After having made a satisfactory catch, Ashton decided to head back home.
After the Hurricane, Bahamas by Winslow Homer, 1899.
The crew finished filling up the casks and called out for Ashton to return but he remained hidden.
The pirates searched for him for a while but eventually gave up and rowed back to the ship.
At last, the ships sailed away leaving him alone on the deserted island.
Ashton had no tools to hunt or fish, forcing him to survive on fruits and raw tortoise eggs.
Fortunately, the island possessed abundant water sources and an ample supply of fruits and berries for nourishment.
But it was also filled with dangerous animals, such as poisonous snakes, giant lizards and wild hogs.
The most troublesome adversaries he faced were swarms of tiny black flies, causing him significant distress.
Nonetheless, the persistent insects continued to torment him.
However, Ashton was still too feeble to undertake such a journey.
Sadly, the Scotsman never reappeared, leading Ashton to assume he had met his demise through drowning.
Ashton consumed roasted tortoise meat, fish, and crab, gradually regaining his strength.
About three months after this incident, a canoe drifted ashore onto the beach.
Utilizing this newfound canoe, Ashton commenced his exploration of the neighboring islands.
Ashton barely made it out alive.
The men had fled after the Spaniards had attacked their home.
Ashton warmly received them and together they constructed a small dwelling that they affectionately called Castle Comfort.
Not long after, a large fleet of ships appeared in the islands harbor.
They were English merchants on their way to Jamaica.
References:#Ashton’s memorial.
