Hatchet

Brian sits with his fire for a long time, not wanting to leave its side. The fire becomes a friend and constant source of comfort. Brian begins to collect and stack wood so he can keep the fire going. The smoke repels the mosquitos, giving him enormous relief. He also realizes that the smoke will act as a signal to planes flying overhead, which fills him with hope.

That evening Brian sits by his fire, eating his supply of raspberries and feeling “for the first time since the crash that he might be getting a handle on things” (91). He is later awakened by an animal. In the morning he sees tracks leading from the lake to the shore, where the creature has made a mound in the sand. Brian realizes it is a turtle who has laid her eggs. He digs up the eggs, collecting 17 in total. He recalls his uncle drinking a raw egg each morning and convinces himself to try the turtle eggs raw. He uses his hatchet to crack them open and then drinks them down. The eggs make him realize how ravenous he is. Although he wants to gorge on all 17 at once, he stops himself after six and carries the rest to his shelter for later.