Chapter I: Preface

In all works of the Robinson Crusoe type, the wreck is always near at hand, the powder dry and preserved, and the days for rafting the same ashore calm and pleasant. This unfortunate had no such accessories; and his story proves the limitless ingenuity and invention of man, and portrays the works and achievements of a castaway, who, thrown ashore almost literally naked upon a desert isle, is able by the use of his brains, the skill of his hands, and a practical knowledge of the common arts and sciences, to far surpass the achievements of all his predecessors, and to surround himself with implements of power and science utterly beyond the reach of his prototype, who had his wreck as a reservoir from which to draw his munitions.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

Boyhood and youth of the author. Sailor's life. The "Good Luck."
South Pacific Island scheme. Loss of crew off Cape Horn. 3

CHAPTER II.

Push forward for the Society Islands. Driven into Magellan Straits
by stress of weather. Anchor in a land-locked bay. Search for fresh
water. Attacked by savages. Serious injuries to Capt. Davis and
one of the crew. Return to the schooner and make sail for the open
ocean. Resolve to return to England. Finally lay our course for
Easter Island. 9

CHAPTER III.

Captain Davis's condition. Only five men fit for duty. Terrific
storm. The schooner thrown on her beam ends and dismasted. Loss of
three more of the crew. Taking to the whale-boat. Foundering of
the schooner "Good Luck." Death of Captain Davis. Storm again,
running to the southward before the tempest. Strike upon a reef.
The author cast on shore. 19

CHAPTER IV.

Return to consciousness. Seek for my comrades. Commence a
calendar, and take inventory of my effects. 38

CHAPTER V.

Attempt to make a fire. Distil salt water. First meal. Reflections.
Hat-making. Repose. 45

CHAPTER VI.

Build fireplace. Make knife and spear from anchor. Build tower of
stones for perpetual lamps. Resolve to explore the island. 56

CHAPTER VII.

Improve my lamp-tower. Make a bow and arrow, and fish-hooks and
lines. Capture a large turtle. Improve my steel and flint, and
build a hut. Procure some salt, and make arrangements to explore
the island on the morrow. 65

CHAPTER VIII.

Rainy day. Reflections concerning climate, season of the year,
tides, etc. Plant several varieties of my seeds. Make a pocket
compass, and prepare for my exploration of the island. 73

CHAPTER IX.

Exploration of the island: First day. Fresh water at Rapid River.
Wild goats, quail, tortoise, tobacco, wild ducks, trout, sweet
potatoes, mussels. Name the island and principal points, etc. 85

CHAPTER X.

Exploration of the island: Second day. Find coal and sulphur,
seals, more turtles, gulls, etc. 96

CHAPTER XI.

Exploration of the island: Third day. Stalking goats. Mirror lake
and river and bay. Sad moonlight thoughts. 105

CHAPTER XII.

Exploration of the island: Fourth day. Finish the exploration of
the island, and build stone house at Rapid River. 113

CHAPTER XIII.

Make a hatchet of my iron hammer. Make matches and utensils for
house. Team of goats, chair, table, etc. Birch-bark canoe.
Arrangements for winter. 124

CHAPTER XIV.

Make chairs, and arrange my house, seal-skins, and goat-skins.
Provide provisions for winter. Discover wild grapes, and make wine
and vinegar. Find potassium, or saltpetre. Make gunpowder, and by
means of my compass discover iron. Thoughts of the future. 136

CHAPTER XV.

Make a mould for bricks. Build a brick-kiln and make bricks. Build a
smelting-house, blast-furnace, kiln for cleansing ore. Meditations.
Build water-wheel and fan-wheel, and set my machinery for an
air-blast to reduce the ore. 151

CHAPTER XVI.

Smelt my iron and make Bessemer steel and all kinds of tools. Erect
an anvil and forge. Build a saw-mill, and plant a farm and
kitchen-garden. 166

CHAPTER XVII.

Make an astrolabe, and obtain the latitude of the island, and, by
an eclipse of the moon, the longitude also. By means of the Epitome
make a chart on Mercator's projection, find out the distance
from any known land. 176

CHAPTER XVIII.

A resumé of three years on the island. Daily routine of life.
Inventions, discoveries, etc. Fortification of the Hermitage.
Manufacture of cannon and guns. Perfection and improvement of the
machine shop. Implicit faith of ultimately overcoming all obstacles
and escaping from the island. Desire to accumulate some kind of
portable wealth to carry with me, and desire to explore the island
for its hidden wealth and the surrounding ocean for pearl oysters. 189

CHAPTER XIX.

Construct a submarine boat, to be propelled by goat power and to
make its own air, to examine the bottom of the ocean near the
island for pearl oysters. 206

CHAPTER XX.

Launch the submarine boat. Experiment with it in Stillwater Cove. 223

CHAPTER XXI.

Explore the bottom of the ocean in the vicinity of the island with
my submarine boat. Discover pearl oysters and invent a great
improvement to my boat. 237

CHAPTER XXII.

Manufacture glass. Build a steam yacht, and circumnavigate the
island. Lay up large stores of valuable pearls obtained from the
pearl oysters. 252

CHAPTER XXIII.

Discovery of a human habitation. The skeleton and manuscript. 265

CHAPTER XXIV.

The Pirate's manuscript. 277

CHAPTER XXV.

Finding of the sunken wreck. The submarine explosion of the hull.
Recovery of over ten millions in bars of gold and silver. 295

CHAPTER XXVI.

Chess and backgammon playing. Fortification of the island. Team of
white swans. Goats as servants, and opponents in backgammon
playing. 310

CHAPTER XXVII.

Discovery of gold. Turn the stream out of the lake, and build
portable engine to separate the gold. 321

CHAPTER XXVIII.

The sea serpent. Attack and capture one of the species, thus
putting the question of its existence forever at rest. 339

CHAPTER XXIX.

Make a balloon and flying machine, in which I make a successful
ascension. 349