(Continuing from Part 28)
After my dangerous journey in the canoe, I decided to remain on land for a long time.
I had almost lost my life in the strong current. The experience had taught me that the sea was not a place where I should travel carelessly.
I returned to my ordinary work.
I tended my fields, repaired my shelters, gathered fruit, and hunted goats.
But as the years passed, I became increasingly worried about my supply of gunpowder.
When I first reached the island, I had rescued several guns and a quantity of powder and shot from the wrecked ship.
These had been extremely valuable.
Without them, I might have struggled to obtain enough food during my first months.
But every time I fired my gun, I used a little more ammunition.
I had no way to manufacture new gunpowder.
Eventually, my supply would run out.
I began asking myself an important question.
How would I obtain meat when I could no longer hunt with a gun?
I had already considered keeping goats, and I remembered the young animal I had once brought home after wounding it.
That experience had shown me that goats could become accustomed to living near people.
Perhaps I could capture several wild goats and raise them.
If I succeeded, I might have a regular supply of meat without using my ammunition.
I might also obtain milk.
The idea seemed promising.
But catching wild goats was not easy.
They were quick, cautious animals.
Whenever they noticed me approaching, they ran toward the hills.
I considered building traps.
At first, I thought about making a large net.
But I did not have enough suitable rope, and I doubted that I could make a net strong enough to hold several goats.
Then I considered digging pits.
If I made deep holes and covered them with branches, the goats might fall inside.
I decided to try this method.
I selected places where I had often seen goats feeding.
Then I dug several pits.
The work was difficult because the ground was hard.
I covered the openings with thin branches and leaves.
I hoped that the goats would walk across them without noticing the danger.
For several days, I watched the traps.
Nothing happened.
The goats seemed to avoid them.
I became discouraged, but I refused to abandon the idea.
I decided to place food near the traps.
I scattered some barley and rice around the openings.
The grain was precious, and I disliked using it in this way.
But I hoped that the reward would be worth the expense.
At last, my plan succeeded.
One morning, I discovered that a large female goat had fallen into one of the pits.
Two young goats were trapped with her.
I was delighted.
I had finally captured animals without firing my gun.
But I now faced another problem.
How could I remove them from the pit and keep them safely?
The mother goat was strong and frightened.
I knew that she might injure me if I tried to handle her.
I eventually decided to kill the adult goat and take the two young ones home alive.
The young goats were small enough for me to manage.
I tied them carefully and carried them to my enclosure.
At first, they were frightened and refused to eat.
I worried that they might die.
But after some time, hunger overcame their fear.
I offered them food and water.
Gradually, they began eating.
I continued caring for them every day.
As they grew, they became familiar with my presence.
They no longer ran away whenever I approached.
I was pleased with their progress.
I began thinking about how I could increase the number of goats.
Two animals were a beginning, but I needed a larger herd.
I continued setting traps and eventually captured more young goats.
Some were difficult to tame.
Others became accustomed to me quite quickly.
I discovered that young animals were much easier to manage than adults.
I also learned that they needed enough space to move around.
If I kept them in a very small enclosure, they became restless.
I decided to build a larger fenced area.
I selected a piece of land where grass grew naturally.
Then I cut wooden stakes and placed them around it.
I made the fence strong and high enough to prevent the goats from escaping.
The work required many days.
But I knew that it would save me trouble later.
When the enclosure was ready, I moved the goats inside.
They seemed pleased to have more space.
I watched them feeding on the grass and moving around together.
For the first time, I felt that I was becoming a real farmer.
I no longer depended entirely on hunting wild animals.
I had begun raising animals of my own.
As time passed, the goats increased in number.
Some of the females produced young.
My little herd gradually became larger.
I was delighted by this success.
I began to understand how valuable the animals could become.
They would provide meat when I needed it.
Their skins could be used for clothing and other useful objects.
Their milk might provide another source of food.
But I also realized that keeping a large herd created new responsibilities.
I had to make sure the animals had enough grass and water.
I needed to protect them from escaping.
I also had to consider what would happen if something damaged the fence.
If all the goats escaped at once, I might lose years of work.
I decided that it would be safer to divide them into smaller groups.
I began preparing additional enclosures in different parts of the island.
This way, even if one fence failed, I would not lose every animal.
The work was slow, but I had learned the value of careful planning.
I remembered my enormous canoe, which I had built without considering how to move it.
I did not want to make the same kind of mistake again.
Eventually, my herd became large enough to provide a dependable supply of food.
I learned how to milk the goats.
At first, I was awkward and spilled much of the milk.
But with practice, I became more skillful.
I also experimented with making simple dairy foods.
The milk was a welcome change from my usual meals.
I felt proud of what I had accomplished.
When I first reached the island, I had been forced to search for food every day.
Now I possessed fields of grain, stored raisins, and a growing herd of goats.
I was still alone, but I was no longer living only from one day to the next.
I could plan for the future.
As I watched the goats feeding peacefully inside their enclosure, I felt grateful for the progress I had made.
The island had taught me many difficult lessons.
But it had also shown me that patience, observation, and steady work could turn a desperate situation into a manageable life.