Chapter 13 A Temporary Shelter.
The next day I went right back out to the ship to see what else I could save.
It was important to gather every little thing I could.
Another storm could hit at any minute and wash the ship away.
I didn't want to miss my chance to save something that could make my life better while I was stranded on this island.
Off I went again when the tide was low.
I dragged my raft behind me as I swam out to the ship and then tied it to the very same rope I used to climb up.
This time I decided I could use a second raft, so I built one using the first as a model.
I packed so many things onto these two rafts.
I took nails, more guns, some clothes, more food, and all the building supplies I could find.
I also took the spare sail with me.
When the rafts were full, I rode back down the river to my hiding place.
When I returned, I found a wild cat sitting on one of my chests.
"'Shoo!'
I yelled.
"'Go on!
Leave it alone!'
The cat didn't budge.
She just looked at me with her big pretty eyes, as if to say You're gonna have to do better than that, mister.
I threw a piece of biscuit off into the woods.
That did the trick.
She chased it and ate it in one quick bite.
From the looks of things, she hadn't destroyed anything.
In fact, no other animal had been there.
That was a good sign.
Next up was making a proper tent.
First, I cut some poles down from the trees around my new camp.
Then I used the spare sail with some rope I had found on the ship.
Once the tent was finished, I brought everything inside that might go bad if it got too wet from the rain or too hot from the sun.
Finally, I set up a more comfortable bed with two hammocks I had rescued.
Hard work and comfort sent me right off to sleep that night.
For the next two weeks, I carried on like I did those first couple of days.
In the morning, after the tide went out, I would swim to the ship towing my rafts.
I searched the ship from bow to stern for anything that might be useful.
After a good couple of hours gathering supplies, I would row the rafts back to shore.
Some of the more interesting things I discovered on board were a pair of scissors very useful indeed and a razor so I could shave.
I also found a chest with over thirty pounds worth of gold.
Not that I had any use for it.
I took it with me anyway, despite not having a place to spend it.
On the last day of those first two weeks, the weather finally turned.
It was my very last trip to the ship.
I had almost everything I could possibly use, and then some.
The wind rose quickly.
The goods were heavy as I rowed, hard for sure.
I knew I only had one chance to make it back before the storm.
So for the second time in as many weeks, I rowed to save my life.
The choppy water slopped up over the rafts.
I didn't even have time to think about what might happen.
I rowed and rowed.
I had to get back.
My hard work paid off and I was soon in the comfort of my tent listening to the rain fall all around me.
The wind blew hard against the sail.
I could hear the trees swaying, their leaves rustling.
The storm must have continued all night, but I didn't hear it.
I slept safe and sound in my homemade tent.
The next morning I woke up and ran down the beach.
The ship was completely gone.
Well, I thought, my luck certainly lasted just long enough.
I stood there for a minute looking at the empty space and thought about the ship, the crew and our captain.
I also thought about how different my life was just two weeks ago.
