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 the island, builds a fortified camp by a cave and begins counting the days and writing a journal.
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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?
4