Part I Summary

As the story opens, a young woman admits that she cannot row any farther, slips over the side of the boat and begins swimming. She makes it to the sands of an island where a black man appears. The woman, who is later identified as Susan Barton, tells the man that she is a "cast away," is alone, and needs water. She makes a drinking motion but he doesn't immediately respond. Barton notes that she doesn't feel safe with the man but that she doesn't care if he kills her afterward, as long as she has a drink of water. The man, later identified as Friday, motions Susan to follow him and walks off. She steps on a thorn and her heel quickly swells so she can hardly walk. Friday helps her then, half-carrying her while she limps along.

Susan notes...