[Illustration: "This succeeded well; great explosion agitated the air--a torrent carbonic acid gas rushed opening "]

Delighted commission, Jack leaped upon his buffalo, and, waving his whip, galloped off with an intrepidity that made my hair stand on end During his absence, Fritz and I enlarged the opening, it easy of access, removed all the rubbish, and swept road for mamma We had just finished, when we heard the sound of wheels crossing the bridge, cart appeared, drawn cow and ass, led by Ernest Jack rode before buffalo, blowing through his hand to imitate horn, and whipping the lazy cow and ass He rode up first, and alighted huge courser, to help his mother out

I then lighted our candles, giving one to each, with spare candle and flint and steel pockets We took our arms, and proceeded in solemn manner rock I walked first, my sons followed, and their mother came last, with Francis We gone on above few steps, when we stopped, struck with wonder and admiration; all was glittering around us; we were in grotto of diamonds ! height lofty vaulted roof hung innumerable crystals, which, uniting with those walls, formed colonnades, altars, and every sort of gothic ornament of dazzling lustre, creating fairy palace, or an illuminated temple

When we were little recovered first astonishment, we advanced with more confidence The grotto was spacious, the floor smooth, and covered with fine dry sand appearance crystals, I suspected their nature, and, on breaking off piece and tasting it, , to my great joy, that we were in grotto of rock salt, found in large masses earth, usually above bed of gypsum, and surrounded by fossils We were charmed discovery, no longer have doubt What an advantage to our cattle, and to ourselves ! now procure this precious commodity without care or labour The acquisition was almost as valuable brilliant retreat was in itself, we were never tired of admiring the beauty My wife was struck good fortune in opening the rock precisely right spot; but of opinion, mine was of great extent, well have missed it Some blocks of salt were scattered ground, which had apparently fallen vaulted roof alarmed; for such an accident might destroy one children; but, on examination, the mass above too solid detached spontaneously, and I concluded explosion fireworks had given this shock subterranean palace, which entered creation world I feared there might yet be some pieces loosened; I therefore sent out my wife and younger sons Fritz and I remained, and, after carefully examining the suspected parts, we fired our guns, and watched the effect; pieces fell, but the rest remained firm, though we struck with long poles as high as reach We were now satisfied security magnificent abode, and began our arrangements for converting it into convenient and pleasant habitation The majority were for coming here immediately, but the wiser heads determined that, year, Falcon's Nest was our home There we went every night, and spent the day at Tent House, contriving and arranging our future winter dwelling

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CHAPTER XXX

The last bed of rock, before we reached the cave which Jack had pierced, was so soft, and easy to work, that we had little difficulty in proportioning and opening the place door; I hoped that, being now exposed heat sun, it would soon become as hard original surface The door we had used staircase at Falcon's Nest; for only intended temporary residence old tree, no necessity for solid fittings; and, besides, I intended to close the entrance tree by door of bark, more effectually to conceal it, savages should visit us I then laid out the extent grotto at pleasure, for we had ample space We began by dividing it into two parts; that right entrance was our dwelling; left were, first, our kitchen, then the workshop stables; behind these were the store-rooms cellar light and air to our apartments, necessary to insert rock the windows we had brought ship; and this cost us many days of labour The right-hand portion was subdivided into three rooms: the first our own bedroom; the middle, the common sitting-room, and beyond the boys' room had only three windows, we appropriated one to each bedroom, third kitchen, contenting ourselves, at present, with grating dining-room I constructed sort of chimney kitchen, formed of four boards, and conducted the smoke thus, through hole made face rock bur work-room spacious enough to carry on all our manufactures, and it served also cart-house Finally, all the partition-walls were put up, communicating by doors, and completing our commodious habitation These various labours, the removal effects, and arranging them again, all the confusion of change when necessary at once workmen and directors, took us great part of summer; but the recollection vexations escape rainy season energy

We passed nearly all our time at Tent House, the centre operations; and, besides the gardens and plantations which surrounded it, many advantages which we profited by Large turtles often came to deposit their eggs sand, pleasant treat ; but we raised our desires possession turtles themselves, living, to eat when we chose we saw one shore, one sons ran to cut off its retreat We then hastened to assist, turned the creature on its back, passed long cord shell, and tied it firmly to post close water We then placed it on its legs, when it made water, but could only ramble the length cord; it seemed, however, very content, and we had it in readiness when we wanted it The lobsters, crabs, muscles, and every sort of fish which abounded coast, plentifully supplied our table One morning, we were struck with an extraordinary spectacle: large portion sea appeared in state of ebullition, and immense flocks of marine birds were hovering over it, uttering piercing cries, and plunging waves the surface, the rising sun now shone, seemed covered with little flames, which rapidly appeared and vanished Suddenly, this extraordinary mass advanced bay; and we ran down, fall of curiosity , arrival, strange phenomenon was caused by shoal of herrings These shoals are so dense, often taken for sand-banks, are many leagues in extent, and several feet in depth: they spread themselves over the seas, carrying to barren shores the resources that nature has denied them

These brilliant, scaly creatures had now entered the bay, and my wife and children were lost in admiration wonderful sight; but I reminded them, that when Providence sends plenty, we ought forth our hands it immediately necessary utensils, and organized my fishery Fritz and Jack stood water, and such thickness shoal, filled baskets, taking them up water in pail; they threw them sand; my wife and Ernest cut them open, cleaned them, and rubbed them with salt; I arranged them in small barrels, layer of herrings and layer of salt; and barrel was full, the ass, led by Francis, took them storehouse This labour occupied us , and end we had dozen barrels of excellent salt provision against the winter season

The refuse fishery, which we threw sea, attracted number of sea-dogs; we killed several sake skin oil, which useful to burn in lamps, or even as an ingredient in soap, which I hoped at some future time

I greatly improved my sledge, by placing it on two small wheels belonging guns ship, making it light and commodious carriage, and so low, that easily place heavy weights Satisfied labours, we returned very happy to Falcon's Nest, our Sunday, and to thank God heartily for all the blessings he had given us

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CHAPTER XXXI