The lucky discovery of a previously existing cavern in the
rock had, as must be supposed, considerably lessened our
labor: excavation was no longer requisite: I had more room
than was wanted for the construction of our dwelling; to rendei
it habitable was the present object, and to do this did not
seem a difficult task. The upper bed of the rock, in front of
the cavern, through which my little Jack had dug so easily, was
of a soft nature, and to be worked with moderate effort. I hoped also that, being now exposed to the air and heat of the
sun, it would become by degrees as hard and compact as the
first layer that had given me so much trouble.