OF ROBINSON ORUSOE. 83°

 

Then I took the pieces of cable which Thad cut in the ship, and -

laid them in rows, one upon another, within the circle between these
two rows of stakes, up to the top, placing other stakes in the inside,
leaning against them, about two foot and a half high, like a spur to a
post; and this fence was so strong, that neither man nor beast could
get into it, or over it: this cost me a great deal of time and labour,
especially to cut the piles in the woods, bring them to the place, and
drive them into the earth.

The entrance into this place I made to be, not by a door, but by a
short ladder, to go over the top; which ladder, when I was in, I lifted
over after me: and so I was completely fenced in, and fortified, as I
thought, from all the world, and consequently slept secure in the
night, which, otherwise, I could not have done; though, as it appeared
afterward, there was no need of all this caution from the enemies that
I apprehended danger from.

Into this fence, or fortress, with infinite labour, I carried all my
riches, all my provisions, ammunition, and stores, of which you have
the account above; and I made me a large tent, which, to preserve me
from the rains, that, in one part of the year, are very violent there, I
made double, namely, one smaller tent within, and one larger tent
above it, and covered the uppermost with a large tarpaulin, which I
had saved among the sails.

And now I lay no more, for a while, in the bed which I had brought ‘

on shore, but in a hammock, which was, indeed, a very good one, and
belonged to the mate of the ship.

Into this tent I brought all my provisions, and every thing that
would spoil by the wet; and having thus enclosed all my goods, I made
up the entrance, which, till now, I had left open, and so passed and
repassed, as I said, by a short ladder.

When I had done this, I began to work my way into the rock, and,

bringing all the earth and stones that I dug down, out through my

tent, I laid them up within my fence in the nature of a terrace, that

so it raised the ground within about a foot and a half; and thus I made ©
me a cave just behind my tent, which served me like a cellar to my F

house.

It cost me much labour and many days before all these things were

brought to perfection; and, therefore, I must go back to sie
things which took up some of my thoughts. At the same time; it
parted after I had laid my scheme for the setting up my te

   

making the cave, that a storm of rain falling from a thick dark‘eloud, ©

a sudden flash of lightning happened, and after that age
thunder, as is naturally the effect-of it. I was not so much

é

 

 
  
 
 

 

-
ba