THE ‘“‘ ANTRE VAST.” 238

it over for some time, but resolved to come again the next day,
provided with candles and a tinder-box, which I had made of the
lock of one of the muskets, with some wildfire in the pan.

Accordingly, the next day I came provided with six large candles
of my own making—for I made very good candles now of goat's
tallow—and going into this low place, I was obliged to creep upon
all-fours, as I have said, almost ten yards; which, by the way, I
thought was a venture bold enough, considering that I knew not
how far it might go, nor what was beyond it. When I was got
through the strait I found the roof rose higher up—I believe near
twenty feet. But never was such a glorious sight seen in the
island, I dare say, as it was to look round the sides and roof of
this vault or cave. The walls reflected a hundred thousand lights
to me from my two candles. What it was in the rock, whether
diamonds or any other precious stones, or gold, which I rather
supposed it to be, I knew not.

The place I was in was a most delightful cavity or grotto of its
kind as could be expected, though perfectly dark. The floor was
dry and level, and had a sort of small loose gravel upon it, so
that there was no nauseous or venomous creature to be seen, neither
was there any damp or wet on the sides or roof. The only. diffi-
culty in it was the entrance, which, however, as it was a place of
security, and such a retreat as I wanted, I thought that was a
convenience; so that I was really rejoiced at the discovery, and
resolved without any delay to bring some of those things which
I was most anxious about to this place. Particularly, I resolved
to bring. hither my magazine of powder and all my spare arms—
namely, two fowling-pieces, for I had three in all; and three
muskets, for of them I had eight in all. So I kept at my castle
only five, which stood ready mounted, like pieces of cannon, on
my outmost fence, and were ready also to take out upon any ex-
pedition.

Upon this occasion of removing my ammunition, I took occasion
to open the barrel of powder which I took up out of the sea, and
which had been wet; and I found that the water had penetrated
about, three or four inches into the powder on every side, which,
caking and growing hard, had preserved the inside like a kernel