Despaired as night fell and I couldn't contain the chickens. Found out too late that the corner in my dugout was in gloom so spent the night watching a skeleton miss me (most of the time).
Morning came. Advanced around the desert to the swamp to get some more reeds (they can still be crafted into an early game window right?). Died to a slime.
EDIT: Life 2, spawned near trees (and wolves, gulp), found a ditch with an exposed stone wall, amazing how much time is saved by not having to dig for stone. Now merrily digging through the night.