, the third had
taken water; those two I got to my raft, with the arms. And now I
thought myself pretty well freighted, and began to think how I should
get to shore with them, having neither sail, oar, nor rudder, and the
least capful of wind would have overset all my navigation.

I had three encouragements: 1. A smooth, calm sea; 2. The tide
rising and setting in to the shore; 38. Whai little wind there was blew
me toward the land: and thus, having found two or three broken oars
belonging to the boat, and besides the tools which were in the chest, I
found two saws, an axe, and a hammer; and with this cargo I put te
sea. For a mile, or thereabouts, my raft went very well, only that I
found it drive a little distant from the place where I had landed be-
fore; by which I perceived that there was some indraft of the water,
and consequently I hoped to find some creek or river there, which I
might make use of as a port to get to land with my cargo.

As I imagined, so it was: there appeared before me a little opening
uf the land, and I found a strong current of the tide set into it, so I
guided my raft as well as I could to keep in the middle of the stream;