Робінзон Крузо
Builds a House — The Journal
Thecasewasthus: AsIwasbusyintheinsideofit,behindmytent,justintheentranceintomycave,Iwasterriblyfrightenedwithamostdreadfulsurprisingthingindeed; forallonasuddenIfoundtheearthcomecrumblingdownfromtheroofofmycave,andfromtheedgeofthehillovermyhead,andtwoofthepostsIhadsetupinthecavecrackedinafrightfulmanner. Iwasheartilyscared,butthoughtnothingofwhatwasreallythecause,onlythinkingthatthetopofmycavewasfallingin,assomeofithaddonebefore;andforfearIshouldbeburiedinit,Iranforwardtomyladder; andnotthinkingmyselfsafethereneither,IgotovermywallforfearofthepiecesofthehillwhichIexpectedmightrolldownuponme.Iwasnosoonersteppeddownuponthefirmground,butIplainlysawitwasaterribleearthquake; forthegroundIstoodonshookthreetimesatabouteightminutes’distance,withthreesuchshocksaswouldhaveoverturnedthestrongestbuildingthatcouldbesupposedtohavestoodontheearth; andagreatpieceofthetopofarockwhichstoodabouthalfamilefrommenextthesea,felldownwithsuchaterriblenoise,asIneverheardinallmylife. Iperceivedalsotheveryseawasputintoviolentmotionbyit; andIbelievetheshockswerestrongerunderthewaterthanontheisland.
Iwassoamazedwiththethingitself,havingneverfeltthelike,ordiscoursedwithanyonethathad,thatIwaslikeonedeadorstupefied; andthemotionoftheearthmademystomachsick,likeonethatwastossedatsea. Butthenoiseofthefallingoftherockawakedme,asitwere,androusingmefromthestupefiedconditionIwasin,filledmewithhorror, andIthoughtofnothingthenbutthehillfallinguponmytentandallmyhouseholdgoods,andburyingallatonce;andthissunkmyverysoulwithinmeasecondtime.
