A Cave Retreat

           Whilethiswasdoing,Iwasnotaltogethercarelessofmyotheraffairs; forIhadagreatconcernuponmeformylittleherdofgoats. Theywerenotonlyapresentsupplytomeuponeveryoccasion,andbegantobesufficienttome,withouttheexpenseofpowderandshot,butalsowithoutthefatigueofhuntingafterthewildones; andIwaslothtolosetheadvantageofthem,andtohavethemalltonurseupoveragain. 

           Tothispurpose,afterlongconsideration,Icouldthinkofbuttwowaystopreservethem. Onewas,tofindanotherconvenientplacetodigacaveunderground,andtodrivethemintoiteverynight; andtheotherwas,toenclosetwoorthreelittlebitsofland,remotefromoneanother,andasmuchconcealedasIcould,whereImightkeepabouthalfadozenyounggoatsineachplace; sothatifanydisasterhappenedtotheflockingeneral,Imightbeabletoraisethemagainwithlittletroubleandtime. Andthis,thoughitwouldrequireagreatdealoftimeandlabor,Ithoughtwasthemostrationaldesign. 

           AccordinglyIspentsometimetofindoutthemostretiredpartsoftheisland;andIpitchedupononewhichwasasprivateindeedasmyheartcouldwishfor. Itwasalittledamppieceofground,inthemiddleofthehollowandthickwoods,where,asisobserved,Ialmostlostmyselfoncebefore,endeavoringtocomebackthatwayfromtheeasternpartoftheisland. HereIfoundaclearpieceofland,nearthreeacres,sosurroundedwithwoodsthatitwasalmostanenclosurebyNature; atleast,itdidnotwantnearsomuchlabortomakeitastheotherpiecesofgroundIhadworkedsohardat. 

           Iimmediatelywenttoworkwiththispieceofground,andinlessthanamonth’stimeIhadsofenceditroundthatmyflock,orherd,callitwhichyouplease,whowerenotsowildnowasatfirsttheymightbesupposedtobe,werewellenoughsecuredinit.