But again encouraging myself with the hopes of God’s protection, I proceeded forward, and, by the light of my firebrand, perceived it to be a monstrous he-goat, lying on the ground, gasping for life, and dying of mere old age.  At first, I stirred him, thinking to drive him out, but the poor ancient creature strove to get upon his feet, but was not able; so I e’en let him lie still to affright the savages, should they venture into this cave.  I now looked round me and found the place but small and shapeless.  At the farther side of it, I perceived a sort of an entrance, yet so low, as must oblige me to creep upon my hands and knees to it; so, having no candle, I suspended my enterprise till the next day, and then I came provided with two large ones of my own making.

Having crept upon my hands and feet, through this strait, I found the roof higher up, I think about twenty feet.  But surely mortal never saw such a glorious sight before!  The roof and walls of this cave reflected a hundred thousand lights to me from my two candles, as though they were indented with mining gold, precious stones, or sparkling diamonds.  And indeed it was the most delightful cavity or grotto of its kind that could be desired, though entirely dark.  The floor was dry and level, and had a kind of gravel upon it:  no nauseous venomous creatures to be seen there, neither any damp or wet about it.  I could find no fault but in the entrance, and I began to think that even this might be very necessary for my defence, and therefore resolved to make it my most principal magazine.  I brought hither two fowling-pieces, and three muskets, leaving only five pieces at my castle, planted in the nature of cannon.  Of the barrel of gunpowder, which I took up out of the sea, I brought away about sixty pounds powder, which was not damaged, and this with a great quantity of lead for bullets, I removed for my castle to this retreat, now fortified both by art and nature.

I fancied myself now like one of the giants of old, who were said to live in caves and holes among the rocks, inaccessible to any but themselves, or, at lest, a most dangerous to attempt.  And now I despised both the cunning and strength of the savages, either to find me out or to hurt me.

But I must not forget the old goat, which caused my late dreadful amazement.  The poor creature gave up the ghost the day after my discovery; & it being difficult to drag him out, I dug his gave, and honourably entombed him in the same place where is departed, with as much ceremony as any Welch goat that has been interred about the high mountain Penmanmawn.