When he had sunned himself again on the sand he went to the creek, took his dinghy from the bushes, where it had been so well hidden, and rowed out to sea, partly to feel the spring of the muscles in his arms, and partly to sit off at a distance and look at his island.

Surely if one had to be cast away that was the very island on which he would choose to be cast! Not too big! Not too hot! And not too cold! Without savage man or savage beasts, but with plenty of wild cattle for the taking, and good fish in the lakes, and in the seas about it.

Plenty of stores of all kinds from the slaver's schooner, even books to read.

So far from being unfortunate he was one of the lucky.

A period of retirement from the companionship of his own kind might be trying on the spirit, but it also meant meditation and mental growth.
His joy over the departure of the pirates was so great and his temperament was such that he felt a mighty revulsion of the spirits.