The Story of The Swiss Family Robinson - Chapter 30

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.