Робинзон Крузо
A Cave Retreat
Iobservedalsothattherewasaplaceatthefarthersideofitthatwentinfarther,butwassolowthatitrequiredmetocreepuponmyhandsandkneestogointoit,andwhitherIwentIknewnot; sohavingnocandle,Igaveitoverforsometime,butresolvedtocomeagainthenextday,providedwithcandlesandatinderbox,whichIhadmadeofthelockofoneofthemuskets,withsomewild-fireinthepan.
Accordingly,thenextdayIcameprovidedwithsixlargecandlesofmyownmaking,forImadeverygoodcandlesnowofgoat’stallow; andgoingintothislowplace,Iwasobligedtocreepuponallfours,asIhavesaid,almostoftenyards;which,bytheway,Ithoughtwasaventureboldenough,consideringthatIknewnothowfaritmightgo,norwhatwasbeyondit. WhenIwasgotthroughthestrait,Ifoundtheroofrosehigherup,Ibelieveneartwentyfeet. Butneverwassuchaglorioussightseenintheisland,Idaresay,asitwas,tolookroundthesidesandroofofthisvaultorcave; thewallsreflectedahundredthousandlightstomefrommytwocandles. Whatitwasintherock,whetherdiamonds,oranyotherpreciousstones,orgold,whichIrathersupposedittobe,Iknewnot.
TheplaceIwasinwasamostdelightfulcavityorgrottoofitskind,ascouldbeexpected,thoughperfectlydark. Thefloorwasdryandlevel,andhadasortofsmall,loosegraveluponit,sothattherewasnonauseousorvenomouscreaturetobeseen;neitherwasthereanydamporwetonthesidesorroof. Theonlydifficultyinitwastheentrance,which,however,asitwasaplaceofsecurity,andsucharetreatasIwanted,Ithoughtthatwasaconvenience; sothatIwasreallyrejoicedatthediscovery,andresolved,withoutanydelay,tobringsomeofthosethingswhichIwasmostanxiousabouttothisplace; particularly,Iresolvedtobringhithermymagazineofpowder,andmysparearms,viz.,twofowling-pieces,forIhadthreeinall,andthreemuskets,forofthemIhadeightinall.
