December 10.
I began now to think my cave or vault finished, when on a sudden (it seems I had made it too large) a great quantity of earth fell down from the top and one side. So much it frightened me, and not without reason too. If I had been under it, I should never have wanted a grave-digger. Upon this disaster, I had a great deal of work to do over again, for I had the loose earth to carry out and, which was of more importance, I had the ceiling to prop up so I might be sure no more would come down.
Dec. 11.
This day I went to work with it and got two shores or posts pitched upright to the top, with two pieces of board across over each post. This I finished the next day. Setting more posts up with boards, in about a week more I had the roof secured. The posts, standing in rows, served me for partitions to part off my house.
Dec. 17.
From this day to the 30th, I placed shelves and knocked up nails on the posts to hang every thing up that could be hung up. Now I began to be in some order within doors.
Dec. 20.
I carried every thing into the cave and began to furnish my house, and set up some pieces of boards, like a dresser, to order my victuals upon, but boards began to be very scarce with me. Also I made me another table.
Dec. 24.
Much rain all night and all day. No stirring out. Had an awful dream of the mate and the beast, wherein the beast did attack again and again and the mate was kill'd many times over.
Dec. 25.
Rain all day.
Dec. 26.
No rain, and the earth much cooler than before, and pleasanter.
Dec. 27.
Killed a young goat and lamed another, so I catched it and led it home in a string. When I had it home, I bound and splintered up its leg, which was broke. N.B. I took such care of it that it lived. The leg grew well and as strong as ever. By nursing it so long, it grew almost tame and fed upon the little green at my door and would not go away, e'en though it still was wary of me by nature of the beast. This was the first time I entertained a thought of breeding up some tame creatures, that I might have food when my powder and shot was all spent.
Dec. 28, 29, 30, 31.
Great heats, and no breeze so there was no stirring abroad, except in the evening, for food. This time I spent in putting all my things in order within doors.
On the first morning I woke up not far from my pale. The many footprints, or paw prints as they may be call'd, show'd me the beast had spent much of the night pacing before my wall. Perhaps it smelt the young goat and wish'd to eat it.
January 1.
Very hot still, but I went abroad early and late with my gun, and lay still in the middle of the day. This evening, going farther into the vallies which lay towards the centre of the island, I found there was plenty of goats, tho’ exceeding shy because of the scent of the beast, and hard to come at. I wonder'd if the beast would find them and slaughter the herd afore I could make use of them, or if it would kill and eat only what was needed to slake its hunger?
Jan. 3.
I began my fence or wall. Being still jealous of my being attacked by somebody, I resolv’d to make very thick and strong.
N.B. This wall being described before, I purposely omit what was said in the journal. It is sufficient to observe, I was no less time than from the 3d of January to the 14th of April, working, finishing, and perfecting this wall, tho’ it was no more than about 25 yards in length, being a half-circle from one place in the rock to another place, about twelve yards from it, the door of the cave being in the centre behind it.
All this time I work’d very hard. The rains hindering me many days, nay, sometimes weeks together. But I thought I should never be secure ‘till this wall was finished. It is scarce credible what inexpressible labour every thing was done with, especially the bringing piles out of the woods, and driving them into the ground. I made them much bigger than I needed to have done.
When this wall was finished, and the outside double-fenced, with a turf-wall raised up close to it, I persuaded myself if any people were to come on shore there they would not perceive any thing like a habitation. It was very well I did so, as may be observ’d hereafter, upon a very remarkable occasion.