(Continuing from Part 18)
After recovering from my illness, I became eager to explore more of the island.
For many months, I had remained close to my shelter near the sea. I had been too busy building my home, collecting supplies, and searching for food to travel far inland.
Now I felt stronger, and I wanted to discover what other useful things the island might contain.
I took my gun, some food, and my dog, and set out on foot.
I followed a small stream that led away from the coast.
The land became greener as I walked.
Tall trees grew along the water, and the ground was covered with grass and plants.
I found several kinds of fruit.
There were melons growing on the ground and vines carrying grapes.
Some of the grapes were ripe and sweet, and I ate them with great pleasure.
I had not tasted fresh fruit like this for a long time.
I began gathering grapes to carry home.
At first, I made a large pile, intending to return for them later.
But when I came back, I discovered that many had been crushed or spoiled.
The heat made them soft, and the weight of the grapes had damaged those underneath.
I realized that I needed a better method.
Instead of gathering more fresh grapes than I could eat, I decided to dry some in the sun.
If I could turn them into raisins, they might remain useful for many months.
I selected good bunches and hung them on branches where they would receive plenty of sunlight.
I hoped they would dry before the rainy season began.
As I continued walking, I entered a particularly beautiful valley.
It was surrounded by hills and filled with green plants.
A clear stream passed through it.
The trees provided shade, and the ground appeared fertile.
I stood for a long time, admiring the place.
It seemed almost like a garden that had been prepared for me.
I thought about my situation.
I was the only person living on the island, as far as I knew.
There was nobody to challenge my possession of the land.
I could walk wherever I pleased and use whatever the island provided.
For a moment, I imagined myself as the owner of this entire country.
But the thought did not make me completely happy.
What was the value of owning so much land when I had nobody with whom to share it?
I would gladly have exchanged much of it for the company of another human being.
Nevertheless, I was pleased to discover such a useful place.
I began thinking about moving my home there.
The valley offered fresh water, fruit, shade, and protection from strong sea winds.
It would be a comfortable place to live.
But after considering the matter carefully, I decided against leaving my coastal shelter.
I had chosen that location because it was close to the sea.
If a ship passed the island, I might see it from the nearby hill.
If I moved inland, I could lose that opportunity.
My greatest hope was still to be rescued.
I decided instead to build a second, smaller home in the valley.
It would be a place where I could rest during my journeys and spend time when the weather was pleasant.
I selected a sheltered spot among the trees.
Then I began cutting wooden stakes.
I placed them in a circle around the area where I intended to build my little country house.
The work reminded me of the fence around my first home.
But this time, I was more experienced.
I knew how to choose suitable wood and place the posts securely in the ground.
I also knew that I must work patiently.
I could not complete everything in a single day.
Over several visits, I continued building the fence.
I made it strong enough to keep animals outside.
Then I planted additional branches around it.
I hoped that some would take root and grow into living trees.
If they succeeded, the fence would eventually become hidden behind thick leaves.
Inside the enclosure, I prepared a small shelter.
I did not need a large house.
I wanted only a place where I could rest, protect myself from rain, and keep a few useful things.
When the work was finished, I felt pleased.
I now had two places on the island that I could call home.
The first was my main shelter near the sea.
It contained my tools, weapons, food, and other valuable possessions.
The second was my little country retreat in the green valley.
It was surrounded by trees and close to the places where fruit grew.
I began visiting it regularly.
During these journeys, I learned more about the island.
I discovered that some areas were rocky and dry, while others were rich and fertile.
I also noticed that the weather changed with the seasons.
There were periods of heavy rain and periods when the sun shone for many days.
I would need to understand these changes if I hoped to grow crops successfully.
One day, I returned to the place where I had hung the grapes.
I was pleased to discover that many had dried into raisins.
They were sweet and could be stored much longer than fresh grapes.
I gathered them carefully and carried them home.
This was an important success.
The raisins would provide food when fresh fruit was difficult to find.
I also began thinking about the barley and rice growing near my main shelter.
If I could learn the proper seasons for planting, I might eventually produce enough grain to make bread.
But farming required knowledge that I did not yet possess.
I would have to learn through mistakes and careful observation.
As I returned from the valley one evening, I looked toward the sea.
The water stretched endlessly to the horizon.
There was still no ship in sight.
I felt the familiar sadness of being alone.
Yet I also recognized how much my life had changed.
When I first reached the island, I had believed that I would soon die.
Now I had two shelters, food, tools, and growing knowledge of the land.
I had learned to make furniture, baskets, fences, and simple tools.
I had discovered fruit, grain, and animals that could help me survive.
I was still far from home, but I was no longer helpless.
I had begun to make the island my own.