When Jerry at length discovered the cause of my hesitation, he made signs entreating me to go back rather than to endeavour to cross, as I proposed.  Still, I did not like to be driven back, even by a shark.  I made signs that I would make a raft for myself.  There were plenty of materials, the work would not take long, and it would be a triumph to have overcome a difficulty.  I thought the idea a very bright one; so I at once set to work to build a raft large enough to carry me across the channel.  Jerry tried to make me understand something or other; but I was so absorbed with my own idea and the work on which I was engaged, that I could not make out the meaning he wished to convey.  While I was working, old Surley looked on very attentively, as if he wanted to help me, and fully understood what I was about.