Робинзон Крузо
First Weeks on the Island
IntothistentIbroughtallmyprovisions,andeverythingthatwouldspoilbythewet; andhavingthusenclosedallmygoodsImadeuptheentrance,which,tillnow,Ihadleftopen,andsopassedandrepassed,asIsaid,byashortladder.
WhenIhaddonethis,Ibegantoworkmywayintotherock; andbringingalltheearthandstonesthatIdugdownoutthroughmytent,Ilaidthemupwithinmyfenceinthenatureofaterrace,sothatitraisedthegroundwithinaboutafootandahalf; andthusImademeacavejustbehindmytent,whichservedmelikeacellartomyhouse.
Itcostmemuchlabor,andmanydays,beforeallthesethingswerebroughttoperfection,andthereforeImustgobacktosomeotherthingswhichtookupsomeofmythoughts. Atthesametimeithappened,afterIhadlaidmyschemeforthesettingupmytent,andmakingthecave,thatastormofrainfallingfromathickdarkcloud,asuddenflashoflightninghappened,andafterthatagreatclapofthunder,asisnaturallytheeffectofit. Iwasnotsomuchsurprisedwiththelightning,asIwaswithathoughtwhichdartedintomymindasswiftasthelightningitself. Omypowder! MyveryheartsunkwithinmewhenIthoughtthatatoneblastallmypowdermightbedestroyed,onwhich,notmydefenceonly,buttheprovidingmefood,asIthought,entirelydepended. Iwasnothingnearsoanxiousaboutmyowndanger;thoughhadthepowdertookfire,Ihadneverknownwhohadhurtme.
Suchimpressiondidthismakeuponme,thatafterthestormwasoverIlaidasideallmyworks,mybuilding,andfortifying,andappliedmyselftomakebagsandboxestoseparatethepowder, andkeepitalittleandalittleinaparcel,inhopethatwhatevermightcomeitmightnotalltakefireatonce,andtokeepitsoapartthatitshouldnotbepossibletomakeonepartfireanother.
