OEUSOE^S ISLAND. 



CHAPTER I. 



HOW I FOUND THE ISLAND. 



A statement of the case — Where Crusoe was wrecked — Cradled 

 on a reef — The coast of Tobago — Left alone on shore. 



There is one period of my life which I call my 

 "Crusoe year," because it was owing to suggestions 

 from Robinson Crusoe that I enjoyed its rich and 

 varied experiences. It all came about through my 

 desire to know more of the island in which Crusoe 

 had his wonderful adventures. That was something 

 which the author of the book seemed to have left out 

 — ^just where it was situated ; yet it was the very thing 

 that interested me most. 



And when I was a boy I resolved that if I ever 

 grew up to be a man, and had as much as fifty or 

 a hundred dollars, I would make a voyage and de- 

 termine for myself where he was located after tlie 

 shipwreck ; where he made his bower, and his cave, 

 and kept his flocks of goats ; and above all, where he 

 first met " Man Friday," and who Man Friday was. 



It came to pass that, after I had attained to man's 

 estate, I found myself possessed of somewhat more 



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