(Continuing from Part 34)
After discovering the old goat inside the cave, I felt much less afraid of the dark opening in the rock.
At first, the shining eyes had frightened me terribly. I had imagined some dangerous creature waiting to attack me.
But the animal was only an old goat, too weak to move.
I now wanted to examine the cave more carefully.
The entrance was narrow and difficult to notice from outside. Thick bushes grew around it, and the surrounding rocks helped conceal it.
This seemed an excellent place for a secret refuge.
I returned to my shelter and prepared several candles.
I had learned to make candles from goat fat, using small pieces of cloth for wicks. They were not as good as the candles I remembered from England, but they provided enough light for my needs.
I also took my gun and some food.
The following day, I returned to the cave.
When I entered, the old goat was still lying in the darkness.
It had died during the night.
I was sorry to see the animal in such a condition, but I knew that I could not leave its body there.
The smell would soon become unpleasant.
I considered dragging it outside.
However, the entrance was narrow, and the animal was heavy.
Moving it would require more effort than I wished to spend.
Instead, I dug a deep hole in the ground near the entrance.
I placed the dead goat inside and covered it with earth.
This solved the problem.
I then lit my candles and began exploring.
The first part of the cave was low.
I had to bend my head as I moved forward.
But after passing through the narrow entrance, I found that the space became larger.
The air was cool and the ground was dry.
I continued carefully, holding a candle in front of me.
Soon I reached a place where the passage became even narrower.
I had to crawl through it.
For a moment, I wondered whether I should turn back.
If my candle went out, I might have difficulty finding the entrance again.
But curiosity encouraged me to continue.
I moved slowly through the opening.
Then, to my surprise, I entered a large chamber.
I stood up and looked around.
The ceiling was high enough for me to walk comfortably.
The walls were made of stone, and the chamber extended farther than I had expected.
I raised my candle.
The light reflected from the walls in a beautiful way.
Some parts of the stone shone brightly, almost like polished metal.
I could not tell whether the shining surfaces contained minerals or were simply wet stone reflecting the light.
But the sight delighted me.
I had discovered a hidden room beneath the island.
I examined the floor and walls carefully.
There were no signs that another person had ever entered.
The chamber appeared to be entirely unknown.
I thought about the strange fortune that had led me here.
I had come looking for a place to hide from possible enemies.
Instead, I had found a natural storehouse more secure than anything I could have built.
The narrow entrance would make it difficult for strangers to enter.
The surrounding bushes concealed it from view.
And the large chamber offered enough space to store many valuable possessions.
I decided to make good use of it.
My first concern was my gunpowder.
I still possessed some powder rescued from the wrecked ship, although I had used a considerable amount during my years of hunting.
It was one of my most valuable possessions.
Without it, my guns would become nearly useless.
I wanted to keep the remaining powder safe from moisture, fire, and theft.
The cave seemed an excellent place.
I returned home and began preparing supplies to move.
I selected some of my gunpowder, spare weapons, and other valuable objects.
I did not carry everything at once.
The journey was tiring, and I wanted to avoid attracting attention.
Instead, I made several careful trips.
Each time, I brought a small load and placed it inside the hidden chamber.
I also carried candles, tools, and materials for storing the supplies.
I arranged the objects neatly against the walls.
I kept the gunpowder away from the candles and made sure the containers were closed.
I wanted no accident to destroy my new refuge.
As I worked, I became increasingly pleased with the place.
My main shelter was comfortable, but it could be attacked if strangers discovered it.
The cave was different.
A person might walk close to its entrance without noticing anything unusual.
Even if someone entered the first passage, the narrow opening leading to the larger chamber might remain hidden.
I began thinking of the cave as my secret fortress.
I could retreat there if danger came.
I could also preserve a supply of weapons and food.
This gave me a feeling of security that I had not experienced since discovering the footprint.
Nevertheless, I remained careful.
I did not want to create a clear path leading to the entrance.
I approached the cave by different routes and avoided cutting down the surrounding bushes.
I also made sure that no smoke or other sign revealed its location.
The cave was valuable precisely because it was hidden.
During these preparations, I continued thinking about the strangers who sometimes visited the island.
I still hated the terrible practices I had discovered on the beach.
But I had decided not to attack them unless there was a clear reason.
I reminded myself that I had no authority to punish people who had not harmed me.
My first responsibility was to preserve my own life.
I continued praying for guidance and protection.
Sometimes I wondered whether I would ever meet another person peacefully.
Perhaps a ship would one day pass near the island.
Perhaps a sailor would come ashore.
Perhaps I might even rescue someone who had been brought here against his will.
Such thoughts gave me hope.
But I knew that hope alone was not enough.
I had to remain prepared for danger.
When I finished arranging my supplies, I stood in the hidden chamber and looked around.
The candles cast a gentle light across the stone walls.
My guns, powder, and tools were stored safely.
I felt proud of what I had accomplished.
The cave was another example of how my life had changed.
When I first arrived on the island, I had struggled simply to find shelter.
Now I possessed a fortified home, a country retreat, several goat enclosures, and a secret underground storehouse.
I had become skilled at surviving in a place where I had once expected to die.
Yet I understood that no wall or cave could guarantee complete safety.
The island still held dangers I did not fully understand.
I could only prepare as wisely as possible and trust that my efforts would help me face whatever came next.