(Continuing from Part 19)
After discovering the beautiful valley and building my little country shelter, I became more curious about the rest of the island.
Until now, I had explored only a small part of it.
I knew the coast near my main home, the hills around it, and the fertile valley inland.
But I had never reached the opposite shore.
I wondered whether that side of the island might offer something useful.
Perhaps I would find more food, better land, or even a place where ships sometimes passed.
I decided to make a longer journey.
I took my gun, some powder and shot, a small quantity of food, and my hatchet.
My dog came with me.
I left my main shelter and traveled toward the country house I had built in the valley.
From there, I continued across unfamiliar ground.
The land rose gradually, and I climbed several hills.
At times, the trees were so thick that I could hardly see the country ahead.
I moved slowly, choosing places where the ground was easier to cross.
Eventually, I reached a high point and looked toward the other side of the island.
To my surprise, I could see the sea stretching into the distance.
Beyond the water, I thought I could make out land.
It appeared to lie far away, perhaps forty or fifty miles from the island.
I stood watching it for some time.
I could not tell exactly what country it was.
I believed it might be part of the mainland of America.
This discovery filled me with mixed feelings.
On one hand, I was glad to know that other land was not impossibly far away.
On the other hand, I remembered that some parts of the mainland were inhabited by people whom European travelers feared.
I had heard frightening stories about groups who killed their enemies and ate human flesh.
I did not know whether those stories were true of the people living across the water.
Still, I understood that reaching the mainland might not guarantee my safety.
I decided not to make any sudden plans.
Instead, I continued exploring.
As I traveled downhill toward the opposite coast, I noticed that this part of the island was different from the area around my first home.
The land seemed greener and more fertile.
There were many trees, and some carried fruit.
I saw wild grapes growing in great quantities.
There were also lemon trees and other plants that I recognized from my travels.
The weather seemed pleasant, and the countryside was beautiful.
I began to think that this might be the best part of the island.
I also noticed many birds.
Some were familiar, while others were unlike anything I had seen before.
I shot a few birds for food.
Their meat was useful, although I could not identify every species.
Then I made an unexpected discovery.
As I approached the shore, I saw a large number of turtles.
They were much more common here than near my main home.
I knew that turtles could provide both meat and eggs.
This was another valuable source of food.
I examined the beach carefully and found signs that the animals often came ashore.
I was pleased because I had previously found very few turtles near my own coast.
I also saw many seabirds gathering along the water.
The shore seemed rich in food.
For a moment, I considered building another shelter there.
But I already had two homes, and I knew that maintaining them required work.
I decided to continue exploring before making any new plans.
As evening approached, I searched for a safe place to sleep.
I did not want to remain on the open beach.
I found a suitable tree and settled beneath its branches.
My dog stayed close to me.
During the night, I heard unfamiliar sounds from the surrounding woods.
I kept my gun nearby.
Although I had lived on the island for many months, I still felt uneasy whenever I slept far from my shelters.
The next morning, I continued my journey along the coast.
I examined the land carefully, hoping to discover something that might help me escape.
But I saw no boats, houses, or signs of people.
There were no ships on the horizon.
I was still alone.
After traveling some distance, I decided to return home.
I did not want to go back by exactly the same route.
Instead, I hoped to find a shorter way across the island.
This proved to be a mistake.
I entered a broad valley surrounded by thick woods.
At first, the path seemed easy.
But as I continued, the trees became denser.
The ground was uneven, and the hills blocked my view.
Soon, I could no longer see the sea.
I tried to determine which direction I should follow, but every part of the forest looked similar.
I began to fear that I was lost.
The thought frightened me more than I expected.
My island was not very large, but it contained enough hills and forests to confuse a traveler.
If I continued in the wrong direction, I might spend several days wandering.
My food was limited, and I had no proper shelter.
I stopped and considered what to do.
I knew that rushing forward would only make matters worse.
I needed to find high ground from which I could recognize familiar landmarks.
But the woods were thick, and I could not easily climb the surrounding hills.
For a time, I moved slowly, trying to keep the sun in the same direction.
Then the weather changed.
Clouds gathered overhead, and the sky became darker.
Without the sun, I found it even harder to judge my direction.
I realized that I might have to remain in the woods until the weather improved.
I searched for a dry place and prepared to spend another night away from home.
I felt foolish for having traveled so far without carefully marking my route.
But I also understood that exploration always involved some risk.
The island still held many secrets.
If I wished to learn them, I would need greater caution.
As I waited for the clouds to clear, I promised myself that I would never again travel so far without paying close attention to the way home.