I then went down to the water's edge to see if I could find anything
from the wreck, for the water was smooth, and no longer washed over
the rocks of the island. Except fragments of wood, I perceived
nothing until I arrived at the pool where we were accustomed to
bathe; and I found that the sea had thrown into it two articles of
large dimensions--one was a cask of the size of a puncheon, which lay
in about a foot of water farthest from the seaward; and the other was
a seaman's chest. What these things were I did not then know, and I
wish the reader to recollect that a great portion of this narrative
is compiled from after knowledge. The cask was firm in the sand, and
I could not move it. The chest was floating; I hauled it on the rocks
without difficulty, and then proceeded to open it. It was some time
before I could discover how, for I had never seen a lock, or a hinge
in my life; but at last, finding that the lid was the only portion of
the chest which yielded, I contrived, with a piece of rock, to break
it open. I found in it a quantity of seamen's clothes, upon which I
put no value; but some of the articles I immediately comprehended the
use of, and they filled me with delight. There were two new tin
pannikins, and those would hold water. There were three empty wine
bottles, a hammer, a chisel, gimlet, and some other tools, also three
or four fishing-lines many fathoms long. But what pleased me most
were two knives, one shutting up, with a lanyard sheath to wear round
the waist; and the other an American long knife, in a sheath, which
is usually worn by them in the belt. Now, three or four years back,
Jackson had the remains of a clasp knife--that is, there was about an
inch of the blade remaining--and this, as may be supposed, he valued
very much; indeed, miserable as the article was, in our destitute
state it was invaluable.