the loose earth to carry out; and, which was of more
importance, I had the ceiling to prop up, so that I might be sure no more
would come down.

_Dec_. 11.--This day I went to work with it accordingly, and got two
shores or posts pitched upright to the top, with two pieces of boards
across over each post; this I finished the next day; and setting more
posts up with boards, in about a week more I had the roof secured, and
the posts, standing in rows, served me for partitions to part off the
house.

_Dec._ 17.--From this day to the 20th I placed shelves, and knocked up
nails on the posts, to hang everything up that could be hung up; and now
I began to be in some order within doors.

_Dec._ 20.--Now I carried everything 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.

_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 that I caught it
and led it home in a string; when I had it at home, I bound and
splintered up its leg, which was broke.

_N.B._--I took such care of it that it lived, and the leg grew well and
as strong as ever; but, by my nursing it so long, it grew tame, and fed
upon the little green at my door, and would not go away. This was the
first time that 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 that there was no
stirring abroad, except in the evening, for food; this time I spent in
putting all my things in order within doors.

_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 valleys which lay towards the centre of the island, I found
there were plenty of goats, though exceedingly shy, and hard to come at;
however, I resolved to try if I could not bring my dog to hunt them down.

_Jan._ 2.--Accordingly, the next day I went out with my dog, and set him
upon the goats, but I was mistaken, for they all faced about upon the
dog, and he knew his danger too well, for he would not come near them.

_Jan._ 3.--I began my fence or wall; which, being still jeal