closed his eyes. His cave was so dim that he could scarcely distinguish its white floor from its rocky sides. The water was low, and the cleft therefore enlarged, so that he saw at once that now was the time for making his fire-now, when there was the freest access for the air. Yet he could not help pausing to admire what he saw. He could see now a long strip of the fiord-a perspective of waters and of shores, ending in a lofty peak still capped with The whole landscape was bathed in light, as warm as noon; for though it was only six in the morning, the sun had been up for several hours.

snow.

As Rolf gazed, and reckoned up the sum of what he saw the many miles of water, and the long range of rocks--he felt for a moment as if not yet secure from Hund; as if he must be easily visible when he saw so much. But it was not so, and Rolf smiled at his own momentary fear when he considered that while from his recess he could see the united navy of Norway and Denmark if anchored in the fiord, his enemy could not see even his habitation otherwise than by peeping under the bushes which overhung the cleft, and this only at low water; so he began to sing, while rubbing together, with all his might, the dry sticks of fir with which his fire was to be kindled. First they smoked, and then, by a skilful breath of air, they blazed, and set fire to the heap; and by the time the herrings were ready for broiling, the cave was so filled with smoke that Rolf's singing was turned to coughing.

From "Feats on the Fiord," by
MISS MARTINEAU.

8. CRUSOE'S CAVE.

The mouth of this hollow was at the bottom of a great rock, where, by mere accident (I would say, if I did not see abundant reason to ascribe all such things now to Providence), I was cutting down some thick branches of trees to make charcoal; and before I go on, I must observe the reason of my making this charcoal, which was this: I was afraid of making a smoke about my habitation, as I said before. And yet I could not live there without baking my bread, cooking my meat, etc.; so I contrived to burn some wood here, as I had seen done in England, under turf, till it became chark, or dry coal; and then putting the fire out, I preserved the coal to carry home, and perform the other services for which fire was wanting, without danger of smoke. But this is by-the-bye.

While I was cutting down some wood here, I perceived that behind a very thick branch of low brushwood or underwood there was a kind of hollow place. I was curious to look in it; and getting with difficulty into the mouth of it, I found it was pretty large that is to say, sufficient for me to stand upright in it, and perhaps another with me; but I must confess to you that I made more haste out than I did in, when, looking farther into the place, which was perfectly dark, I saw two broad shining eyes of some creature, which twinkled like two stars, the dim light from the cave's mouth shining directly in, and making the reflection. However,

after some pause I recovered myself, and plucking up my courage, I took up a firebrand, and in I rushed again, with the stick flaming in my hand.

I had not got three steps in but I was almost as much frightened as I was before; for I heard a very loud sigh, like that of a man in some pain, and it was followed by a broken noise, as of words half expressed, and then a deep sigh again. I stepped back, and was indeed struck with such a surprise that it put me into a cold sweat. But still, plucking up my spirits as well as I could, and encouraging myself a little with considering that the power and presence of God were everywhere, and were able to protect me, I stepped forward again; and by the light of the firebrand, holding it up a little over my head, I saw lying on the ground a most monstrous, frightful old he-goat, just making his will, as we say, and gasping for life, and dying, indeed, of mere old age. I stirred him a little, to see if I could get him out; and he essayed to get up, but was not able to raise himself. And I thought with myself he might even lie there; for if he had frightened me so, he would certainly fright any of the savages, if any of them should be so hardy as to come in there while he had any life in him.

I was now recovered from my surprise, and began to look round me, when I found the cave was but very small-that is to say, it might be about twelve feet square-but in no manner of shape, neither round nor square, no hands ever having been employed in making it but those of mere Nature. I

observed, also, that there was a place at the farther' side of it that went in further, but was so low that it required me to creep upon my hands and knees to go into it, and whither it went I knew not; so, having no candle, I gave it over for that 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 had made very good candles now of goats' tallow, but was hard set for candle-wick, using sometimes rags or ropeyarn, and sometimes the dried rind of a weed like nettles); 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 had 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 daresay, 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, though perfectly dark. The floor was dry and level, and had a sort of a small loose gravel upon