are you? where have you been? how came you here? and such like prattle I had constantly taught him.  But even though I knew it to be the parrot, it was a great while before I could adjust myself; being amazed how the creature got thither, and that he should fix about that place; and no where else.  But now being assured it could be no other than my honest Poll, my wonder ceased, and reaching out my hand, and calling familiarly Poll, the creature came to me, and perched upon my thumb as he was wont, constantly prating to me with Poor Robinson Crusoe, and how did I come here, and where had I been? as if the bird was overjoyed to see me; and so I took him home along with me.

I was now pretty well cured of my rambling to sea; yet I could wish my boat, which had cost me so much trouble and pains, on this side the island once more, but which indeed was impracticable.  I therefore began to lead a very retired life, living near a twelvemonth in a very contented manner, wanting for nothing except conversation.  As to mechanic labours, which my necessities obliged me to, I fancied I could, upon occasion, make a tolerable carpenter were the poor tools I had to work withal but good.  Besides, as I improved in my earthen ware, I contrived to make them with a wheel, which I found much easier and better, making my work shapely, which before was rude and ugly.  But I think I was never so elevated with my own performance or project, than for being able to make a tobacco-pipe, which though it proved an awkward clumsy thing, yet it was very sound, and carried the smoke perfectly well, to my great satisfaction.

I also improved my wicker ware, making me abundance of necessary baskets, which though not very handsome, were very handy and convenient to fetch things home in, as also for holding my stores, barley, rice, and other provisions.

My powder beginning to fail, made me examine after what manner I should kill the goats or birds to live on after it was all gone.  Upon which I contrived many ways to ensnare the goats, and see if I could catch them alive, particularly a she-goat with young.  At last I had my desire, for making pitfalls and traps baited with barley and rice, I found one morning, in one of them, an old he-goat, and in the other three kids, one male, the other two females.

So boisterous was the old one, that I could not bring him away.  But I forgot the old proverb, That hunger will tame a lion:  For had I kept him three or four days without provisions, and then given him some water, with a little corn, he would have been as tame as a young kid.  The other creatures I bound with strings together; but I had great difficulty before I could bring them to my habitation.  It was some time before they would feed; but throwing them sweet corn it so much tempted them, that they began to be tamer.  From hence I concluded, that if I designed to furnish myself with goat’s flesh, when my ammunition was spent, the tamely breeding