diff options
Diffstat (limited to '25666.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 25666.txt | 9705 |
1 files changed, 9705 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/25666.txt b/25666.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a4d323 --- /dev/null +++ b/25666.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9705 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Tar, by Mayne Reid + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Tar + +Author: Mayne Reid + +Illustrator: Edward Read + +Release Date: June 1, 2008 [EBook #25666] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY TAR *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + +The Boy Tar, by Captain Mayne Reid. + +________________________________________________________________________ +This is a really extraordinary book, especially when you consider that +the author was the first to write in the Wild West genre, and was also +no mean naturalist. It is true that he did write a few books with a sea +setting, much like those by other nautical authors. But this book, +although the setting for most of the book is inside the cargo hold of +a merchant vessel, doesn't really fit into any of Reid's usual genres. + +The young hero is a very little lad, no more than four feet high. He +has friends among the other boys of the village, but none of them seem +to get up to his sort of escapades. One of these involves stowing away +in the hold of a vessel bound for Peru, six months' voyage away. He +stowed away, as he thought, just before she sailed, but what he didn't +realise was that there was a great deal of last-minute cargo yet to be +loaded. When the ship finally sailed he found that he was right at the +bottom of a huge amount of cargo. Luckily he found that there were some +boxes of biscuits nearby, and, luckily also, some water casks. He works +out that he might be able to survive the six months on these supplies. +What he didn't reckon on were the rats, who soon deprived him of the +biscuits. It then became imperative to get out. + +The next forty chapters, no less, detail the painstaking way in which, +armed only with a good knife, which eventually breaks and has to be +repaired somehow, and in the dark, remember, he makes his way through +layer after layer of cargo; through brandy casks, pianos, boxes of +ladies' bonnets; and all this in a hold whose shape made it harder and +harder the more he mounted towards the cargo hatch. This a very +gripping tale, faultlessly written, and very hard to put down. Unlike +other tales of the sea nobody gets killed, though some of the rats have +to go, even being eaten as the boy's hunger mounts. + +Of course it does have a happy ending, but not many of us could have +done what he did, and certainly not many little chaps only four feet in +height. Makes a superb audiobook. + +________________________________________________________________________ +THE BOY TAR, BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +MY BOY AUDIENCE. + +My name is Philip Forster, and I am now an old man. + +I reside in a quiet little village, that stands upon the sea-shore, at +the bottom of a very large bay--one of the largest in our island. + +I have styled it a quiet village, and so it really is, though it boasts +of being a seaport. There is a little pier or jetty of chiselled +granite, alongside which you may usually observe a pair of sloops, about +the same number of schooners, and now and then a brig. Big ships cannot +come in. But you may always note a large number of boats, either hauled +up on the beach, or scudding about the bay, and from this, you may +conclude that the village derives its support rather from fishing than +commerce. Such in reality is the fact. + +It is my native village--the place in which I was born, and where it is +my intention to die. + +Notwithstanding this, my fellow-villagers know very little about me. +They only know me as "Captain Forster," or more specifically as "The +Captain," this _soubriquet_ being extended to me as the only person in +the place entitled to it. + +Strictly speaking, I am not entitled to it. I have never been a captain +of soldiers, nor have I held that rank in the navy. I have only been +the master of a merchant vessel,--in other words, a "skipper." But the +villagers are courteous, and by their politeness I am styled "Captain." + +They know that I live in a pretty cottage about half a mile from the +village, up shore; they know that I live alone--for my old housekeeper +can scarce be accounted as company; they see me each day pass through +the place with my telescope under my arm; they note that I walk out on +the pier, and sweep the offing with my glass, and then, perhaps, return +home again, or wander for an hour or two along the shore. Beyond these +facts, my fellow-villagers know but little of myself, my habits, or my +history. + +They have a belief among them that I have been a great traveller. They +know that I have many books, and that I read much; and they have got it +into their heads that I am a wonderful scholar. + +I _have_ been a great traveller, and am a great reader, but the simple +villagers are mistaken as to my scholarship. In my youth I was denied +the advantages of a fine education, and what little literary knowledge I +possess has been acquired by self-instruction--hasty and interrupted-- +during the brief intervals of an active life. + +I have said that my fellow-villagers know very little about me, and you +are no doubt surprised at this; since among them I began my life, and +among them I have declared my intention of ending it. Their ignorance +of me is easily explained. I was but twelve years of age when I left +home, and for forty years after I never set foot in my native place, nor +eyes upon any of its inhabitants. + +He must be a famous man who would be remembered after forty years' +absence; and I, scarce a boy at going forth, returned to find myself +quite forgotten. Even my parents were scarce remembered. Both had died +before I went away from home, and while I was only a mere lad. Besides, +my father, who was a mariner by profession, was seldom or never at home, +and I remember little else about him, than how I grieved when the news +came that his ship was lost, and he with most of his crew were drowned. +Alas! my mother did not long survive him; and their death occurring such +a long time ago, it is but natural that both should be forgotten among a +people with whom they had but slight intercourse. Thus, then, is it +explained how I chance to be such a stranger in my native place. + +But you are not to suppose that I am lonely or without companions. +Though I have ceased to follow my profession of the sea, and returned +home to spend the remainder of my days in a quiet, peaceful way, I am by +no means of an unsocial disposition or morose habits. On the contrary, +I am fond, as I have ever been, of social intercourse; and old man +though I be, I take great delight in the society of young people, +especially little boys. I can boast, too, that with all these in the +village I am a favourite. I spend hours upon hours in helping them to +fly their kites, and sail their tiny boats; for I remember how much +delight I derived from these pastimes when I was myself a boy. + +As I take part in their sports, little do the simple children think that +the gentle old man who can so amuse them and himself, has spent most of +his life amidst scenes of wild adventure and deadly peril; and yet such +has been my history. + +There are those in the village, however, who are better acquainted with +some chapters from the story of my life--passages of it which they have +heard from my own lips, for I am never disinclined _to relate to_ those +who may be worthy of hearing it any interesting adventure through which +I may have passed; and even in our quiet village I have found an +audience that merits the narrator. Schoolboys have been my listeners; +for there is a famous school near the village--an "establishment for +young gentlemen" it is styled--and it is from this I draw my most +attentive auditory. + +These boys and I used to meet in our rambles along the shore, and +observing my weather-beaten, salt-water look, they fancied that I could +tell them tales of wild scenes and strange incidents that I had +encountered far over the sea. Our meetings were frequent--almost +daily--and soon a friendly acquaintance sprung up between us; until, at +their solicitation, I began to relate to them an occasional adventure of +my life. Often I may have been observed, seated upon the "bent" grass +of the beach, encircled by a crowd of these well-dressed youths, whose +parted lips and eager eyes betokened the interest they felt in my +narrations. + +I am not ashamed to declare that I, too, felt pleasure in this sort of +thing: like all old soldiers and sailors, who proverbially delight to +"fight their battles o'er again." + +These desultory recitals continued for some time, until one day, as I +met my young friends in the ordinary way, only somewhat earlier than +common, I saw that there was something unusual in the wind. They +mustered stronger than was their wont, and I noticed that one of them-- +the biggest boy of the crowd--held a folded paper in his hand, upon +which I could perceive there was writing. + +As I drew near, the paper was placed in my hands without a word being +said; and I saw by the superscription that it was directed to myself. + +I opened the paper, and soon perceived the nature of its contents. It +was a "petition" signed by all the boys present. It ran thus:-- + + "Dear Captain,--We have been allowed holiday for the whole of to-day; + and we know of no way in which we could spend it with so much of + pleasure and profit, as by listening to you. We have therefore taken + the liberty of asking you to indulge us, by the narration of some + remarkable incident that has happened to you. A stirring passage we + should prefer, for we know that many of these have befallen you during + your adventurous life; but choose whatever one it may be most pleasant + for you to relate; and we shall promise to listen attentively, since + one and all of us know that it will be an easy thing to keep that + promise. And now, dear captain! grant us the favour we ask, and your + petitioners shall be for ever grateful." + +Such a polite request could not be refused; and without hesitation I +declared my intention to gratify my young friends with a chapter from my +life. The chapter chosen was one which I thought would be most +interesting to them--as it gave some account of my own boy-life, and of +my first voyage to sea--which, from the odd circumstances under which it +was made, I have termed a "Voyage in the Dark." + +Seating myself upon the pebbly beach, in full view of the bright sea, +and placing my auditory around me, I began. + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +SAVED BY SWANS. + +From my earliest days, I was fond of the water--instinctively so. Had I +been born a duck, or a water-dog, I could not have liked it better. My +father had been a seaman, and his father before him, and grandfather +too; so that perhaps I inherited the instinct. Whether or not, my +aquatic tastes were as strong as if the water had been my natural +element; and I have been told, though I do not myself remember it, that +when still but a mere child, it was with difficulty I could be kept out +of puddles and ponds. In fact, the first adventure of my life occurred +in a pond, and that I remember well. Though it was neither so strange +nor so terrible as many adventures that befell me afterwards, still it +was rather a curious one, and I shall give you it, as illustrating the +early _penchant_ I had for aquatic pursuits. I was but a very little +boy at the time, and the odd incident occurring, as it were, at the very +threshold of my life, seemed to foreshadow the destiny of my future +career--that I was to experience as in reality I have experienced, many +vicissitudes and adventures. + +I have said I was but a very little boy at the time--just big enough to +go about, and just of that age when boys take to sailing paper-boats. I +knew how to construct these out of the leaf of an old book, or a piece +of a newspaper; and often had I sent them on voyages across the +duck-pond, which was my ocean. I may ay, I had got a step beyond the +mere paper-boats: with my six months' stock of pocket-money, which I had +saved for the purpose, I had succeeded in purchasing a full-rigged +sloop, from an old fisherman, who had "built" her during his hours of +leisure. She was only six inches in length of keel, by less than three +in breadth of beam, and her tonnage, if registered--which it never was-- +would have been about half a pound avoirdupois. A small craft you will +style her; but at that time, in my eyes, she was as grand as a +three-decker. + +I esteemed her too large for the duck-pond, and resolved to go in search +of a piece of water where she should have more room to exhibit her +sailing qualities. + +This I soon found in the shape of a very large pond--or lake, I should +rather call it--where the water was clear as crystal, and where there +was usually a nice light breeze playing over the surface--just strong +enough to fill the sails, and drive my little sloop along like a bird on +the wing--so that she often crossed the pond before I myself could get +round to the other side to receive her into my hands again. + +Many a race have I had with my little sloop, in which sometimes she, and +sometimes I, proved victorious, according as the wind was favourable or +unfavourable to her course. + +Now this pretty pond--by the shores of which I used to delight myself, +and where I spent many of the happiest hours of my boyhood--was not +public property. It was situated in a gentleman's park, that extended +backward from the end of the village, and the pond of course belonged to +the owner of the park. He was a kind and liberal gentleman, however, +and permitted the villagers to go through his grounds whenever they +pleased, and did not object to the boys sailing their boats upon the +ornamental water, or even playing cricket in one of his fields, provided +they did not act rudely or destroy any of the shrubs or plants that grew +along the walks. It was very kind and good of him to allow this +freedom; and we, the boys of the village, were sensible of this, and I +think on the whole we behaved as if we were so; for I never heard of any +damage being done that was deemed worthy of complaint. The park and +pond are there still--you all know them?--but the kind gentleman I speak +of has long since left this world; for he was an _old_ gentleman, then, +and that is sixty years ago. + +Upon the little lake, there was at that time a flock of swans--six, if I +remember aright--besides other water-fowl of rare kinds. The boys took +great delight in feeding these pretty creatures; and it was a common +thing for one or other of us to bring pieces of bread, and chuck them to +the water-fowl. For my part, I was very fond of this little piece of +extravagance; and, whenever I had the opportunity, I came to the lake +with my pockets crammed. + +The fowls, and especially the swans, under this treatment had grown so +tame, that they would eat out of our hands, without exhibiting the +slightest fear of us. + +There was a particular way of giving them their food, in which we used +to take great delight. On one side of the lake, there was a bank that +rose three feet or so above the surface of the water. Here the pond was +deep, and there was no chance for either the swans, or any other +creature, to land at this place without taking to wing. The bank was +steep, without either shelf or stair to ascend by. In fact, it rather +hung over, than shelved. + +At this point we used to meet the swans, that were always ready to come +when they saw us; and then, placing the piece of bread in the split end +of a rod, and holding it out high above them, we enjoyed the spectacle +of the swans stretching up their long necks, and occasionally leaping +upward out of the water to snatch it, just as dogs would have done. All +this, you will perceive, was rare fun for boys. + +Now I come to the promised adventure. + +One day, I had proceeded to the pond, carrying my sloop with me as +usual. It was at an early hour; and on reaching the ground, I found +that none of my companions had yet arrived. I launched my sloop, +however; and then walked around the shore to meet her on the opposite +side. + +There was scarcely a breath of wind, and the sloop sailed slowly. I was +therefore in no hurry, but sauntered along at my leisure. On leaving +home I had not forgotten the swans, which were my great pets: such +favourites, indeed, that I very much fear they induced me on more than +one occasion to commit small thefts for them; since the slices of bread +with which my pockets were crammed, had been rather surreptitiously +obtained from the domestic larder. + +Be this as it may, I had brought their allowance along with me; and on +reaching the high bank, I halted to give it them. + +All six, who knew me well, with proud arching necks and wings slightly +elevated, came gliding rapidly across the pond to meet me; and in a few +seconds arrived under the bank, where they moved about with upstretched +beaks, and eyes eagerly scanning my movements. They knew that I had +called them thither to be kind to them. + +Having procured a slight sapling, and split it at the end, I placed a +piece of bread in the notch, and proceeded to amuse myself with the +manoeuvres of the birds. + +One piece after another was snatched away from the stick, and I had +nearly emptied my pockets, when all at once the sod upon which I was +standing gave way under me, and I fell _plump_ into the water. + +I fell with a plunge like a large stone, and as I could not swim a +stroke, I should have gone to the bottom like one, but it so happened +that I came down right in the middle of the swans, who were no doubt +taken as much by surprise as myself. + +Now it was not through any peculiar presence of mind on my part, but +simply from the instinct of self-preservation, which is common to every +living creature, that I made an effort to save myself. This I did by +throwing out my hands, and endeavouring to seize hold of something, just +as drowning men will catch even at straws. But I caught something +better than a straw, for I chanced to seize upon the leg of one of the +biggest and strongest of the swans, and to that I held on, as if my life +depended on my not letting it go. + +At the first plunge my eyes and ears had been filled with water, and I +was hardly sensible of what I was doing. I could hear a vast splashing +and spluttering as the birds scattered away in affright, but in another +second of time I had consciousness enough to perceive that I had got +hold of the leg of the swan, and was being towed rapidly through the +water. I had sense enough to retain my hold; and in less time than I +have taken to tell it, I was dragged better than half across the pond, +which, after all, was but a short distance. The swan made no attempt to +swim, but rather fluttered along the surface, using his wings, and +perhaps the leg that was still free, to propel himself forward. Terror, +no doubt, had doubled both his strength and his energies, else he could +never have towed such a weight, big and strong as he was. How long the +affair would have lasted, it is hard to say. Not very long, however. +The bird might have kept above water a good while, but I could not have +held out much longer. I was every moment being ducked under, the water +at each immersion getting into my mouth and nostrils. I was fast losing +consciousness, and would soon have been forced to let go. + +Just at this crisis, to my great joy, I felt something touch me +underneath; some rough object had struck against my knees. It was the +stones and gravel at the bottom of the lake; and I perceived that I was +now in water of no great depth. The bird, in struggling to escape, had +passed over the portion of the lake where it was deep and dangerous, and +was now close to the edge, where it shoaled, I did not hesitate a +moment; I was only too glad to put an end to the towing match, and +therefore released my grasp from the leg of the swan. The bird, thus +lightened, immediately took to wing; and, screeching like a wild fowl, +rose high into the air. + +For myself, I found bottom at once, and after some staggering, and a +good deal of sneezing and hiccoughing, I regained my feet; and then +wading out, stood once more safe upon _terra firma_. + +I was so badly terrified by the incident that I never thought of looking +after my sloop. Leaving her to finish her voyage as she might, I ran +away as fast as my legs would carry me, and never made halt or pause +till I had reached home and stood with dripping garments in front of the +fire. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +THE "UNDER-TOW." + +You will fancy that the lesson I had thus received should have been a +warning to me to keep away from the water. Not so, however. So far as +that went, the ducking did me no good, though it proved beneficial in +other respects. It taught me the danger of getting into water over +one's depth, which I had before then but little appreciated; and young +as I was, I perceived the advantage of being able to swim. The peril +from which I had so narrowly escaped, stimulated me to form a resolve, +and that was--to learn the art of swimming. + +I was encouraged in this resolution by my mother, as also by a letter +received from my father, who was then abroad; and in which he gave +directions that I should be taught to swim in the best manner. It was +just what I desired, and with the intention of becoming a first-rate +swimmer, I went about it in right earnest. Once and sometimes twice +each day during the warm weather--that is, after school was out--I +betook myself to the water, where I might be seen splashing and +spluttering about like a young porpoise. Some bigger boys, who had +already learnt to swim, gave me a lesson or two; and I soon experienced +the delightful sensation of being able to float upon my back without +assistance from any one. I well remember how proud I felt on the +occasion when I first accomplished this natatorial feat. + +And here, young reader, let me advise you by all means to imitate my +example, and learn to swim. You know not how soon you may stand in need +of a knowledge of this useful art; how soon you may be called upon to +practise it perforce. You know not but that sooner or later it may be +the means of saving your life. + +At the present time, the chances of death by drowning are multiplied far +beyond anything of the kind in past ages. Almost everybody now travels +across seas, oceans, and upon large rivers, and the number of people who +annually risk their lives on the water, voyaging on business, pleasure, +or in the way of emigration, is scarce credible. Of these, a +proportion--in stormy years a large one--perish by drowning. + +I do not mean to assert that a swimmer, even the best, if cast away at a +great distance from shore, in mid-Atlantic, for instance, or even in the +middle of the English Channel--would have any prospect of swimming to +land. That, of course, would be impracticable. But there are often +other chances of life being saved, besides that of getting to land. A +boat may be reached, a spar, an empty hencoop or barrel; and there are +many instances on record of lives having been saved by such slight +means. Another vessel, too, may be in sight, may hasten to the scene of +the disaster, and the strong swimmer may be still afloat upon her +arrival; while those who could not swim, must of course have gone to the +bottom. + +But you must know that it is neither in the middle of the Atlantic, nor +of any great ocean, that most vessels are wrecked and lives are lost. +Some are, it is true--when a storm rages with extreme fury, "blowing +great guns," as the seamen phrase it, and blowing a ship almost to +atoms. These events, however, are extremely rare, and bear but a small +proportion to the number of wrecks that take place within sight of the +shore, and frequently upon the beach itself. It is in "castaways" of +this kind, that the greatest number of lives are sacrificed, under +circumstances when, by a knowledge of the art of swimming, many of them +might have been saved. Not a year passes, but there is a record of +hundreds of individuals who have been drowned within cable's length of +the shore--ships full of emigrants, soldiers, and sailors, have sunk +with all on board, leaving only a few good swimmers survivors of the +wreck! Similar "accidents" occur in rivers, scarce two hundred yards in +width; and you yourselves are acquainted with the annual drownings, even +in the narrow and icy Serpentine! + +With these facts before the eyes of the world, you will wonder that the +world does not take warning, and at once learn to swim. + +It may be wondered, too, that governments do not compel the youth to +learn this simple accomplishment; but that indeed is hardly to be +wondered at, since the business of governments in all ages has been +rather to tax than to teach their people. + +It seems to me, however, that it would be a very easy thing for +governments to compel all those who travel by ships, to provide +themselves with a life-preserver. By this cheap and simple contrivance, +I am prepared to show that thousands of lives would be annually saved; +and no one would grumble at either the cost or inconvenience of carrying +so useful an article. + +Governments take special care to tax travellers for a piece of worthless +paper, called a passport. Once you have paid for this, it signifies not +to them how soon you and your passport go to the bottom of the sea. + +Well, young reader, whether it be the desire of your government or not, +take a hint from me, and make yourself a good swimmer. Set about it at +once--that is, if the weather be warm enough--and don't miss a day while +it continues so. Be a swimmer before you become a man; for when you +have reached manhood, you will most probably find neither time, +opportunity, nor inclination to practise; besides, you may run many +risks of being drowned long before there is hair upon your lip. + +For myself, I have had a variety of hair-breadth escapes from drowning. +The very element which I loved so dearly, seemed the most desirous of +making a victim of me; and I should have deemed it ungrateful, had I not +known that the wild billows were unreasoning, irresponsible creatures; +and I had too recklessly laid "my hand upon their mane." + +It was but a few weeks after my ducking in the pond, and I had already +taken several swimming lessons, when I came very near making my last +essay at this aquatic exercise. + +It was not in the pond that the incident occurred, for that, being a +piece of ornamental water, and private property, as I have told you, was +not permitted to be used as a bathing place. + +But the people of a sea-shore town need no lake in which to disport +themselves. The great salt sea gives them a free bath, and our village +had its bathing beach in common with others of its kind. Of course, +then, my swimming lessons were taken in salt-water. + +The beach which was habitually used by the villagers, had not the best +name as a bathing place. It was pretty enough, with yellow sand, white +shells, and pebbles; but there was what is termed an "under-tow"--in one +particular place stronger than elsewhere; and at times it was a +dangerous matter to get within the influence of this "under-tow," unless +the person so exposing himself was a good and strong swimmer. + +There was a legend among the villagers, that some one had been drowned +by this current; but that was an occurrence of long ago, and had almost +ceased to be talked about. There were also one or two more modern +instances of bathers being carried out to sea, but finally saved by +boats sent after them. + +I remember at that time having been struck with a fact relating to these +mishaps; and this was, that the older inhabitants of the village, and +they who were of most consequence in the place, never liked to talk +about them; either shrugging their shoulders and remaining silent, or +giving the legends a flat contradiction. Some of them even went so far +as to deny the existence of an "under-tow," while others contented +themselves by asserting that it was perfectly harmless. I always +noticed, however, that parents would not permit their boys to bathe near +the place where the dangerous current was represented to exist. + +I never knew the reason why the villagers were so unwilling to +acknowledge the "under-tow," and the truth of the stories connected +therewith. That is, I knew it not until long, long afterwards--until I +came home again after my forty years of adventure. On my return, I +found the same silence and shrugging of the shoulders, although by a +generation of villagers altogether different from those I had left +behind. And this, too, notwithstanding that several accidents had +occurred in my absence, to prove that the "under-tow" did actually +exist, and that it was actually dangerous. + +But I was then older and better able to reason about men's motives, and +I soon fathomed the mystery. It was this: our village is, as you know, +what is called a "watering-place," and derived some support from +visitors who came to it to spend a few weeks of their summer. It is a +watering-place upon a small scale, it is true, but were there to be much +talk about the "under-tow," or too much credence given to legends of +people who have been drowned by it, it would become a watering-place on +a still smaller scale, or might cease to be one altogether. Therefore +the less you say of the "under-tow," the better for your own popularity +among the wise men of the village. + +Now, my young friends, I have been making a long story about what you +will deem a very ordinary adventure, after all. It is simply to end by +my telling you that I was drowned by the "under-tow"--actually +_drowned_! + +You will say that I could not have been _drowned dead_, though that is a +doubtful point, for, as far as my feelings were concerned, I am certain +I should not have known it had I never been restored to life again. No, +I should not have felt pain had I been cut into a hundred pieces while I +was in that state, nor would I ever have come to life again had it not +been for somebody else. That somebody else was a fine young waterman of +our village, by name Harry Blew, and to him was I indebted for my +_second_ life. + +The incident, as I have said, was of the ordinary kind, but I relate it +to show how I became acquainted with Harry Blew, whose acquaintance and +example had an important influence on my after-life. + +I had gone to the beach to bathe as usual, at a point new to me, and +where I had not seen many people bathe before. It chanced to be one of +the worst places for this "under-tow," and shortly after entering the +water I got into its gripe, and was drawn outward into the open sea, far +beyond the distance I could have swum back. As much from terror, that +paralysed my strength, as aught else--for I was aware of my danger--I +could swim no further, but sank to the bottom like a piece of lead! + +I did not know that I had ever come up again. I knew nothing at all +about what happened after. I only remembered seeing a boat near me, and +a man in it; and then all was dark, and I heard a loud rumbling like +thunder in my ears, and my consciousness went out like the snuffing of a +candle. + +It returned again, thanks to young Harry Blew, and when I knew that I +was still alive, I re-opened my eyes, and saw a man kneeling above me, +rubbing me all over with his hands, and pushing my belly up under my +ribs, and blowing into my mouth, and tickling my nostrils with a +feather, and performing a great variety of such antic manoeuvres upon +me. + +That was Harry Blew bringing me to life again; and as soon as he had +partially succeeded, he lifted me up in his arms and carried me home to +my mother, who was nearly distracted on receiving me; and then wine was +poured down my throat, and hot bricks and bottles were put to my feet, +and my nose anointed with hartshorn, and my body rolled in warm +blankets, and many other appliances were administered, and many remedies +had I to take, before my friends considered the danger to be over, and +that I should be likely to live. + +But it was all over at length, and in twenty hours' time I was on my +feet again, and as brisk and well as ever. + +I had now had my warning of the water, if that could have been of any +service. But it was not, as the sequel will show. + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +THE DINGHY. + +No; the warning was all in vain. Even the narrow escape I had had, did +not cure me of my fondness for being on the water, but rather had an +opposite effect. + +The acquaintance thus singularly formed between the young waterman and +myself, soon ripened into a strong feeling of friendship. His name, as +I have said, was Harry Blew, and--if I may be allowed to play upon the +word--he was "true blue," for he was gifted with a heart as kind as it +was brave. I need hardly add that I grew vastly fond of him, and he +appeared to reciprocate the feeling, for he acted towards me from that +time forward as if I had saved _his_ life, instead of its being the +other way. He took great pains to make me perfect in swimming; and he +also taught me the use of the oar; so that in a short time I was able to +row in a very creditable manner, and far better than any boy of my age +or size. I even attained to such proficiency that I could manage a pair +of oars, and pull about without any assistance from my instructor. This +I esteemed a great feat, and I was not a little proud when I was +entrusted (as was frequently the case) to take the young waterman's boat +from the little cove where he kept her, to some point on the beach where +he might be waiting to take up a fare. Perhaps in passing an anchored +sloop, or near the beach, where some people might be sauntering, I may +have heard remarks made in a sneering tone, such as, "You are a queer +chap to be handlin' a pair o' oars!" or, "Oh, jimminy! Look at that +millikin pin, boys!" And then I could hear other jeers mingled with +shouts of laughter. But this did not mortify me in the least. On the +contrary, I felt proud to show them that, small as I was, I could propel +my craft in the right direction, and perhaps as rapidly as many of them +that were even twice my size. + +After a time I heard no more of these taunts, unless now and then from +some stranger to the place. The people of our village soon learned how +well I could manage a boat; and small as I was, they held me in +respect--at all events, they no longer jeered at me. Often they would +call me the "little waterman," or the "young sailor," or still oftener +was I known by the name of the "Boy Tar." It was my father's design +that, like himself, I should follow the sea as a calling; and had he +lived to make another voyage, it was his intention to have taken me away +with him. I was encouraged, therefore, in these ideas; and moreover, my +mother always dressed me in sailor costume of the most approved +pattern--blue cloth jacket and trousers, with black silk handkerchief +and folding collar. Of all this I was very proud, and it was my costume +as much as aught else, that led to my receiving the _soubriquet_ of the +"Boy Tar." This title pleased me best of any, for it was Harry Blew +that first bestowed it on me, and from the day that he saved me from +drowning, I regarded him as my true friend and protector. + +He was at this time rather a prosperous young fellow, himself owner of +his boat--nay, better still, he had two boats. One was much bigger than +the other--the yawl, as he styled her--and this was the one he mostly +used, especially when three or four persons wanted a sail. The lesser +boat was a little "dinghy" he had just purchased, and which for +convenience he took with him when his fare was only a single passenger, +since the labour of rowing it was much less. In the watering season, +however, the larger boat was more often required; since parties of +pleasure were out every day in it, and at such times the little one lay +idle at its moorings. I was then welcome to the use of it for my own +pleasure, and could take it when I liked, either by myself or with a +companion, if I chose to have one. It became my custom, therefore, +after school hours, or indeed whenever I had any spare time, to be off +to the dinghy, and rowing it all about the harbour. I was rarely +without a companion--for more than one of my schoolfellows relished this +sort of thing--and many of them even envied me the fine privilege I had +in being almost absolute master of a boat. Of course, whenever I +desired company, I had no need to go alone; it was not often that I was +so. Some one or other of the boys was my companion on every excursion +that was made, and these were almost daily--at least, every day on which +the weather was calm enough to allow of it. With such a small +cockleshell of a boat, we dared not go out when it was not calm; and +with regard to this, I had been duly cautioned by Henry Blew himself. +Our excursions only extended to a short distance from the village, +usually up the bay, though sometimes down, but I always took care to +keep near the shore, and never ventured far out, lest the little boat +might be caught in a squall and get me into danger. + +As time passed on, however, I grew less timid, and began to feel more at +home on the wide water. Then I extended my excursions sometimes as far +as a mile from the shore, and thought nothing of it. My friend, the +waterman, seeing me on one of these far voyages, repeated his former +caution, but it might have had a more salutary effect had I not +overheard him, the moment after, observe to one of his companions:-- + +"Wonderful boy! ain't he, Bob? Come of the true stock--make the right +sort of a sailor, if ever he grows big enough." + +This remark led me to think that I had not much displeased my patron in +what I had done; and therefore his caution "to keep close in-shore" +produced very little effect on me. + +It was not a long time before I quite disobeyed it; and the +disobedience, as you shall hear, very nigh cost me my life. + +But first let me tell of a circumstance that occurred at this date, and +which quite changed the current of my existence. It was a great +misfortune that befell me--the loss of both my parents. + +I have said that my father was a seaman by profession. He was the +master of a ship that traded, I believe, to the colonies of America, and +so little was he at home from the time I was old enough to remember, +that I scarce recollected him more than just what he was like--and that +was a fine, manly, sailor-looking man, with a face bronzed by the +weather until it was nearly of a copper colour, but for all that a +handsome and cheerful face. + +My mother must have thought so too, for from the time that news arrived +that his ship was wrecked and he himself drowned, she was never herself +again. She seemed to pine away, as if she did not wish to live longer, +but was desirous of joining him in the other world. If such were her +wishes, it was not long before they were gratified; for in a very few +weeks after the terrible news had reached us, my poor mother was carried +to her grave. + +These were the circumstances that changed the current of my existence. +Even my mode of life was no longer the same. I was now an orphan, +without means and without a home; for, as my parents had been without +any fortune, and subsisted entirely upon the hard earnings of my +father's trade, no provision had been made against such an unexpected +event as my brave father's death, and even my mother had been left +almost penniless. Perhaps it was a merciful providence that called her +away from a world that to her was no longer a place of enjoyment; and +although I long lamented my dear kind mother, in after years I could not +help thinking that it was her happier destiny that at that time she had +been summoned away. Long, long years it was before I could have done +anything to aid or protect her--during the chill cold winter of poverty +that must have been her portion. + +To me the events brought consequences of the most serious kind. I found +a home, it is true, but a very different one from that to which I had +all along been used. I was taken to live with an uncle, who, although +my mother's own brother, had none of her tender or affectionate +feelings; on the contrary, he was a man of morose disposition and coarse +habits, and I soon found that I was but little more cared for than any +one of his servants, for I was treated just as they. + +My school-days were at an end, for I was no more sent to school from the +day I entered my uncle's house. Not that I was allowed to go about +idle. My uncle was a farmer, and soon found a use for me; so that +between running after pigs and cattle, and driving the plough horses, or +tending upon a flock of sheep, or feeding calves, or a hundred other +little matters, I was kept busy from sunrise till sunset of every day in +the week. Upon Sundays only was I permitted to rest--not that my uncle +was at all religious, but that it was a custom of the place that there +should be no work done on the Sabbath. This custom was strictly +observed by everybody belonging to the village, and my uncle was +compelled to follow the common rule; otherwise, I believe, he would have +made Sunday a day of work as well as any other. + +My uncle, not having any care for religion, I was not sent to church, +but was left free to wander idle about the fields, or indeed wherever I +chose to go. You may be sure I did not choose to stop among the hedges +and ditches. The blue sea that lay beyond, had far more attractions for +me than birds-nesting, or any other rural amusement; and the moment I +could escape from the house I was off to my favourite element, either to +accompany my friend, Harry Blew, in some of his boating trips, or to get +possession of the "dinghy," and have a row on my own account. Thus, +then, were my Sundays passed. + +While my mother was living, I had been taught to regard this idle way of +spending Sunday as sinful; but the example which I had before me in my +uncle's life, soon led me to form other ideas upon this matter, and I +came to regard the Lord's Day as only differing from any other of the +week in its being by far the pleasantest. + +One Sunday, however, proved anything but pleasant. So far from it, that +it came very near being the most painful as well as the _last_ day of my +life--which was once more imperilled by my favourite element--the water. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +THE REEF. + +It was Sunday morning, and as fine a one as I can remember. It was in +the month of May, and not likely to be otherwise than fine. The sun was +shining brightly, and the birds filled the air with joyous music. The +thrush and blackbird mingled their strong vigorous voices, with the +mellowed trilling of the skylark, and over the fields could be heard +almost continuously the call of the cuckoo--now here, now there, as the +active creature plied her restless wing from one hedge-tree to another. +There was a strong sweet perfume in the air like the scent of almonds, +for the white thorn was now expanding its umbels of aromatic flowers, +and there was just enough breeze to bear their fragrance throughout the +whole atmosphere. The country, with its green hedgerows, its broad +fields of young corn, its meadows enamelled with the golden ranunculus +and the purple spring orchis both in full flower; the country with its +birds' nests and bird music would have been attractive to most boys of +my age, but far more fascination for me was there in that which lay +beyond--that calm, glassy surface of a sky-blue colour that shone over +the fields, glistening under the rays of the sun like a transparent +mirror. That great watery plain was the field upon which I longed to +disport myself: far lovelier in my eyes than the rigs of waving corn, or +the flower-enamelled mead, its soft ripple more musical to my ear than +the songs of thrush or skylark, and _even_ its peculiar smell more +grateful to my senses than the perfume of buttercups and roses. + +As soon, therefore, as I left my chamber and looked forth upon this +smiling, shining sea, I longed to fling myself on its bosom with a +yearning which I cannot express. To satisfy this desire, I made all +haste to be gone. I did not even wait for a regular breakfast, but was +content with a piece of bread and a bowl of milk, which I obtained from +the pantry, and having hurriedly swallowed these, I struck out for the +beach. + +I rather stole away than otherwise, for I had apprehensions that some +obstacle might arise to hinder me from gratifying my wishes. Perhaps my +uncle might find reason to call me back, and order me to remain about +the house; for although he did not object to my roaming idly about the +fields, I knew that he did not like the idea of my going upon the water, +and once or twice already had forbidden it. + +This apprehension, then, caused me to use a little precaution. Instead +of going out by the avenue leading direct from the house to the main +road that ran along the shore, I went by a back way that would bring me +to the beach in a circuitous direction. + +I met with no interruption, but succeeded in reaching the water edge +without being observed--by any one who had an interest in knowing where +I went. + +On arriving at the little cove where the young waterman kept his boats, +I perceived that the larger one was out, but the dinghy was there at my +service. This was just what I wished for, as on that particular day I +had formed a design to make a very grand excursion in the little boat. +My first act, then, was to get inside and bale out the water which had +gathered in the bottom of the dinghy. There was a good deal of water in +her, and I concluded from this that she must have lain several days +without being used, for she was a craft that did not leak very fast. +Fortunately, I found an old tin pan, that was kept on purpose to bale +out with, and after scooping away for some ten minutes or a quarter of +an hour, I got the little boat dry enough for my purpose. The oars were +kept in a shed behind the cottage of the waterman, which stood only a +short distance back upon the beach: and these I fetched, as I had often +done before, without the necessity of asking leave from any one. + +I now entered the dinghy, and having adjusted the thole pins and placed +my oars on the rowlocks, I took my seat and pushed off from the shore. +My little skiff yielded freely to my stroke, and shot out into the deep +water as smoothly as if she had been a fish; and with a heart as light +as ever beat in my breast, I pulled away over the bright blue sea. The +sea was not only bright and blue, but as calm as a lake. There was +hardly so much as a ripple, and so clear was it underneath, I could see +the fishes at play down to a depth of several fathoms. + +The bed of the sea in our bay is of pure sand of a silvery whiteness; +and the smallest objects, even little crabs not so big as a crown-piece, +could be distinctly seen gambolling along the bottom, in playful pursuit +of one another, or in search of some creatures still smaller than +themselves, of which they designed to make their breakfast. I could see +"schools" of small herring fry and broad round plaice, and huge turbots, +and beautiful green mackerel, and great conger eels as large as +boa-constrictors, all engaged in pursuits of pleasure or prey. + +It was one of those mornings when the sea is perfectly still, and such +as are very rare upon our coasts. It was just the morning for me, for, +as I have already said, I had designed a "grand excursion" for the day, +and the weather would enable me to carry my design into execution. + +You will ask whither was I going? Listen, and you shall hear. + +About three miles from the shore, and just visible from it, lay a small +islet. It is not exactly correct to say islet. It was but a shoal of +rocks--a small patch, apparently about a square pole in dimensions, and +rising only a few inches above the surface of the water. This, too, +only when the tide was out, for at all other times it was quite covered +with the waves; and then there could only be seen a slender staff +sticking up out of the water to the height of a few feet, and at the +head of this appeared a sort of knob, or lump. Of course the staff had +been placed there to point out the shoal in times of high tide, so that +the sloops and other small vessels that traded up the bay might not run +upon it by mistake, and so get wrecked. + +Only when the tide was low, then, was this little islet to be observed +from the shore. Usually, it appeared of a jet black colour; but there +were other times when it was as white as if covered a foot deep with +snow, and then it showed plainer and more attractive. I knew very well +what caused this singular metamorphosis in its colour. I knew that the +white mantle that covered it was neither more nor less than a vast flock +of beautiful sea-fowl, that had settled upon the rocks, either to rest +themselves after so much flying, or to search for such small fish or +Crustacea as might be left there by the tide. + +Now this little spot had long been to me a place of first-rate interest, +partly on account of its remote and isolated situation; but more, I +fancy, on account of these very birds, for in no other part of the bay +had I seen so many of them together. It seemed also to be a favourite +place with them; for at the going out of every tide, I observed them +gather from all directions, hover around the staff, and then settle down +upon the black rocks around it, until the latter were hidden from the +view behind the white bodies of the birds. These birds were gulls; but +there appeared to be several kinds of them; large ones and small ones, +and at different times I had noticed birds of other kinds, such as the +great terns and grebes, preening themselves in the same neighbourhood. +Of course, from the shore the view one could have of these creatures was +a very distant one, and it was difficult to tell to what species they +belonged. The largest of them appeared not much bigger than sparrows, +and had they not been on the wing, or so many of them together, they +might have moved about unnoticed by any one passing along the shore. + +I think it was the presence of these birds that had made this remote +spot so interesting to me. At a very early age I was fond of all +objects of natural history, but particularly of the creatures that have +wings, and I believe there are few boys that are not so. There may be +sciences and studies of greater importance to mankind, but there is none +more refining to the taste or more fascinating to the youthful fancy +than the study of nature. Whether it was to get a good look at the +birds, or whether from some curiosity about other things I might see +upon this little islet, I often wished that I could get to it. Never +did I turn my eyes in that direction--and I did so as often as I came +near the beach--without feeling a strong wish to get there and explore +it from end to end. I knew in my memory the exact shape of it when the +tide was lowest, and could at any time have chalked out its profile +without looking at it. It was lower at both ends, and rose with a sort +of curve towards the middle, like a huge black whale lying along the +surface, and the staff, rising from the highest point, looked like a +harpoon that was sticking in his back. + +That staff, too, I longed to get my hands upon; to see what it was made +out of; how high it really was if one were near it, for it only looked +about a yard high from the shore; what sort of a thing the knob was on +the top, and how the butt was fastened in the ground. Firmly it must +have been set; for I had often seen the waves wash up to it during great +storms, and the spray driving so high above it, that neither rock, nor +staff, nor knob were at all visible. + +Ah! many a time had I sighed to visit that attractive spot; but never +yet had the opportunity occurred. It was by far too distant for any +excursion I had hitherto dared to make--far too dangerous a flight for +me to take in the little dinghy; and no one had offered to go with me. +Harry Blew had once promised me he would take me--at the same time, he +laughed at the desire I expressed to visit such a place. What was it to +him? He had often rowed past it and around it, and no doubt landed upon +it, and perhaps tied his boat to the staff, while he shot the sea-birds, +or fished in the waters beside it; but it had never been my good fortune +to accompany him in one of these pleasant excursions. I had been in +expectation, however, of doing so; but now these hopes were gone. I +could no more get away except on the Sundays; and on these very days my +friend was always engaged in his own occupation--for Sundays, above all +other days of the week, was the time for sailing parties. + +For a long time, then, I had waited in vain; but I now resolved to wait +no longer. I had made a bold determination on that very morning; which +was, that I should take the dinghy and visit the reef myself. This, +then, was the grand excursion on which I was bound, when I removed the +little boat from her fastenings, and shot out upon the bosom of the +bright blue sea. + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +THE GULLS. + +I have styled my determination a bold one. True, there was nothing +remarkable in the enterprise itself. + +I only mean that it was bold for one so young and so little as I was at +the time. Three miles rowing would be a good long pull, and that right +out into the great deep water almost beyond sight of the shore! I had +never been so far before, nor half so far, neither; in fact, never more +than a mile from the beach, and in pretty shallow water, too--I mean, +while by myself. + +With Blew I had been everywhere around the bay; but then, of course, I +had nothing to do with the management of the boat; and, trusting to the +skill of the young waterman, had no cause to feel afraid. + +Alone, the case was different. Everything depended upon myself; and +should any accident arise, I should have no one to give me either +counsel or assistance. + +Indeed, before I had got quite a mile from the shore, I began to reflect +that my enterprise was not only a bold but a _rash_ one, and very little +would have induced me to turn round and pull back. + +It occurred to me, however, that some one might have been watching me +from the shore; some boy who was jealous of my prowess as an oarsman-- +and there were such in our village--and this boy or boys would have seen +that I had started for the islet, would easily have divined my reasons +for turning back, and would not fail to "twit" me with cowardice. +Partly influenced by this thought, and partly because I still had a +desire to proceed, I plucked up fresh spirit and rowed on. + +When I had got within about half a mile of the shoal, I rested upon my +oars, and looked behind me, for in that direction lay the goal I was +struggling to reach. I perceived at a glance that the little islet was +quite out of the water, as if the tide was at its lowest; but the black +stones were not visible on account of the birds that were standing or +sitting all over them. It looked as if a flock of swans or white geese +were resting upon the shoal; but I knew they were only large gulls, for +many of the same kind were wheeling about in the air--some settling down +and some rising to take a fresh flight. Even at the distance of half a +mile, I could hear their screaming quite distinctly, and I had heard it +much further off, so calm was the atmosphere. + +I was now the more anxious to proceed on account of the presence of the +birds, for I was desirous of getting near them and having a good view of +them. I intended to stop again before going too close, in order to +watch the movements of these pretty creatures; for many of them were in +motion over the shoal, and I could not divine what they were about. + +In hopes that they would let me approach near enough to observe them, I +rowed gently and silently, dipping the blades of my oars as carefully as +a cat would set down her paws. + +When I had reached within some two hundred yards of them, I once more +lifted the oars above water, and twisted my neck round to look at the +birds. I observed that I had not yet alarmed them. Though gulls are +rather shy birds, they know pretty well the range of a common +fowling-piece, and will rarely trouble themselves to stir from the spot +where they are seated until one is just getting within shooting +distance. I had no gun, and therefore they had nothing to fear--not +much, indeed, even had I possessed one, as I should not have known how +to use it. It is probable enough that had they seen a gun they would +not have allowed me so near, for white gulls somewhat resemble, black +crows in this respect, and can distinguish between a gun and hoe-handle +a long way off. Right well do they know the glance of a +"shooting-iron." + +I watched the creatures for a long while with great interest; and would +have considered myself well rewarded for the exertions I had made in +getting there, had I even turned back on the spot and rowed ashore +again. The birds that clustered near the stones were all gulls, but +there were two kinds, very different in size, and somewhat unlike in +colour. One sort had black heads and greyish wings, while the other and +larger kind was nearly of a pure white colour. Nothing could exceed the +cleanly appearance of both. They looked as if a spot of dirt had never +soiled their snowy plumage; and their beautiful red legs shone like +branches of the purest coral. I made out that those upon the stones +were engaged in various ways. Some ran about evidently in search of +food; and this consisted of the small fry of fish that had been left by +the receding tide, as well as little crabs, shrimps, lobsters, mussels, +and other curious animals of the sea. A great many of the birds merely +sat preening their white plumage, of which they appeared to be not a +little proud. But although they all looked contented and happy, they +were evidently not exempted, any more than other living creatures, from +cares and evil passions. This was proved by the fact that more than one +terrible quarrel occurred among them while I was looking on, from what +cause--unless it was the male birds battling through jealousy--I could +not determine. A most captivating sight it was to see those upon the +wing engaged in their occupation of fishing; to see them shoot down from +a height of more than a hundred yards, disappear with almost silent +plunge beneath the blue waves, and after a short interval emerge, +bearing their glittering prey in their beaks. Of all the movements of +birds, either upon foot or on the wing, I think there is none so +interesting to look at as the actions of the fishing gull while engaged +in pursuit of his prey. Even the kite is not more graceful in its +flight. The sudden turning in his onward course--the momentary pause to +fix more accurately the position of his prey--the arrow-like descent-- +the plunge--the white spray dancing upward, and then the hiatus +occasioned by the total disappearance of the winged thunderbolt, until +the white object starts forth again above the blue surface--all these +points are incomparable to behold. No ingenuity of man, aided by all +the elements of air, water, or fire, can produce an exhibition with so +fine an effect. + +For a good long while I sat in my little boat watching the movements of +the gulls; and then, satisfied that I had not made the excursion in +vain, I turned myself to carrying out my original design, and landing +upon the reef. + +The pretty birds kept their places until I had got nearly up to its +edge. They seemed to know that I intended them no harm, and did not +mistrust me. At all events, they had no fear of a gun, for when they at +length arose they winged their way directly over my head, so near that I +could almost have struck them down with the oar. + +One, that I thought was larger than any of the flock, had been all the +time perched in a conspicuous place--on the top of the signal-staff. +Perhaps I only fancied him larger on account of the position in which he +was placed; but I noticed that before any of the others took to flight, +he had shot upward with a screech, as if it were a command for the rest +to follow example. Very likely he was either the sentinel or leader of +the flock; and this little bit of tactics was no other than I had often +seen practised by a flock of crows, when engaged on a pillaging +expedition in a field of beans or potatoes. + +The departure of the birds appeared to produce a darkening effect upon +my spirits. The very sea seemed blacker after they had gone; but this +was natural enough, for instead of their white plumage that had filled +my eyes, I now looked upon the desolate reef, covered over with loose +stones that were as black as if coated with tar. This was only partly +what had brought about the change in my feelings. There was another +cause. A slight breeze had sprung up, as a cloud passed suddenly over +the sun's disc; and the surface of the water, hitherto smooth and +glassy, had grown all at once of a greyish hue by the curling of the +little waves. + +The reef had a forbidding aspect; but determined to _explore_ it--since +I had come so far for that especial purpose--I rowed on till the keel of +the dinghy grated upon the rocks. + +A little cove presented itself to my view, which I thought would answer +my purpose; and heading my prow up into it, I stepped out, and took my +way direct towards the staff--that object which for so many years I had +looked upon from afar, and with which I had longed to be more intimately +acquainted. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +SEARCH FOR A SEA-URCHIN. + +I soon touched with my hands the interesting piece of wood, and felt as +proud at that moment as if it had been the North Pole itself, and I its +discoverer. I was not a little surprised at its dimensions, and how +much the distance had hitherto deceived me. Viewed from the shore, it +looked no bigger than the shaft of a hoe or a hay-fork, and the knob at +the top about equal to a fair-sized turnip. No wonder I was a bit +astonished to find the staff as thick, and thicker, than my thigh, and +the top full larger than my whole body! In fact, it was neither more +nor less than a barrel or cask of nine gallons. It was set upon end, +the top of the staff being wedged into a hole in the bottom, thus +holding it firmly. It was painted white, though this I knew before, for +often had I viewed it glistening under the sun, while the shaft below +was a dark colour. It may have been black at one time, and had grown +discoloured by the weather and the spray of the stormy water, that often +lashed all around it, even up to the barrel at the top. + +Its height, too, I had miscalculated as much as its thickness. From the +land it appeared no taller than an ordinary man; but looking up to it +from the shoal, it towered above me like the mast of a sloop. It could +not have been less than twelve feet--yes, twelve it was at the very +least. + +I was equally surprised at the extent of ground that I found above +water. I had long fancied that my islet was only a pole or so in size, +but I now perceived it was a hundred times that--an acre, or very near. +Most of the surface was covered with loose rocks, or "boulders," from +the size of small pebbles to pieces as big as a man's body, and there +were other rocks still larger, but these I perceived were not loose, but +half buried, and fast as rocks could be. They were only the projecting +ends of great masses that formed the strength of the reef. All, both +large ones and small ones, were coated over with a black, slimy +substance, and here and there great beds of seaweed, of different kinds, +among which I recognised some sorts that were usually cast up on our +beach, and passed by the name of "sea-wreck." With these I had already +formed a most intimate acquaintance, for more than one hard day's work +had I done in helping to spread them over my uncle's land, where they +were used as manure for potatoes. + +After having satisfied myself with a survey of the tall signal-staff, +and guessed at the dimensions of the barrel at the top, I turned away +from it, and commenced wandering over the reef. This I did to see if I +could find some curious shell or other object that would be worth +carrying back with me--something to keep as a memento of this great and +hitherto pleasant excursion. + +It was not such an easy matter getting about; more difficult than I had +imagined. I have said the stones were coated over with a slimy +substance, and this made them slippery too. Had they been well soaped, +they could not have been smoother to the tread; and before I had +proceeded very far, I got a tolerably ugly fall, and several severe +scrambles. + +I hesitated as to whether I should go farther in that direction, which +was to the opposite side from where I had left the boat; but there was a +sort of peninsula jutting out from the main part of the reef; and near +the end of this I saw what I fancied to be a collection of rare shells, +and I was now desirous of possessing some. With this view, then, I kept +on. + +I had already observed several sorts of shells among the sand that lay +between the boulders, some with fish in them, and others opened and +bleached. None of these kinds were new to me, for I had seen them all +many a time before--even in the potato-field, where they turned up among +the wreck. They were only blue mussels, and a sort the farm people +called "razors," and "whelks," and common "cockle-shells." I saw no +oysters, and I regretted this, for I had grown hungry and could have +eaten a dozen or two; but it was not the ground for these. Plenty of +little crabs and lobsters there were, but these I did not fancy to eat +unless I could have boiled them, and that of course was not possible +under the circumstances. + +On my way to the front of the peninsula, I looked for "sea-urchin," but +none fell in my way. I had often wished to get a good specimen of this +curious shell, but without success. Some of them turned up now and then +upon the beach near our village, but they were not allowed to lie long. +As they made a pretty ornament for the mantel-shelf, and were rare upon +our coast, it was natural they should be prized above the common kinds, +and such was in reality the case. This reef being remote, and being +seldom visited by any of the boatmen, I was in hopes I should find some +upon it, and I was determined to look narrowly for one. With this view +I sauntered slowly along, examining every crevice among the rocks, and +every water hole that lay within eyeshot of my path. + +I had great hopes that I should find something rare upon the peninsula. +The glittering forms that had first induced me to turn my steps in that +direction, seemed to gleam still brighter as I drew near. For all that, +I did not particularly hasten. I had no fear that the shells would walk +off into the water. These were houses whose tenants had long since +deserted them, and I knew they would keep their place till I got up; so, +under this impression, I continued to go deliberately, searching as I +went. I found nothing to my mind until I had reached the peninsula; but +then indeed a beautiful object came under my eyes. It was of a dark red +colour, round as an orange, and far bigger; but I need not describe what +I saw, since every one of you must have seen and admired the shell of +the sea-urchin. + +It was not long before I held it in my hand, and admiring its fine +curving outlines, and the curious protuberances that covered them. It +was one of the handsomest I had ever seen, and I congratulated myself +upon the pretty _souvenir_ it would make of my trip. + +For some minutes I kept looking at it, turning it over and over, and +peeping into its empty inside--into the smooth white chamber that its +tenant had long since evacuated. Yes, some minutes passed before I +tired of this manipulation; but at length I remembered the other shells +I had noticed, and strode forward to gather them. + +Sure enough they were strangers, and fair strangers too. They were of +three or four sorts, all new to me; and on this account I filled my +pockets with them, and after that both my hands, and then turned round +with the intention of going back to the boat. + +Gracious heaven! what did I see? A sight that caused me to drop my +shells, sea-urchin and all, as if they had been pieces of red-hot iron. +I dropped them at my feet, and was nigh to falling on top of them, so +greatly was I astonished at what I saw. What was it? _My boat! my +boat! Where was my boat_? + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +LOSS OF THE DINGHY. + +It was the boat, then, that had caused me this sudden surprise, or +rather alarm, for it speedily came to this. What, you will ask, had +happened to the boat? Had she gone to the bottom? Not that; but, what +at first appeared almost as bad for me--_she had gone away_! + +When I turned my eyes in the direction I expected to see her, she was +not there! The little cove among the rocks was empty. + +There was no mystery about the thing. At a glance I comprehended all, +since at a glance I saw the boat herself, drifting away outward from the +reef. No mystery at all. I had neglected to make the boat fast, had +not even taken the rope-hawser ashore; and the breeze, which I now +observed had grown fresher, catching upon the sides of the boat, had +drifted her out of the cove, and off into the open water. + +My first feeling was simply surprise; but in a second or two, this gave +way to one of alarm. How was I to recover the boat? How to get her +back to the reef? If not successful in this, how then should I reach +the shore? Three miles was the shortest distance. I could not swim it +even for my life; and I had no hope that any one would come to my +rescue. It was not likely that any one upon the shore could see me, or +be aware of my situation. Even the little boat would hardly be seen, +for I was now aware of how much smaller objects would be rendered at +that great distance. The signal-staff had taught me this fact, as well +as the reef itself. Rocks that, from the shore, appeared to rise only a +foot above the surface, were actually more than a yard. The boat, +therefore, would hardly be visible, and neither I nor my perilous +situation would be noticed by any one on the shore, unless, indeed, some +one might chance to be looking through a glass; but what probability was +there of such a thing? None whatever, or the least in the world. + +Reflection only increased my uneasiness; for the more I reflected the +more certain did it appear to me, that my negligence had placed me in a +perilous situation. + +For a while my mind was in a state of confusion, and I could not decide +upon what course to follow. There was but little choice left me--in +fact, I saw no alternative at all--but remain upon the reef. Upon +second thoughts, however, an alternative did suggest itself, if I could +but succeed in following it. That was to swim out after the boat, and +endeavour to regain possession of her. She had not drifted so far away +but that I might reach her by swimming. A hundred yards or so she had +got from the edge of the islet, but she was still widening the distance +between us, and would soon be much farther off. + +It was plain, then, that if I intended to take this course, no time was +to be lost--not a moment. + +What else could I do? If I did not succeed in reaching her, I might set +myself down for a troublesome adventure, perhaps perilous too; and this +belief nerved me to the attempt. + +With all the speed I could make, I stripped off my clothes and flung +them upon the rocks. My shoes and stockings followed--even my shirt was +thrown aside, lest it might encumber me, and just as if I was going in +to have a bathe and a swim, I launched myself upon the water. I had no +wading to do. The water was beyond my depth from the very edge of the +reef, and I had to swim from the first plunge. Of course, I struck out +directly for the boat, and kept on without turning to one side or the +other. + +I swam as swiftly as I could, but it was a long while before I could +perceive that I was coming any nearer to the dinghy. At times, I +thought I was not gaining upon her at all, and when the thought occurred +to me that she might be going as fast as I was, it filled me with +vexation and alarm. Should I not succeed in coming up with her, then it +would be a hopeless case indeed. I should have to turn round again and +swim back to the reef, or else go to the bottom; for, as already stated, +I could no more have reached the shore by swimming than I could have +swum across the Atlantic. Though I was now a very good swimmer, and +might have done a mile on a pinch, three were far beyond my power, and I +could not have made the distance to save my life. Moreover, the boat +was not drifting in the direction of the shore, but up the bay, where +there was at least ten miles of water before me. + +I was getting discouraged in this pursuit, and thought of turning back +to the reef, before I might become too exhausted to reach it, when I +noticed that the dinghy veered slightly round, and then drifted in a +direction oblique to that she had already taken. This arose from a +sudden puff of wind which blew from a new quarter. It brought the boat +nearer me, and I resolved to make one more effort to reach her. + +In this, I at length succeeded; and in a few minutes more, had the +satisfaction of laying my hands upon the gunwale of the boat, which +enabled me to obtain a little rest after my long swim. + +As soon as I had recovered breath, I attempted to climb in over the +side; but to my chagrin, the crank little craft sunk under my weight, +and turned bottom upwards, as if it had been a washing tub, plunging me +under water by the sudden capsize. I rose to the surface, and once more +laying my hands upon the boat, climbed up to get astride across the +keel; but in this I was also unsuccessful, for losing my balance, I drew +the boat so much to one side, that she righted again mouth upwards. +This was what I should have desired; but I perceived to my alarm that +she was nearly full of water, which she had shipped in turning over. +The weight of the water steadied her, so that I was able to draw myself +over the gunwale without further difficulty, and got safe enough inside; +but I had not been there a second, till I perceived that the boat was +_sinking_! My additional weight was the cause of this, and I saw at +once that unless I leaped out again, she would speedily go to the +bottom. Perhaps if I had preserved my presence of mind and leaped out +again, the boat might still have kept afloat. But what with my fears, +and the confusion consequent upon the various duckings I had had, my +presence of mind was gone, and I remained standing in the boat up to my +knees in the water. I thought of baling her out, but I could find no +vessel. The tin pan had disappeared, as well as the oars. The former +no doubt had sunk as the boat capsized, and the oars were floating on +the water at a great distance off. + +In my despair, I commenced baling out the water with my hands; but I had +not made half-a-dozen strokes before I felt that she was going down. +The next instant she had gone, sinking directly underneath me, and +causing me to jump outwards in order to escape from being carried down +in the vortex she had made. + +I cast one glance upon the spot where she had disappeared. I saw that +she was gone for ever; and heading away from the spot, I swam back in +the direction of the reef. + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +THE SIGNAL-STAFF. + +I succeeded in reaching the reef, but not without a tough struggle. As +I breasted the water, I felt that there was a current against me--the +tide; and this it was, as well as the breeze, that had been drifting the +boat away. But I got back to the reef, and there was not a foot to +spare. The stroke that brought me up to the edge of the rocks, would +have been my last, had no rocks been there; for it would have been the +last I could give, so much was I exhausted. Fortunately, my strength +had proved equal to the effort; but that was now quite gone, and I lay +for some minutes upon the edge of the reef, at the spot where I had +crawled out, waiting to recover my breath. + +I did not maintain this inactive attitude longer than was necessary. +This was not a situation in which to trifle with time; and knowing this, +I got to my feet again to see if anything could be done. + +Strange enough, I cast my eyes in the direction whence I had just come +from the boat. It was rather a mechanical glance, and I scarce know why +I should have looked in that particular direction. Perhaps I had some +faint hope that the sunken craft might rise to the surface; and I +believe some such fancy actually did present itself. I was not +permitted to indulge in it, for there was no boat to be seen, nor +anything like one. I saw the oars floating far out, but only the oars; +and for all the service they could do me, they might as well have gone +to the bottom, along with the boat. + +I next turned my eyes toward the shore; but nothing was to be seen in +that direction, but the low-lying land upon which the village was +situated. I could not see any people on shore--in fact, I could hardly +distinguish the houses; for, as if to add to the gloom and peril that +surrounded me, the sky had become overcast, and along with the clouds a +fresh breeze had sprung up. + +This was raising the water into waves of considerable height, and these +interfered with my view of the beach. Even in bright weather, the +distance itself would have hindered me from distinguishing human forms +on the shore; for from the reef to the nearest suburb of the village, it +was more than three statute miles. + +Of course, it would have been of no avail to have cried out for +assistance. Even on the calmest day I could not have been heard, and +fully understanding this, I held my peace. + +There was nothing in sight--neither ship, nor sloop, nor schooner, nor +brig--not a boat upon the bay. It was Sunday, and vessels had kept in +port. Fishing boats for the same reason were not abroad, and such +pleasure boats as belonged to our village had all gone in their usual +direction, down the bay, to a celebrated lighthouse there--most likely +the boat of Harry Blew among the rest. + +There was no sail in sight, either to the north, the south, the east, or +the west. The bay appeared deserted, and I felt as much alone as if I +had been shut up in my coffin. + +I remembered instinctively the dread feeling of loneliness that came +over me. I remember that I sank down upon the rocks and wept. + +To add to my agony of mind, the sea-birds, probably angry at me for +having driven them away from their resting-place and feeding ground, now +returned; and hovering over my head in a large flock, screamed in my +ears as if they intended to deafen me. At times one or another of them +would swoop almost within reach of my hands; and uttering their wild +cries, shoot off again, to return next moment with like hideous screams. +I began to be afraid that these wild birds might attack me, though I +suppose, in their demonstrations they were merely actuated by some +instinct of curiosity. + +After considering every point that presented itself to my mind, I could +think of no plan to pursue, other than to sit down (or stand up, if I +liked it better), and wait till some succour should arrive. There was +no other course left. Plainly, I could not get away from the islet of +myself, and therefore I must needs stay till some one came to fetch me. + +But when would that be? It would be the merest chance if any one on +shore should turn their eyes in the direction of the reef; and even if +they did, they would not recognise my presence there without the aid of +a glass. One or two of the watermen had telescopes--this I knew--and +Harry Blew had one; but it was not every day that the men used these +instruments, and ten chances to one against their pointing them to the +reef. What would they be looking for in that direction? No boats ever +came or went that way, and vessels passing down or up the bay always +gave the shoal a wide berth. My chances, therefore, of being seen from +the shore, either with the naked eye or through a glass, were slender +enough. But still more slender were the hopes I indulged that some boat +or other craft might pass near enough for me to hail it. It was very +unlikely, indeed, that any one would be coming in that direction. + +It was with very disconsolate feelings, then, that I sat down upon the +rock to await the result. + +That I should have to remain there till I should be starved I did not +anticipate. The prospect did not appear to me so bad as that, and yet +such might have been the case, but for one circumstance, which I felt +confident would arise to prevent it. This was, that Harry Blew would +_miss the dinghy and make search for me_. + +He might not, indeed, miss her before nightfall, because he might not +return with his boating party before that time. As soon as night came, +however, he would be certain to get home; and then, finding the little +boat away from her moorings, he would naturally suspect that I had taken +her, for I was the only boy in the village, or man either, who was +allowed this privilege. The boat being absent, then, and not even +returning at night, Blew would most likely proceed to my uncle's house; +and then the alarm at my unusual absence would lead to a search for me; +which I supposed would soon guide them to my actual whereabouts. + +Indeed, I was far less troubled about the danger I was in than about the +damage I had done. How could I ever face my friend Blew again? how make +up for the loss of his boat? This was a serious consideration. I had +no money of my own, and would my uncle pay it for me? I feared not; and +yet some one must remunerate the young waterman for the considerable +loss I had occasioned him. But who was to do it, or how was it to be +done? If my uncle would only allow me to work for Harry, thought I, I +might make it up to him in that way. I would be willing to work at so +much a week, till the boat was paid for; if he could only find something +for me to do. + +I was actually making calculations as to how I should make good the +loss, and regarding that as my chief trouble at the moment. It had not +yet occurred to me _that my life was in danger_. True, I anticipated a +hungry night of it, and a bitter cold one too. I should be wet through +and through, for I knew that when the tide returned, it would cover the +stones of the reef, and I should have to stand all night in the water. + +By the way, how deep would it be? Up to my knees? + +I looked around to discover some means of judging how high the water was +wont to rise. I knew that the rocks would be all covered, for I had +often seen them so; but I had been all my life under the impression, and +so were people who lived on the shore, that the water rose only a few +inches above the reef. + +At first, I could observe nothing that would guide me as to the height, +but at length my eye fell upon the signal-staff, and ran up and down its +shaft. There was a water-line sure enough, and there was even a circle +of white paint round the post, no doubt intended to mark it; but judge +my surprise, my absolute terror, when I perceived that this line was at +least _six feet above the base of the staff_! + +Half distracted, I ran up to the pole. I placed myself by its side and +looked up. Alas! my eye had measured but too correctly. The line was +far above my head. I could hardly touch it with the tips of my fingers! + +A thrill of horror ran through my veins, as I contemplated the result of +this discovery. The danger was too clearly defined. Before rescue +could reach me, the tide would be in. I should be overwhelmed--swept +from the reef--drowned in the waste of waters! + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +CLIMBING A SMOOTH POLE. + +My belief now was, that my life was in peril--nay, rather, that death +was almost certain. My hopes of being rescued on that day were but +slight from the first, but now they were slighter than ever. The tide +would be back long before night. In a few hours it would be at its +flood, and that would be the end. Should people go in search of me +before night--which, for reasons already given, was not at all likely-- +they would be too late. The tide would not wait either for them or for +me. + +The mixed feeling of horror and despair that came over me, held me for a +long time as if paralysed. I could not give consideration to anything, +nor did I notice for some time what was going on around me. I only +gazed upon the blank surface of the sea, at intervals turning from one +side to the other, and helplessly regarding the waves. There was +neither sail nor boat in sight; nothing to relieve the dreary monotony, +but here and there the white wings of the gulls, flapping about at their +leisure. They no longer continued to annoy me with their screaming, +though, now and then, an odd one would return and fly very near; as if +wondering what I was doing in such a place, and whether I did not mean +to go away from it. + +From this state of gloomy despair I was aroused by a gleam of hope. My +eyes had fallen upon the signal-staff, the sight of which had so lately +caused me a feeling of the opposite kind; and then the thought rushed +into my mind that by means of this I might save myself. + +I need hardly say that my design was to climb to its top, and there +remain till the tide should go down again. One half the post, I knew, +was above watermark, even at high tide; and on its top I should find +safety. + +It was only a question of climbing up the staff; but that seemed easy +enough. I was a good tree climber, and surely I could accomplish this. + +The discovery of this place of refuge filled me with renewed hopes. +Nothing could be easier than to get up; I might have a hard night of it, +staying up there, but there could be no danger. The peril was past: I +should yet live to laugh at it. + +Buoyed up with this belief, I once more approached the staff, with the +intention of climbing up. I did not intend going up to remain. I +thought it would be time enough when my footing failed me below; it was +only to make sure that I should be able to climb the pole when the hour +of necessity arrived. + +I found it more difficult than I had anticipated, especially in getting +up the first six feet. This portion of the staff was coated over with +some slimy substance--the same that covered the rocks around--and this +rendered it as slippery as one of the greased poles that I had seen at +merry-makings in our village. + +It cost me several attempts and failures before I could get above the +watermark; but the rest was more easy, and I soon reached the top of the +staff. + +I stretched my hand upward to seize hold of the barrel, and draw myself +up upon it, congratulating myself that I had been able to accomplish my +object, when a change came suddenly over my feelings, and I was once +more plunged into despair. + +My arm was too short to reach the upper rim of the cask. I could only +touch the swell, scarce half-way up. I could get no hold upon it, +either to stay me where I was, or to pull myself up farther. + +I could not remain where I was. In a few seconds my strength gave way, +and I was forced to slide down to the base of the staff. + +I tried again, with no better success; and then again, with a similar +result. It was to no purpose. Stretch my arms as I would, and wriggle +my limbs as I might, I could not get my body higher than the point where +the staff was set, and could only extend my hand half-way up the rounded +swell of the cask. Of course I could not keep there, as there was +nothing to rest my weight upon, and I was forced to glide back to the +ground. + +It was with a feeling of renewed alarm, then, that I made this +discovery, but I did not as before yield myself up to despair. Perhaps +my wits were quickened by the peril that was fast approaching me. At +all events, I kept my senses about me, and set to considering what was +best to be done. + +If I had only been in possession of a knife, I might have cut notches in +the pole high up, and on these rested my feet; but I had no knife-- +nothing to make notches with--unless I had eaten them out with my teeth. +Verily I was in a difficult dilemma. + +All at once, however, a bright thought came to my relief. Why might I +not raise a resting-place from below? Why not make a platform by +building stones around the post, until they had reached above watermark, +and then stand upon these? The very thing itself. A few stones, I had +noticed already, were piled around the base, no doubt placed there to +make the staff more firm. It would only be to bring up more stones, +build them into a _cairn_, and then get on the top of them! + +Delighted with this new project of safety, I lost not a moment in +setting about carrying it into effect. There were plenty of loose +boulders lying over the reef, and I supposed that in a few minutes I +could heap up enough of them to serve the purpose; but I had not worked +long before I perceived that the job would occupy me longer than I had +anticipated. The stones were slippery, and this hindered me greatly in +carrying them--some were too heavy for me, and others that I had +supposed to be loose, I found to be half buried in sand, and held so +fast that I could not draw them out. + +Notwithstanding these impediments, I worked on with all the strength and +energy I could command. I knew that in time I could raise the cairn as +high as required, but time had now become the all-engrossing subject of +my thoughts. + +The tide had long since turned; it was rising; slowly and continuously +it was lipping nearer and nearer--slowly but with certainty was it +coming; and I perceived all this! + +I had many a fall, as I scrambled to and fro; and my knees were bleeding +from contact with the hard stones; but these were not matters to grieve +about, nor was it a time to give way to hardships, however painful to +endure. A far greater hardship threatened--the loss of life itself--and +I needed no urging to make me persevere with my work. + +I had raised the pile up to the height of my head before the tide had +yet risen over the rocks, but I knew that this would not be high enough. +Two feet more was wanted to bring the top of my cairn on a level with +high-water mark; and to accomplish this I slaved away without thinking +of a moment's rest. The work as it went on became more difficult. The +loose stones that lay near had all been used, and I was obliged to go +far out on the reef to procure others. This led to a great many severe +falls, in which both my hands and knees were badly bruised; besides, it +prevented me from making rapid progress. There was another cause that +delayed me. At the height of four feet the pile was on a level with the +crown of my head, and it was with difficulty I could place the stones +higher up. Each one occupied me for minutes, and sometimes a heavy +boulder which I had succeeded in getting up, would roll back again, +endangering my limbs in its fall. + +In fine, after labouring for a long time--two hours, or more--my work +was brought to a termination. Not that it was done--far from it. +Unfortunately, it was not terminated, but _interrupted_. What +interrupted it I need hardly tell you, as you will guess that it was the +_tide_. Yes, it was the tide, which, as soon as it had fairly begun to +cover the stones, seemed to rush over them all at once. It did not +recoil, as I have often seen it do upon the beach. There it flows in +gradually, wave after wave; but upon the reef--the surface of which was +nearly of equal height--the water, at the first rush, swept all over the +rocks, and was soon of a considerable depth. + +I did not leave off my exertions until long after the rocks were +covered. I worked until I was knee deep in water, bending down to the +surface, almost diving under it, detaching great stones from their bed, +and carrying them in my arms towards the pile. I toiled away, with the +spray spitting in my face, and sometimes great sheets of it breaking +over my body, until I feared it would drown me--toiled on till the water +grew so deep and the sea so strong, that I could not longer keep my +footing upon the rocks; and then, half-wading, half-swimming, I brought +my last stone to the heap, and hoisted it up. Climbing after, I stood +upon the highest point of the battery I had erected, with my right arm +closely hugging the shaft of the signal. In this attitude, and with +trembling heart, I watched the inflow of the tide. + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +THE RETURNING TIDE. + +To say that I awaited the result with confidence would not be at all +true. Quite the contrary. Fear and trembling were far more the +characteristics of my mind in that hour. Had I been allowed more time +to build my cairn--time to have made it high enough to overtop the +waves, and firm enough to resist them, I should have felt less +apprehension. I had no fear that the signal-staff would give way. It +had been well proved, for there had it stood defying the storm as long +as I could remember. It was my newly-raised cairn that I dreaded, both +its height and its durability. As to the former, I had succeeded in +raising it five feet high, just within one foot of high-water mark. +This would leave me to stand a foot deep in water, nor did I regard that +in the light of a hardship. It was not on this account I had such +uncomfortable imaginings. It was altogether a different thought that +was vexing me. It was the doubt I entertained of the _faithfulness_ of +this watermark. I knew that the white line indicated the height of the +full tide under ordinary circumstances, and that when the sea was calm, +the surface would coincide with the mark; but only when it was dead +calm. Now it was not calm at that moment. There was enough of breeze +to have raised the waves at least a foot in height--perhaps two feet. +If so, then two-thirds, or even three-fourths, of my body would be under +water--to say nothing of the spray which would be certain to drive +around me. This, however, was still far less than I had to fear. +Supposing that the breeze should continue to freshen--supposing a storm +should come on--nay, even an ordinary gale--then, indeed, the slight +elevation which I had obtained above the surface would be of no avail; +for during storms I had often observed the white spray lashing over that +very reef, and rising many feet above the head of the signal-staff. + +"Oh! if a storm should arise, then am I lost indeed!" + +Every now and then was I pained with such an apprehension. + +True, the probabilities were in my favour. It was the fair month of +May, and the morning of that day one of the finest I had ever seen. In +any other month, a storm would have been more regular; but there are +storms even in May, and weather that on shore may seem smiling and +bright, is, for all that, windy and gusty upon the bosom of the broad +sea, and causes destruction to many a fine ship. Moreover, it did not +need to be a hurricane; far less than an ordinary gale would be +sufficient to overwhelm me, or sweep me from the precarious footing upon +which I stood. + +Another apprehension troubled me: my cairn was far too loosely put +together. I had not attempted to make any building of the thing; there +was not time for that. The stones had been hurled or huddled on top of +one another, just as they dropped out of my hands; and as I set my feet +upon them I felt they were far from firm. What if they should not prove +enough so to resist the current of the returning tide, or the lashing of +the waves? Should they not, then indeed I had laboured in vain. Should +they fall, I must fall with them, never again to rise! + +No wonder that this added another to the many doubts I had to endure; +and as I thought upon such a mischance occurring, I again looked eagerly +outward, and ran my eyes in every direction over the surface of the bay, +only, as on every other occasion, to meet with sad disappointment. + +For a long time I remained in the exact position I had first assumed-- +that is with my arm thrown round the signal-staff, and hugging it as if +it were a dear friend. True, it was the only friend I had then; but for +it an attempt to have built the cairn would have been vain. Even could +I have raised it to the full height, it is neither likely that it would +have stood the water or that I could have held my position upon it. +Without the staff to hold on to, I could not have balanced my body on +its top. + +This position, then, I kept, almost without moving a muscle of my body. +I dreaded even to change my feet from one stone to another lest the +movement might shake the pile and cause it to tumble down, and I knew +that if once down, there would be no chance to build it up again. The +time was past for that. The water all around the base of the staff was +now beyond my depth. I could not have moved a step without swimming. + +I passed most of the time in gazing over the water; though I did not +move my body, I kept constantly turning my neck. Now looking before, +then behind, then to both sides, and the next moment repeating these +observations, until I had scanned the surface for the fiftieth time, +without sight of boat or ship to reward me. At intervals I watched the +returning tide, and the huge waves as they rolled towards me over the +reef, coming home from their far wanderings. They appeared angry, and +growled at me as they passed, as if to chide and scold me for being +there. What was I, weak mortal, doing in this their own peculiar home-- +this ground that was the chosen spot for their wild play? I even +fancied that they talked to me. I grew dizzy as I watched them, and +felt as if I should swoon away and melt into their dark flood. + +I saw them rising higher and higher, until they swept over the top of my +cairn, and covered my feet resting on it; higher still and yet higher, +till I felt them lipping against my knees. O! when will they stay? +When will they cease to come on? + +Not yet--not yet--higher! higher! till I stand up to the waist in the +briny flood, and even above that the spray washes around me--against my +face--over my shoulders--into my mouth, and eyes, and ears-- +half-stifling me, half-drowning me! O merciful Father! + +The water had reached its height, and I was almost overwhelmed by it; +but with desperate tenacity of life I held out, closely clinging to the +signal-shaft. For a very long time I held on, and, had no change +occurred, I might have been able to keep my place till the morning; but +a change was near, and one that placed me in greater peril than ever. + +Night came on; and, as if this had been a signal for my destruction, the +wind increased almost to a gale. The clouds had been scowling +throughout the twilight, as if threatening rain, which now fell in +torrents--the wind, as it were, bringing the rain along with it. I +perceived that the waves were every moment rising higher, and one or two +large ones now swept almost over me. So great was their strength that I +was scarcely able to resist it, and came very near being swept away. + +I was now full of fear. I saw that should the breakers grow larger, I +could not hold out against them, but must succumb. Even as they were, +it was doubtful whether my strength would hold out. + +The last great wave that struck me had somewhat altered my foothold upon +the stones, and it was necessary for me to recover it, or fix myself +still better. For this purpose I raised my body a little by my arms, +and was feeling about with my foot for the most elevated point of my +battery, when another huge wave came rushing along, and whipping both my +feet off the stones, carried them out from the shaft. I held on with +both arms, and for some moments hung almost horizontally upon the water, +until the wave had passed. Then permitting my feet to drop down, I felt +once more for the support of the cairn. I touched the stones, but only +touched them. As soon as a pound of my weight rested upon them, I felt +the cairn crumbling beneath my feet, as if it had melted suddenly away; +and, no longer able to sustain myself, I glided down the staff, and sank +after the scattered pile to the bottom of the sea! + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +HUGGING THE STAFF. + +Fortunately for me I had learnt to swim, and I was a tolerably good hand +at it. It was the most useful accomplishment I could have possessed at +that moment; and but for it I should have been drowned on the instant. +Diving, too, I could do a little at, else the ducking I then received +would have discomfited me a good deal; for I went quite to the bottom +among the ugly black stones. + +I stayed there not a moment longer than I could help, but mounted back +to the surface like a duck; and then, rising upon the wave, looked +around me. My object in so doing was to get sight of the signal-staff, +and with the spray driving in my eyes this was not so easy. Just like a +water-dog searching for some object in the water, I had to turn twice or +thrice before I saw it; for I was uncertain in which direction to look +for it, so completely had the sudden plunge blinded me and blunted my +senses. + +I got my eyes upon it at length; not within reach, as might have been +expected; but many yards off, quite twenty, I should think! Wind and +tide had been busy with me; and had I left them to themselves for ten +minutes more, they would have carried me to a point from which I should +never have been able to swim back. + +As soon as I espied the post I struck directly for it--not indeed that I +very clearly knew what I should do when I got there, but urged on with a +sort of instinct that something might interfere in my favour. I was +acting just as men act when in danger of being drowned. I was catching +at straws. I need not say that I was cool: you would not believe me, +nor would there be a word of truth in it, for I was far from cool in the +moral sense of the word, whatever I might be personally and physically. +On the contrary, I was frightened nearly out of my senses; and had just +enough left to direct me back to the post, though this might only have +been instinct. But no, something more than instinct; for I had at the +same time a keen and rational sense of the unpleasant fact, that when I +should arrive at the post, I might be not a bit nearer to _safety_. I +had no fear about being able to reach the staff. I had confidence +enough in my natatory powers to make me easy on that score. It was only +when I thought of the little help I should find there, that my +apprehensions were keen, and this I was thinking of all the while I was +in the water. + +I could easily have climbed the staff as far as the cask, but no +farther. To get to the top was beyond my power; one of those +difficulties which even the fear of death cannot overcome. I had tried +it till I was tired of trying; in short, till I saw I could not do it. +Could I only have accomplished that feat, I might have done so before, +for I took it for granted that on that high perch I should have been +safe, and the nine-gallon barrel would have been large enough to have +given me a seat where I might without difficulty have weathered the +storm. + +Another reason there was why it would have been the best place for me. +Had I succeeded in mounting up there before nightfall, some one upon the +shore might have noticed me, and then the adventure would have ended +without all this peril. I even thought at the time of those things, and +while clambering up the shaft entertained hopes that some one might +observe me. I afterwards learned that some one did--more than one-- +idlers along shore; but not knowing who it was, and very naturally +believing that some Sabbath-breaking boys had gone out to the reef to +amuse themselves--part of that amusement being to "swarm" up the +signal-staff--I was set down as one of those, and no farther notice was +taken of me. + +I could not have continued to go up the staff. It speedily tired me +out; besides, as soon as I perceived the necessity for erecting the +platform, I needed every second of the time that was left me for that +work. + +All the above thoughts did not pass through my mind while I was in the +water struggling back to the staff, though some of them did. I thought +of the impossibility of climbing up above the barrel--that was clear to +me; and I thought also of what I should do when I reached the post, and +that was not clear to me. I should be able to lay hold upon the staff, +as I had done before, but how I was to retain my hold was the unsolved +problem. And it remained so, till I had got up and seized the staff, +and indeed for a good while after. + +Well, I reached the pole at length, after a great deal of buffetting, +having the wind and tide, and even the rain in my teeth. But I reached +it, and flung my arms around it as if it had been some dear old friend. +Nor was it aught else. Had it not been for that brave stick, I might as +well have stayed at the bottom. + +Having clutched hold of it, I felt for some moments almost as if I had +been saved. I experienced no great difficulty in keeping my limbs +afloat so long as I had such a support for my arms, though the work was +irksome enough. + +Had the sea been perfectly calm I could have stood it for a long time; +perhaps till the tide had gone out again, and this would have been all I +could have desired. But the sea was not calm, and that altered the +case. There had been a short lull with the smoother sea just as I +returned to the staff, and even this was a fortunate circumstance, as it +gave me time to rest and recover my breath. + +Only a short respite it was, and then came wind and rain and rough +seas--rougher than ever. I was first lifted up nearly to the barrel, +and then let down again with a pitch, and then for some minutes was kept +swinging about--the staff serving as a pivot--like some wonderful +acrobat performing his feats in a gymnasium. + +I withstood the first shock, and though it bowled me about, I held on +manfully. I knew I was holding on for my life, and "needs must;" but I +had slight reason to be satisfied. I felt how near it was to taking me, +and I had gloomy forebodings about the result. Worse might come after, +and I knew that a few struggles like this last would soon wear me out. + +What, then, could I do that would enable me to hold on? In the interval +between the great seas, this was my ruling thought. If I had only been +possessed of a rope, I could have tied myself to the staff; but then a +rope was as far away as a boat, or an easy chair by my uncle's fireside. +It was no use thinking of a rope, nor did I waste time in doing so; but +just at that moment, as if some good spirit had put the idea into my +head, I thought of something as good as a rope--a _substitute_. Yes, +the very thing came up before my mind, as though Providence had guided +me to think of it. + +You are impatient to hear what it was. You shall hear. + +Around my arms and shoulders I wore a garment familiarly known as a +"cord jacket"--a roundabout of corduroy cloth, such as boys in the +humbler ranks of life use to wear, or did when I was a boy. It was my +everyday suit, and after my poor mother's death it had come to be my +Sunday wear as well. Let us say nothing to disparage this jacket. I +have since then been generally a well-dressed man, and have worn +broadcloth of the finest that West of England looms could produce; but +all the wardrobe I ever had would not in one bundle weigh as much in my +estimation as that corduroy jacket. I think I may say that I owe my +life to it. + +Well, the jacket chanced to have a good row of buttons upon it--not the +common horn, or bone, or flimsy lead ones, such as are worn nowadays, +but good, substantial metal buttons--as big as a shilling every way, and +with strong iron eyes in them. Well was it for me they were so good and +strong. + +I had the jacket upon my person, and that, too, was a chance in my +favour, for just as like I might not have had it on. When I started to +overtake the boat, I had thrown off both jacket and trousers; but on my +return from that expedition, and before I had got as badly scared as I +became afterwards, I had drawn my clothes on again. The air had turned +rather chilly all of a sudden, and this it was that influenced me to +re-robe myself. All a piece of good fortune, as you will presently +perceive. + +What use, then, did I make of the jacket? Tear it up into strips, and +with these tie myself to the staff? No. That might have been done, but +it would have been rather a difficult performance for a person swimming +in a rough sea, and having but one hand free to make a knot with. It +would even have been out of my power to have taken the jacket off my +body, for the wet corduroy was clinging to my skin as if it had been +glued there. I did not do this, then; but I followed out a plan that +served my purpose as well--perhaps better. I opened wide my jacket, +laid my breast against the signal-staff, and, meeting the loose flaps on +the other side, buttoned them from bottom to top. + +Fortunately the jacket was wide enough to take in all. My uncle never +did me a greater favour in his life--though I did not think so at the +time--than when he made me wear an ugly corduroy jacket that was "miles +too big" for me. + +When the buttoning was finished, I had a moment to rest and reflect--the +first for a long while. + +So far as being washed away was concerned, I had no longer anything to +fear. The post itself might go, but not without me, or I without it. +From that time forward I was as much part of the signal-staff as the +barrel at its top--indeed, more, I fancy--for a ship's hawser would not +have bound me faster to it than did the flaps of that strong corduroy. + +Had the keeping close to the signal-staff been all that was wanted I +should have done well enough, but, alas! I was not yet out of danger; +and it was not long ere I perceived that my situation was but little +improved. Another vast breaker came rolling over the reef, and washed +quite over me. In fact, I began to think that I was worse fixed than +ever; for in trying to fling myself upward as the wave rose, I found +that my fastening impeded me, and hence the complete ducking that I +received. When the wave passed on, I was still in my place; but what +advantage would this be? I should soon be smothered by such repeated +immersions. I should lose strength to hold up, and would then slide +down to the bottom of the staff, and be drowned all the same--although +it might be said that I had "died by the standard!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +A STATE OF "SUSPENSE." + +I had not lost presence of mind as yet, but once more set about +considering how I might be able to keep above water. I could easily +slide up the staff without taking out a single button; but once up, how +could I remain there? I should certainly come slipping down again. Oh! +that there was only a notch--a knot--a nail--if I only had a knife to +make a nick; but knot, notch, nail, knife, nick--all were alike denied +me. Stay! I was wrong, decidedly wrong. I remembered just then that +while attempting to get over the barrel, I had noticed that the staff +just under it was smaller than elsewhere. It had been flanged off at +the top, as if to make a point upon it, and upon this point was placed +the barrel, or rather a portion of the top was inserted into the end of +the barrel. + +I remembered this narrow part. It formed a sort of ring or collar round +the post. Was it likely that the protuberance would be large enough to +make a hold for my jacket, and prevent it from slipping back? Likely or +not, it was not the time to be nice about the choice of expedients. +There was no choice: this or nothing. + +Before another sea could reach me, I had "swarmed" up the pole. I tried +the experiment. It would not do. I came sliding down again, sadder +than I had gone up; and as soon as down, I was treated to "another +sorrow of the same"--a fresh sea that ducked and drowned me as before. + +The cause of my failure was that I could not get the collar of my jacket +high enough. My head was in the way. + +Up the pole again with a new thought. A fresh hope had arisen in my +mind, as soon as I rose out of the waves; and this hope was that I might +fasten something around the top, and to this something fasten myself. + +But what was the something to be? I had also thought of that; and you +shall hear what it was. I chanced to have upon my shoulders a pair of +braces, and fortunately they were good ones--no pedlar's stuff, but +stout braces of buckskin leather. This was the something by which I +intended to hang myself up. + +I lost no time in trying. I had no desire to stay longer below than I +could help, and I soon "speeled" up again. The jacket served a good +purpose. It helped to stay me on the staff; and by pressing my back +outward, and holding well with my feet, I could remain a good while +without getting tired. + +Placing myself in this attitude, I unloosed my braces. I acted with +caution, notwithstanding my disagreeable plight. I took care not to +drop them while knotting the two together; and I also took care to make +the knot a firm one, as well as to waste only a very little of the +precious length of the buckskin. I should need every inch of it. + +Having got them both into one piece, I made a loop at the end, taking +care that the post should be _inside_ the loop. This done, I pushed the +loop up till it was above the shoulder of the staff--right "chuck" up to +the barrel--and then I drew it tight and close. It remained only to +pass the other end through my buttoned jacket, and knot it round the +cloth. This I managed after a little, and then lying back, tried it +with my whole weight. I even let go with my feet, and hung suspended +for a moment or two; and had any pilot just then have seen me through +his night-glass, he could have had but one belief--that suicide or some +terrible crime had been committed. + +Over-wearied, half-drowned was I, and I will not say whether or not I +laughed at the odd attitude in which I had placed myself; but I could +have laughed, for from that moment I knew no further fear. I felt that +I was delivered from death, as certainly as if I had seen Harry Blew and +his boat rowing within ten yards of me. The storm might rage, rain +fall, and wind blow; spray might pitch over and around me; but I was +satisfied that I should be able to keep my position in spite of all. + +True, it was far from being as comfortable as I might have wished it; +but now that the peril was past I began to consider how I could improve +it. My feet gave me the most trouble. Every now and then my legs +exhibited a tendency to get tired and let go their hold, and then I +dropped back to my _hanging_ attitude again. + +This was unpleasant and somewhat dangerous, but I did not allow it to +vex me long. There was a cure for this, like everything else, and I +soon discovered it. I split up the legs of my pantaloons quite to the +knees--as good luck would have it they were corduroy like the jacket-- +and then taking the two long pieces that hung down, I gave them a twist +or two, passed them round the post, and knotted them together on the +opposite side. This furnished a rest for the lower half of my body; and +thus, half sitting, half hanging, I passed the remainder of the night. + +When I tell you that I saw the tide go out, and leave the rocks bare, +you will think I surely released myself from my perch, and got down upon +the reef. But I did nothing of the kind. I had no idea of trusting +myself on those rocks again if I could help it. + +I was not comfortable where I was, but still I could endure it for a +while longer; and I feared to make any alteration in the premises lest I +might have to use them again. Moreover, I knew that where I was I +should very likely be seen from the shore as soon as the day broke, and +then relief would be sure to be sent to me. + +And it was sent, or came without any sending. Scarcely was the red +Aurora above the water-line, when I perceived a boat making towards me +with all speed; and as soon as it drew near, I saw, what I had guessed +long before, that it was Harry Blew himself that was handling the oars. + +I shall not tell you how Harry acted when he came up; how he laughed and +shouted, and waved his oar-blade in the air; and then how kindly and +gently he lowered me down, and laid me in his boat; and when I told him +the whole story, and how his boat had gone to the bottom, instead of +being angry with me, he only laughed, and said it was well it had been +no worse; and from that day not a syllable of reproach ever passed his +lips--not a word about the lost dinghy. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +FOR PERU--TO-MORROW! + +Even this narrow escape had no effect. I was not more afraid of the +water than ever; but _rather liked_ it all the more on account of the +very excitement which its dangers produced. + +Very soon after I began to experience a longing to see foreign lands, +and to travel over the great ocean itself. I never cast my eyes out +upon the bay, that this yearning did not come over me; and when I saw +ships with their white sails, far off upon the horizon, I used to think +how happy they must be who were on board of them; and I would gladly +have exchanged places with the hardest-working sailor among their crews. + +Perhaps I might not have felt these longings so intensely had I been +happy at home--that is, had I been living with a kind father and gentle +mother; but my morose old uncle took little interest in me; and there +being, therefore, no ties of filial affection to attach me to home, my +longings had full play. I was compelled to do a good deal of work on +the farm, and this was a sort of life for which I had no natural liking. + +The drudgery only increased my desire to go abroad--to behold the +wonderful scenes of which I had read in books, and of which I had +received still more glowing accounts from sailors, who had once been +fishermen in our village, and who occasionally returned to visit their +native place. These used to tell us of lions, and tigers, and +elephants, and crocodiles, and monkeys as big as men, and snakes as long +as ships' cables, until their exciting stories of the adventures they +had experienced among such creatures filled me with an enthusiastic +desire to see with my own eyes these rare animals, and to take part in +the chasing and capturing of them as the sailors themselves had done. +In short, I became very tired of the dull monotonous life which I was +leading at home, and which I then supposed was peculiar to our own +country; for, according to our sailor-visitors, in every other part of +the world there was full store of stirring adventures, and wild animals, +and strange scenes. + +One young fellow, I remember, who had only been as far as the Isle of +Man, brought back such accounts of his adventures among blacks and +boa-constrictors, that I quite envied him the exciting sports he had +there witnessed. Though, for certain reasons, I had been well schooled +in writing and arithmetic, yet I had but a slight knowledge of +geography, as it was not a prominent branch of study in our school. I +could scarce tell, therefore, where the Isle of Man lay; but I resolved, +the first opportunity that offered, that I should make a voyage to it, +and see some of the wonderful sights of which the young fellow spoke. + +Although this to me would have been a grand undertaking, yet I was not +without hopes of being able to accomplish it. I knew that upon odd +occasions a schooner traded from our port to this famed island, and I +believed it possible, some time or other, to get a passage in her. It +might not be so easy, but I was resolved to try what could be done. I +had made up my mind to get on friendly terms with some of the sailors +belonging to the schooner, and ask them to take me along with them on +one of their trips. + +While I was patiently waiting and watching for this opportunity an +incident occurred that caused me to form new resolutions and drove the +schooner and three-legged island quite out of my head. + +About five miles from our little village, and further down the bay, +stood a large town. It was a real seaport, and big ships came there-- +great three-masted vessels, that traded to all parts of the world, and +carried immense cargoes of merchandise. + +One day I chanced to have been sent there, along with a farm-servant of +my uncle, who drove a cart full of farm produce which he was taking to +the town for sale. I was sent to assist him, by holding the horse while +he was engaged disposing of the contents of the cart. + +It happened that the cart was drawn up near one of the wharves where the +shipping lay, so that I had a fine opportunity of looking at the great +leviathans of vessels moored along the quay, and admiring their tall +slender masts and elegant rigging. + +There was one ship directly opposite to us that particularly attracted +my admiration. She was larger than any that was near, and her +beautifully tapering masts rose higher by several feet than those of any +other vessel in the port. But it was neither her superior size nor her +more elegant proportions that fixed my attention so earnestly upon her, +though these had at first attracted it. What rendered her so +interesting in my eyes was the fact that she was about to sail very +soon--upon the following day. This fact I learnt from a large board, +which I saw fastened in a conspicuous place upon her rigging, and upon +which I read the following:-- + +"The _Inca_--for Peru--To-morrow." + +My heart began to thump loudly against my ribs, as if some terrible +danger was near, but it was only the emotion caused by the wild thoughts +that rushed into my mind as I read the brief but stirring +announcement--"For Peru, _to-morrow_." + +Quick as lightning ran my reflections, all having their origin in the +question, self-asked: why cannot I start "for Peru, to-morrow?" Why +not? + +There were grand impediments, and many of them; I knew that, well +enough. First, there was my uncle's servant, who was by my side, and +whose duty it was to take me home again. Of course, it would have been +preposterous to have asked his consent to my going. + +Secondly, there was the consent of the people of the ship to be +obtained. I was not so innocent as to be ignorant of the fact, that a +passage to Peru, or to any other part of the world, was a thing that +cost a great deal of money; and that even little boys like myself would +not be taken without paying. + +As I had no money, or not so much as would have paid for a passage in a +ferry-boat, of course this difficulty stared me in the face, very +plainly. How was I to get passage? + +As I have said, my reflections ran as quick as lightning, and before I +had gazed for a dozen minutes upon that beautiful ship, the impediments, +both of the passage-money and the guardianship of the farmer's man, +vanished from my thoughts; and I had come to the determination, with +full belief in being able to carry it out, that I _should_ start for +Peru to-morrow. + +In what part of the world Peru lay, I knew no more than the man in the +moon; not near so much, since he has a good view of it on moonlight +nights, and must know very well where it is. My school learning had +extended no farther than to reading, writing, and arithmetic. In the +last I was quite an adept, for our village teacher was rather clever at +"ciphering," and took great pride in proving his accomplishment, by +communicating what he knew to his pupils. It was the leading branch of +study in his school. Geography, however, had been neglected, almost +untaught; and I knew not in what part of the world Peru lay, though I +had heard that there was such a country. + +The returned sailors already mentioned had spoken much about Peru--that +it was a very hot country, and a very long way from England, a full six +months' voyage. I had heard, moreover, that it was a country of +wonderful gold mines, and blacks, and snakes, and palm-trees; and this +was enough for me. It was just the sort of place I desired to see. For +Peru, then, was I bound, and in the good ship _Inca_. + +My next reflection was how I should act--how get over the difficulty +about the passage-money, and also escape from the guardianship of my +friend "John," the driver of the cart. The former would appear the +greater dilemma, though in reality it was no such thing; at least, so I +thought at the time. My reasons for thinking so were these: I had often +heard of boys running away to sea--of their being accepted on board +ships, and allowed to become boy-sailors and afterwards able seamen. I +was under the impression that there was not much difficulty about the +matter, and that almost any boy who was big enough and smart enough +would be taken aboard, if he was but willing to work for it. + +My only apprehension at the time was about my own bigness, or rather +"littleness," for I knew that I was still but a very small shaver-- +smaller even than my age would indicate--though I had a well-knit frame, +and was tolerably tight and tough. I had some doubt, however, about my +size, for I was often "twitted" with being such a very little fellow. I +was fearful, therefore, that this might be an obstacle to my being taken +as a boy-sailor; for I had really made up my mind to offer myself as +such on board the _Inca_. With regard to "John," my apprehensions were +very great. On the first impulse, I thought of no other plan than to +give him the slip, and leave him to go home without me. After a little +reflection, I perceived that that course would never do. John would be +back in the morning with half-a-dozen of his kind--and perhaps my uncle +himself--in quest of me. They would most likely arrive before the ship +should sail, for vessels rarely take their departure at an early hour in +the morning. The bellman would raise the hue and cry. The whole town +would be traversed, and perhaps the ship searched, where, of course, I +should be found, delivered up, carried home, and, beyond doubt, severely +whipped; for I knew my uncle's disposition well enough to believe that +that would most certainly be the wind-up of the adventure. No, no, it +would never do to let John and his cart go home without me. + +A little reflection convinced me of this, and at the same time helped me +to resolve upon a better plan. The new resolve was to go back along +with my guardian John, and then take my departure from home itself. + +Without imparting aught of my design, or making John in any way my +confidant, I mounted into the cart along with him, and rode back to the +village. I reached home as quietly, and apparently as little concerned +about anything that was passing in my mind, as when I left it in the +morning. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +RUNNING AWAY. + +It was near night when we arrived at the farm; and I took care during +the remainder of the evening to act as naturally as if there was nothing +unusual in my thoughts. Little dreamt my relatives and the domestics of +the farmhouse--little dreamt they of the big design that lay hid within +my bosom, and which at intervals, when I reflected upon it, caused my +heart to heave again. + +There were moments when I half repented of my purpose. When I looked +upon the familiar faces of home--for after all it was home--the only +home I had--when I reflected that I might never see those faces again; +when I reflected that some of them might grieve for me--some I knew, +_would_ grieve--when I pondered upon the deception I was practising upon +all of them, I in full possession of a design of which they knew +nothing; I say when these thoughts were in my mind, I half repented of +my purpose. I would have given the world for a confidant, while thus +wavering; and no doubt, had I had one who would have advised me against +going, I should have remained at home--at least, for that time--though, +in the end, my wayward and aquatic nature would have carried me to sea +all the same. + +You will, no doubt, think it strange that under these circumstances I +did not seek out Harry Blew, and take his advice. Ah! that is just what +I should have done, had Harry been within reach, but he was not: the +young waterman was a waterman no more. He had become tired of that sort +of life months ago, had sold his boat, and gone off as a regular sailor +_before the mast_. Perhaps if Harry Blew had been still at home, I +should not have so much wished to go abroad; but from the time that he +left, I longed every day to follow his example; and whenever I looked +seaward over the bay, it was with a yearning that it would be impossible +to explain. A prisoner, looking through the bars of his prison, could +not have felt a greater longing to be free, than I to be away, far away, +upon the bosom of the bright ocean. Had the young waterman only been +there to counsel me, perhaps I might have acted differently; but he, my +best friend, was gone. + +And now I had no confidant to whom I might impart my secret. There was +one young fellow, a farm-servant, whom I thought I might have trusted. +I was fond of him, and I believe I was a favourite with him as well. +Twenty times I had it on my tongue's end to tell him of my intention, +but as often I checked myself. I did not fear that he would betray me, +provided I gave up my design of running away; but I fancied he would +advise me against it, and in the event of my persisting, _then_ he might +betray me. It would be of no use, therefore, seeking counsel from him, +and I kept the design to myself. + +I ate my supper, and went to bed as usual. + +You will expect to hear that I got out of bed, and stole away in the +night. + +Not so. I kept my bed till the usual hour for rising, though I slept +scarce a wink. The thought of my important purpose kept me awake, and +during the few snatches of sleep I had, I dreamt of big ships and +rolling seas, of climbing up tall masts, and dragging black, tarry +ropes, till my fingers were in blisters. + +I had at first partly made up my mind to take my departure in the night, +which I could easily have effected without danger of disturbing any one. +There were no burglars in our quiet little village, nor had any been +heard of for years, so that most people left their outside doors on the +latch. The door of my uncle's house was on that night particularly free +of egress, for, it being summer, and the weather extremely hot, it had +been left "on the jar." I could have slipped out without causing it +even to creak. + +But though so very young, I was not without some powers of +ratiocination; and I reasoned that if I ran away in the night, I should +be missed at an early hour of the morning, and consequently sought for. +The searchers, or some portion of them, would be pretty certain to +follow me to the seaport town, and find me there as a matter of course. +I should be in no better position than if I had given John the slip on +the preceding day. Moreover, it was but five or six miles to the town-- +I should go over the ground in two hours at most--I should arrive too +early, before the people of the ship would be stirring--the captain +would be a-bed, and therefore I could not see him to offer myself as a +volunteer in his service. These were the considerations that induced me +to remain at home until morning, although I waited impatiently for the +hour. + +I ate my breakfast along with the rest. Some one observed that I looked +pale and "out of sorts." John attributed it to my journey of the +preceding day, under the hot sun; and this explanation seemed to satisfy +every one. + +After breakfast I was afraid I should be ordered to some work--such as +driving a horse, from which I might not easily get off--some one might +be set to a task along with me, who might report me too soon if I should +absent myself. Fortunately there was no work fit for me on that +particular day, and I was not ordered about anything. + +Taking advantage of this, I brought out my sloop, which I was +occasionally in the habit of amusing myself with during hours of +leisure. There were other boys who had sloops, and schooners, and +brigs, and we used to have races over the pond in the park. It was +Saturday. There was no school on Saturday, and I knew that some of +these boys would repair to the pond as soon as they had breakfasted, if +not sooner. This would be a capital excuse for my going there; and with +the sloop ostentatiously carried I passed through the farmyard, and +walked in the direction of the park. I even entered the enclosure, and +proceeded to the pond, where, as I had conjectured, I found several of +my companions with their little ships going, in full sail. + +"Oh," thought I, "if I were to declare my intentions! what a stir it +would make if the boys only knew what I was about to do with myself?" + +I was welcomed by the boys, who seemed glad to see me once more among +them. The reason of this was, that of late I had been kept almost +constantly at work, and found but few occasions when I could join them +at play, and I believe I had formerly been a play favourite with most of +them. + +But I remained among them only during the time in which the fleet made +one voyage across the lake--a miniature regatta, in which my own sloop +was conqueror--and taking the little vessel under my arm, I bade them +good-day, and left them. + +They wondered at my going away so abruptly, but I found some excuse that +satisfied them. + +As I crossed the park wall, I glanced back upon the companions of my +childhood, and the tears ran down my cheeks as I turned away from them +for ever. + +I crouched along the wall, and soon got into the high road that led from +our village to the seaport town. I did not remain upon the road, but +crossed it, and took into the fields on the opposite side. My object in +doing this was to get under cover of some woods that ran for a good +distance nearly parallel to the direction of the road. Through these I +intended to travel, as far as they would screen me from observation; for +I knew that if I kept on the road I should run the chance of being +passed or met by some of the villagers, who would report having seen me, +and thus guide the pursuit in the right direction. I could not guess at +what hour the ship might weigh anchor, and therefore I could not make my +time for absenting myself from the village. This had been the thought +that troubled me all the morning. I feared to arrive too soon, lest the +vessel might not sail until I should be missed, and people sent after +me. On the other hand, I dreaded lest I might reach the port too late, +and find the ship gone. This would have been a disappointment worse +than to be taken back, and whipped for the attempt at running away--at +least, so I should have considered it at the time. I say, then, that +this was the thought that had annoyed me all the morning, and still +continued to do so; for it no longer occurred to me that there was any +danger of my being refused once I offered myself on the ship. I had +even forgotten that I was so small a boy. The magnitude of my designs +had magnified me, in my own estimation, to the dimensions of a man. + +I reached the woods, and traversed them from end to end unseen. I met +neither ranger nor gamekeeper. When I had passed through the timber, I +took into some fields; but I was now at a good distance from the road, +and I was less afraid of meeting any one who knew me. I could tell how +far I was from the road, by keeping the sea in sight, for I knew that +the former ran close to the beach. + +The tall spires of the seaport town at length came in sight, and by +these I was enabled to guide myself in the proper direction. After +crossing a great many drains and ditches, and scrambling through +numerous hedges--here and there making a bit upon private roads that ran +in the right course--I arrived on the outskirts of the town. I made no +pause there, but directing my steps among the houses, I soon found a +street that led towards the quay. I saw the tall masts as I approached, +and wildly beat my heart as my eyes rested upon the tallest of all, with +its ensign drawn up to the main truck, and floating proudly in the +breeze. + +I took note of nothing more; but, hurrying forward, I scrambled over the +broad plank staging; and having crossed the gangway, stood upon the deck +of the _Inca_. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +THE INCA AND HER CREW. + +On crossing the gangway, I stopped near the main-hatchway, where five or +six sailors were busy with a large pile of barrels and boxes. I saw +that they were lading the vessel, and with a tackle were lowering the +barrels and boxes into the hold. They were in their shirt-sleeves, some +with Guernsey frocks and wide canvas trousers, smeared with grease and +tar. One among them wore a blue cloth jacket, with trousers of similar +material, and it occurred to me that he might be the mate; for I fancied +that the captain of such a big ship must be a very grand individual, and +very superbly dressed. + +He with the blue jacket was constantly giving orders and directions to +the sailors at work, which I noticed were not always promptly obeyed; +and frequently the men might be heard suggesting contrary modes of +action, until a hubbub of voices would arise disputing about the proper +plan for executing the work. + +All this would have been different on board a man-of-war, where the +order of an officer is instantly obeyed without question or remark; but +on a merchant vessel it is far otherwise. The orders of the mate are +often issued more as counsels than commands, and the men exercise a sort +of discretion in obeying them. This is not always the case, and depends +very much on the character of the mate himself; but on board the _Inca_ +the discipline did not appear to be of the strictest. What with the +clatter of tongues, the "skreeking" of pulley-blocks, the rattling of +boxes against each other, the bundling of trucks over the staging, and +other like sounds, there was more noise than I had ever heard in my +life. It quite disconcerted me at first; and I stood for some minutes +in a state of half bewilderment at what I heard and saw. + +After a while there was a sort of lull. The great water-butt that the +sailors had been lowering down the hatchway had reached the hold below, +and been rolled into its place, and this produced a temporary cessation +in the noises. + +Just then one of the sailors chanced to set his eyes upon me; and, after +regarding me with a comic leer, cried out-- + +"Ho! my little marlin-spike! What might _you_ be wantin' aboard?--goin' +to ship, eh?" + +"No," rejoined a second; "don't yer see he's a captain hisself?--got his +own craft there!" + +This remark was made in allusion to my schooner, which I had brought +along with me, and was holding in my hands. + +"Schooner ahoy!" shouted a third of the men. "Whither bound?" + +This was followed by a burst of laughter from all hands, who were now +aware of my presence, and stood regarding me as though I was something +extremely ludicrous in their eyes. + +I was rather abashed by this reception on the part of the rough tars, +and remained for some moments without knowing what to say or do. But I +was relieved from my uncertainty by the mate in the blue jacket, who, +approaching me, asked, in a more serious tone, what was my business +aboard. + +I replied that I wanted to see the captain. Of course I believed that +there was a captain, and that he was the proper person to whom I should +address myself in regard to the business I had in view. + +"Want to see the captain!" echoed my interrogator. "And what might be +your business with him, youngster? I'm the mate: won't I do?" + +I hesitated a moment; but seeing that it was the captain's +representative who put the question, I thought there could be no harm in +frankly declaring my intentions. I replied--"I wish to be a sailor!" + +If the men had laughed loud before, they now laughed louder. In fact +there was a regular yell, in which the mate himself joined as heartily +as any of them. + +Amidst the peals of laughter, my ears were greeted with a variety of +expressions that quite humiliated me. + +"Look yonder, Bill!" cried one, addressing a comrade who was at some +distance. "Look at the wee chap as wants to be a sailor. My eyes! You +little tuppence worth o' ha'pence, you ain't big enough for a belayin' +pin! A see-a-lor! My eyes!" + +"Does your mother know yer out?" inquired a second. + +"No, that she don't," said a third, making reply for me; "nor his +father, neyther. I'll warrant, now, the chap has run away from home. +Have you gi'n 'em the slip, little sticklebat?" + +"Look here, youngster!" said the mate. "Take my advice: go back to your +mother, give my compliments to the old lady, and tell her to take a turn +or two of her petticoat strings round you, belay them to the leg of a +chair, and keep you safe moored there for half a dozen years to come!" +This advice elicited a fresh peal of laughter. I felt humiliated at +this rough bantering, and knew not what reply to make. In my confusion +I stammered out the words-- + +"I have no mother to go home to!" + +This reply appeared to produce a sudden effect upon the mirth of these +rude-looking men, and I could hear some of them give utterance to +certain expressions of sympathy. + +Not so, however, the mate, who, without changing his tone of banter, +instantly rejoined-- + +"Well, then, go to your father, and tell _him_ to give you a good +flogging!" + +"I have no father!" + +"Poor little chap! it's a horphin arter all," said one of the tars, in a +kind tone. + +"No father either, you say," continued the mate, who appeared to me an +unfeeling brute; "then go to your grandmother, or your uncle, or your +aunt, if you've got one; or go anywhere you like, but get about your +business from here, or I'll trice you up, and give you a round dozen on +the buttocks; be off now, I say!" + +The brute seemed fully in earnest; and, deeply mortified by the threat, +I turned away in obedience to the command. + +I had reached the gangway, and was about to step upon the plank, when I +observed a man coming in the opposite direction--from the shore. He was +dressed in the same style as a merchant or other citizen might have +been, with a black frock-coat and beaver hat; but there was something in +his look that told me he belonged to the sea. The complexion of his +face was of that weather bronze, and there was an expression in the eyes +which I knew to be characteristic of men who lead the life of the +mariner. Moreover, his trousers were of blue pilot-cloth, and that gave +him a sea-faring look. It struck me at the moment that he was the +captain of the ship. + +I was not long in doubt. On reaching the gangway, the stranger stepped +aboard with an air that betokened him the master; and I heard him issue +some orders in a tone that bespoke his full command of everybody within +hearing. + +He did not stop after going aboard, but walked on towards the +quarter-deck of the vessel. + +It occurred to me that I might still have some chance by addressing +myself directly to him; and, without hesitation, I turned back and +followed him. + +In spite of some remonstrance from the mate and one or two of the men, I +kept on till I had overtaken the captain just as he was about to dive +down into his cabin. + +I arrested his attention by plucking the skirt of his coat. + +He turned round in some surprise, and inquired what I wanted with him. + +In as few words as I could manage it, I made known my wishes. The only +reply he made me was a laugh; and then turning round, he cried out to +one of the men-- + +"Here, Waters! Hoist this urchin upon your shoulders, and set him +ashore. Ha! ha! ha!" + +Without saying another word, he stepped down the companion ladder, and +disappeared out of my sight. + +In the midst of my chagrin, I felt myself lifted in the strong arms of +"Waters," who, after carrying me across the staging-plank, and some +yards over the wharf, deposited me upon the pavement, and thus addressed +me:-- + +"Now, my little sprat! take Jack Waters's advice, and keep out o' +salt-water as long as you can, else the sharks may get hold on you." + +And then, after a pause, during which he seemed to reflect about +something, he inquired-- + +"And you're a horphin, are ye, my little 'un? Got neyther father nor +mother?" + +"Neither," I replied. + +"A pity it are! I was once a horphin myself. Well, yer a spunky little +chap to be wantin' to go to sea, and ye deserve somethin' for it. If I +were captain I'd take you along; but ye see I'm only afore the mast, and +kin do nothin' for ye; but I'll be back some day again, and maybe you'll +be bigger then. Here, take this anyhow for a keepsake, and by it you'll +remember me till sometime when you see me in port again, and who knows +but then I may find a berth for you. So good-bye now! Go home again, +like a good boy, and stay there till you've growed a bit." + +As the kind-hearted sailor said this, he handed me his knife, and +turning away, walked back on board his ship, leaving me alone upon the +wharf. + +Wondering at his unexpected kindness, I stood gazing after him till he +disappeared behind the bulwarks; and then, mechanically putting the +knife in my pocket, I remained for a while without stirring from the +spot. + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +NOT BIG ENOUGH. + +My reflections were anything but pleasant, for never had I been so +mortified in my life. All my fine dreams of reefing topsails, and +seeing foreign lands, had been dissipated in a period of less than ten +minutes. All my plans completely frustrated. + +My first feeling was that of extreme humiliation and shame. I fancied +that the passers-by must all be aware of what had transpired, and of the +precise situation in which I stood. I saw, moreover, the heads of +several of the sailors as they stood looking at me over the bulwarks, +and upon their faces I could perceive a derisive expression. Some of +them were still laughing loudly. + +I could bear it no longer, and without hesitation I hurried away from +the spot. + +Near at hand were large boxes, barrels, and bales of merchandise lying +upon the wharf. They were not piled together, but scattered about, with +spaces between them. Into one of those spaces I glided, and was soon +out of sight of everybody, while everybody was equally hidden from my +sight. I felt almost as if I had got clear of some danger; so pleasant +is it to escape from ridicule, even though one may feel that he has not +deserved it. + +There was a little box among the others, just big enough for a seat, and +upon this I sat down, and gave way to reflection. + +What had I best do? Yield up all thoughts of the sea, and return to the +farm, and my crabbed old uncle? + +You will say that this would have been the wisest course for me to have +pursued, as well as the most natural. Perhaps so; but the thought of +doing so scarcely entered my mind. I did certainly entertain the +thought, but as quickly abandoned it. + +"No," said I to myself, "I am not yet conquered; I shall not retreat +like a coward. I have made one step, and I shall follow it up, if I +can. What matters it if they refuse to take me in this big proud ship? +There are others in port--scores of others. Some of them may be glad to +have me. I shall try them all before I give up my design." + +"Why did they refuse me?" I asked myself, continuing my soliloquy. +"Why? They gave no reason; what could it have been? Ha! my size it +was! They compared me to a marlin-spike, and a belaying-pin. I know +what a marlin-spike is, and a belaying-pin, too. Of course, they meant +by this insulting comparison to insinuate that I am too small to be a +sailor. But a boy-sailor--surely I am big enough for that? I have +heard of sailor boys not so old as I am. What size am I? How tall, I +should like to know? Oh! if I only had a carpenter's rule I would soon +settle that point! How thoughtless of me not to have measured myself +before leaving home! Can I not do it here? I wonder if there is no way +of finding out how tall I am." + +The current of my reflections was at this moment broken in upon, by my +observing on one of the boxes some figures roughly scratched with chalk, +and on closer inspection I made out the cipher to be "4 foot." I saw at +once that it referred to the length of the box, for its height could not +have been so much. Perhaps it had been thus marked by the carpenter who +made the case, or it may have been put on to guide the sailors in lading +the vessel. + +Be that as it may, it gave me an idea; and in less than three minutes I +knew my stature to an inch. + +I ascertained it in the following manner: I laid myself down alongside +the box, and close in to its edge. Having placed my heels on a level +with one end, I stretched myself out to my full length. I then felt +with my hand whether the crown of my head came flush with the other end +of the case. It did not, though there was scarce an inch wanting to +make me as long as the box; but wriggle and stretch my joints as I +might, I could not get more than square with it. Of course, it made no +difference--as far as determining my height was concerned: if the box +was four feet long, I could not be quite four feet; and as I knew a boy +of only four feet in height was but a very small boy indeed, I rose to +my legs, considerably mortified by the knowledge I had gained. + +Previous to this measurement, I really had no idea I was of such short +stature. What boy _does_ think himself much less than a man? But now I +was convinced of my littleness. No wonder Jack Waters had called me a +sprat, and his comrades had compared me to a marlin-spike and a +belaying-pin. + +The knowledge I had gained of my Lilliputian stature put me all out of +heart with myself, and my designs now assumed a more gloomy aspect. I +felt almost sure that none of the ships would receive me; for I +remembered that I had never heard of boy-sailors so small as I was. +Certainly I had never seen any; but, on the contrary, some nearly as +large as men, who were nevertheless called "boys" on board the brigs and +schooners that frequented our little harbour. It would be hopeless, +then, for me to offer myself. After all, I should have to go home +again. + +I once more sat down upon the box, and proceeded to re-consider the +situation. My mind is rather of an inventive turn, and it had a bent +that way even in earliest youth. It was not long before a plan offered +itself that promised to relieve me from my dilemma, and enable me to +carry out my original intention to its full extent. + +I was aided by memory in the conception of this plan. I remembered +having both heard and read of boys--and men as well--concealing +themselves aboard ships, and being thus carried out to sea; and then +crawling forth from their hiding-places, when the vessels were too far +from land for them to be sent back. + +The recollection of these daring adventurers had scarcely crossed my +mind, before I had formed the resolution to follow their example. Quick +almost as the thought, I had made my resolve. I could hide myself on +board a ship--perhaps that very ship from which I had been so +ignominiously expelled. She was the only one that appeared to be +getting ready to sail; but, to tell the truth, had there been a dozen +others starting at the same time, I should have selected her before them +all. + +You may be surprised at my saying so, but it is easily explained. I was +so piqued at the people on board, especially the mate, on account of the +uncivil treatment he had shown me, that I felt at the time it would be a +sort of revenge to play them this trick. I knew that they would not +throw me overboard; and with the exception of the mate himself, I had +not noted any symptoms of a cruel disposition among the sailors. Of +course it was natural they should have enjoyed a joke at my expense; but +I remembered, also, that some of them had uttered expressions of +sympathy when they heard from me that I was an orphan. + +In the big ship, then, was I determined to have passage--spite of mate, +captain, and crew! + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +STEALING ABOARD. + +But how was I to get aboard? How conceal myself when there? + +These were the difficulties that presented themselves. I might walk on +deck as I had already done, but not without being observed by some of +the crew, and of course ordered ashore again. + +Could I not bribe some of the sailors to let me go about the deck? What +had I to bribe them with? Not a penny of money. My sloop and my +clothes--these last of very poor quality--were all I possessed in the +world. I would have given the sloop, but a moment's reflection +convinced me that no sailor would set any value on an article which he +could easily make for himself; for I presumed that all sailors could +manufacture little ships at their pleasure. It would be useless to +attempt bribing any of them with such a toy, and I thought no more of +it. + +But stay! I had something upon my person of some value. I had a watch. +It is true it was but a very common one--an old-fashioned silver watch, +and not worth much, though it kept time well enough. It had been given +me by my poor mother, though she had left me a much better one, which my +uncle had appropriated to himself. The old one, of little value, I was +allowed to carry about with me, and fortunately it was in my fob at that +moment. Would not this bribe Waters, or some other of the sailors, to +"smuggle" me aboard, and conceal me there till the ship got out to sea? +The thing was not unlikely. At all risks, I resolved to make trial. + +Perhaps the chief difficulty would be to see Waters, or any of the +sailors, apart from the rest, in order to communicate my wishes; but I +resolved to hang about the ship, and watch till some one of them should +come ashore alone. + +I was not without hopes that I might be able to steal on board of +myself--perhaps after nightfall, when the men had "knocked off" work, +and were below in the forecastle. In that case, I need not tell any of +them of my design. In the darkness, I believed I might manage to crouch +past the watch or clamber over the side and get down below. Once in the +hold, I had no fear but that I should be able to secrete myself among so +many barrels and boxes as they were stowing away. + +There were two doubts that troubled me. Would the ship remain in port +until night? Would my uncle and his people not be after me before then? + +For the first time, I was not very uneasy. I saw that the vessel still +carried the same placard as on the preceding day--"_The Inca, for Peru, +to-morrow_!" It was not likely she would sail upon that day. Moreover, +there were still many packages of merchandise lying on the quay--which I +knew were intended as part of her lading, from the position in which +they were placed. I had heard, moreover, that vessels, when bound for +distant parts, are not very punctual in their time of starting. + +Reasoning in this way, I felt assured that the ship would not sail on +that day, and I should have the chances of boarding her in the +night-time. + +But then there was the other danger--of my being captured and carried +back home. On reflection this did not appear imminent. They would not +miss me on the farm before nightfall; or if they did, they would wait +until dark before going in search of me, thinking, of course, that night +would bring me home. After all, I had no reason to be apprehensive from +this source; and ceasing altogether to think of it, I set about making +preparations to carry out my design. + +I had foresight enough to perceive, that when once in the ship, I should +have to remain concealed for at least twenty-four hours--perhaps much +longer. I could not live so long without eating. Where was I to get +provisions? I had not, as already mentioned, one penny in the world, +wherewith to purchase food, and I should not have known where or how to +beg for it. + +But an idea came into my head that promised to relieve me from this +dilemma. I could _sell my sloop_, and thus obtain wherewith to buy +something to eat. + +The little vessel would be of no more use to me now; and why not part +with her at once? + +Without farther consideration, therefore, I made my way out from among +the barrels, and proceeded along the quay to look out for a purchaser +for my little craft. + +I soon succeeded in finding one. A sort of marine toyshop offered +itself; and after a little bartering with the proprietor, I closed the +bargain for a shilling. My little sloop, neatly rigged as she was, was +worth five times the amount, and, under different circumstances, I would +not have parted with her for even that sum; but the Jew dealer evidently +saw that I was in difficulties, and, like all his tribe, had no scruples +about taking advantage of them. + +I was now in ample funds for my purpose; and repairing to a convenient +shop, I laid out the whole of the money on cheese and crackers. I +bought sixpence worth of each; and having crammed my pockets with my +purchase, I returned to my old place among the merchandise, and seated +myself once more upon the box. I had grown somewhat hungry--for it had +got to be after dinner hour--and I now relieved my appetite by an attack +upon the crackers and cheese, which considerably lightened the cargo in +my pockets. + +Evening was now approaching, and I bethought me that I might as well +take a stroll along by the side of the ship, by way of a reconnaissance. +It would enable me to ascertain where I might climb over the side most +easily, which knowledge would be of use to me when the hour should +arrive for making the attempt. What if the sailors _did_ see me going +about? They could not hinder me from walking along the quay, and they +would never dream of my object in staying there. What if they should +take notice of me, and taunt me as before? I could talk back to them, +and thus gain a good opportunity for observation--the very thing I +wanted. + +Without losing another moment, I stepped forth from my resting-place, +and commenced sauntering along, with an assumed air of indifference to +all that was passing around. I soon came opposite the stem of the big +ship, where I paused and looked up. Her deck was nearly on a level with +the pavement, because she was now heavily laden, and of course at full +depth in the water; but the high bulwarks on her quarter prevented me +from seeing the deck. I perceived that it would be easy to step from +the quay, and after clambering up the bulwarks, get over by the mizen +shrouds; and I at once made up my mind that this would be the proper +way. Of course, I should have to creep through the shrouds with great +caution. If the night should not prove dark enough, and I should be +detected by the watch, it would be all up with me. I should get +caught--perhaps suspected as a thief and punished. No matter; I was +resolved to risk it. + +Everything was quiet on board. I heard neither voice nor noises. Some +of the merchandise was still lying upon the wharf, and therefore they +could not have finished lading the vessel. But the men were no longer +at work, for I was now near enough to have a view of both the gangway +and the main hatch. Whither could they have gone? + +I moved silently forward, until I stood by the very end of the staging. +I had now a full view of the hatchway, and a considerable portion of the +main deck around it. I saw neither the blue jacket of the mate nor the +greasy garments of the sailors. All the men must have gone away to some +other part of the ship. + +I paused and listened. Indistinctly, I could hear the hum of voices +coming from the forward part of the vessel. I knew they were the voices +of the crew in conversation with each other. + +Just at that moment, I observed a man pass by the opening in the +gangway. He was carrying a large vessel that steamed at the top. It +contained coffee or some other hot viand. It was the evening meal for +the people of the forecastle, and he who carried it was the cook. This +accounted for the cessation of the work, and the absence of the sailors +from "amidships." They were about going to supper. Such was my +conjecture. + +Partly impelled by curiosity, but as much by a new idea that had entered +my mind, I stepped upon the staging and glided cautiously aboard. I +caught a glimpse of the sailors far off in the forward part of this +ship--some seated upon the windlass, others squatted upon the deck +itself, with their tin plates before them, and their jack-knives in +their hands. Not one of them saw me--not one was looking in my +direction: their eyes were too busy with the cook and his steaming +copper. + +I glanced hastily around; there was no one in sight. The new idea to +which I have referred became more fully developed. "Now or never!" +whispered I to myself; and under the impulse, I stepped down upon the +deck, and crouched forward to the foot of the main mast. + +I was now on the edge of the open hatchway; and it was into this I +intended to go. There was no ladder, but the rope by which the goods +had been lowered, still hung from the tackle, reaching down into the +hold. + +I caught hold of this rope; and pulled on it, to find if it was securely +fastened above. It proved to be so; and, grasping it firmly with both +hands, I slid downward as gently as I could. + +It was a close shave that I did not break my neck--and as it was, I had +a tumble at the bottom--but I soon got to my feet again; and, scrambling +over some packages that were not yet stowed in their places, I crawled +behind a huge butt, and there ensconced myself in darkness and silence. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +HURRAH! WE ARE OFF! + +As soon as I had screened myself behind the butt, I squatted down; and, +in five minutes after, was so fast asleep; that it would have taken all +the bells of Canterbury to have waked me. I had got but little sleep on +the preceding night, and not a great deal the night before that; for +John and I had been early up for the market. The fatigue, moreover, +experienced in my cross-country journey, and the excitement of +twenty-four hours' suspense--now somewhat allayed--had quite done me up, +and I slept as sound as a top, only that my nap lasted as long as that +of a thousand tops. + +There had been noises enough to have awaked me much sooner, as I +afterwards ascertained. There had been the rattling of pulleys and +banging of boxes close to my ears, but I heard nothing of all this. + +When I awoke, I knew by my sensations that I had been a long while +asleep. It must be far into the night, thought I. I supposed it was +night-time, by the complete darkness that enveloped me; for on first +squeezing myself behind the butt, I noticed that light came in by the +aperture through which I had passed. Now there was none. It was night, +therefore, and dark as pitch--that, of course, behind a huge hogshead +down in the hold of a ship. + +"What time of night? I suppose they have all gone to bed, and are now +snug in their hammocks? It must be near morning? Can I hear any one +stirring?" + +I listened. I had no need to listen intently. I soon heard noises. +They were evidently caused by heavy objects striking and bumping, just +as if the sailors were still busy lading the vessel. I could hear their +voices, too, though not very distinctly. Now and then certain +ejaculations reached me, and I could make out the words "Heave!" + +"Avast heavin'!" and once the "Yo-heave-ho!" chanted by a chorus of the +crew. + +"Why, they are actually at work loading the vessel _in the night-time_!" + +This, however, did not greatly surprise me. Perhaps they wished to take +advantage of a tide or a fair wind, and were hurrying to complete the +stowage of the ship. + +I continued to listen, expecting to hear a cessation of the noises; but +hour after hour passed, and still the clinking and clanking kept on. + +"How very industrious!" thought I. "They must be pressed for time, and +determined to start soon. True, the placard `_For Peru--to-morrow_!' +did not keep faith to-day, but no doubt it will do so to-morrow, at a +very early hour. So much the better for me; I shall the sooner get out +of my uncomfortable situation. It's rather a hard bed I've had, and I +am growing hungry again." + +With this last reflection, I was very willing to make a fresh onset upon +the cheese and crackers, and I accordingly did so. I had found a fresh +appetite during my sleep, and I ate heartily, though it was the _middle +of the night_! + +The noise of the lading still continued. "Oh! they are going to keep at +it all night. Hard work it is, poor fellows; but no doubt they will +receive double wages for it." + +All at once the sounds ceased, and there was profound silence in the +ship--at least I could hear no one stirring about. + +"At last they have knocked off," thought I; "they are now gone to bed; +but surely it must be near daybreak, though day has not yet broken, else +I should see some light through the aperture. Well! I shall try to go +to sleep again myself." + +I laid me down as before, and endeavoured to compose myself to sleep. +In about an hour's time I had well-nigh succeeded in doing so, when the +thumping of the boxes re-commenced, and roused me up afresh. + +"What? they are at it again! Surely they cannot have been to sleep?--an +hour--it was not worth their while to lie down for an hour." + +I listened to assure myself that they had really set about work again. +There could be no doubt of it. I could hear the clinking and clanking, +and the creaking of the pulley-blocks just as before, only not quite so +loud. + +"Well," thought I, "it is a strange crew, working thus all night long. +Ha! on second thoughts, perhaps it is a fresh set who are at it--another +watch that has relieved the former one?" + +This was probable enough, and the conjecture satisfied me. But I could +no more compose myself to sleep, and lay listening. + +Still they worked on, and I could hear the noises through the longest +night I ever remember. Several hours they had kept at it, and then +there was a pause of about an hour, and then I heard the work +progressing as before, and as yet there were no signs of morning--not a +ray of light came near me! + +I began to fancy I was dreaming, and that those spells of work that +seemed to last for hours were only of minutes' duration. And yet, if +they were only minutes, I must have been gifted with a strange appetite, +for no less than three times had I fallen ferociously upon my +provisions, until my stock was well-nigh exhausted. + +At length the noises ceased altogether, and for several hours I did not +hear them. During this interval there was almost complete silence above +and around me, in the midst of which I again fell asleep. + +When I awoke, my ears were once more greeted with sounds, but these were +quite of another character from those I had before been listening to. +They were to me sounds of joy, for I at once recognised the well-known +"crik-crik-crik" of a windlass, and the rattling of a great chain. Down +where I was, in the hold, I did not hear these noises very distinctly, +but enough so to know what was going on above. _They were weighing the +anchor; the ship was about to sail_! + +I could scarce restrain myself from giving a cheer; but I managed to +keep silence, fearing that my voice might be heard. It was not yet +time. If heard, I should be dragged forth, and sent packing without +ceremony. I therefore lay as still as a mouse, and listened to the +great chain harshly rasping through the iron ring of the hawse-hole. +Harsh as it may have sounded in other ears, it was music to mine at that +moment. + +The clicking and rasping both ceased after a while, and then another +sound reached me. This resembled the rushing of a mighty wind, but I +knew it was not that. I knew it was the "sough" of the sea against the +sides of the vessel. It produced a delightful impression upon my mind, +for it told me that _the big ship was in motion_! + +"Hurrah! we are off!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +SEA-SICK. + +The continued motion of the vessel, and the seething sound of the water, +which I could hear very plainly, convinced me that we had parted from +the quay, and were moving onward. I felt completely happy; there was no +longer any fear of my being taken back to the farm. I was now fairly +launched upon salt-water, and in twenty-four hours would be out on the +wide Atlantic--far from land, and in no danger either of being pursued +or sent back. I was in ecstasies of delight at the success of my plan. + +I thought it rather strange, their starting _in the night_--for it was +still quite dark--but I presumed they had a pilot who knew all the +channels of the bay, and who could take them into the open water just as +well by night as by day. + +I was still somewhat puzzled to account for the extreme length of the +night--that was altogether mysterious--and I began to think that I must +have slept during the whole of a day, and was awake for two nights +instead of one. Either that, or some of it must have been a dream. +However, I was too much joyed at the circumstance of our having started, +to speculate upon the strangeness of the hour. It mattered not to me +whether we had set sail by night or by day, so long as we got safely out +into the great ocean; and I laid myself down again to wait until the +time should arrive, when I might safely show myself on deck. + +I was very impatient for the arrival of that crisis, and for two special +reasons. One was, that I had grown very thirsty, and longed for a +drink. The cheese and dry crackers had helped to make me so thirsty. I +was not hungry, for part of the provision was still left, but I would +gladly have exchanged it for a cup of water. + +The other reason why I wanted to get out of my hiding-place was, that my +bones had become very sore from lying so long on the hard plank, and +also from the cramped attitude I was compelled to assume, on account of +the want of space. So full of pain did my joints feel, that I could +hardly turn myself about; and I felt even worse when I continued to lie +still. This also strengthened my belief that I must have slept during +the whole of a day, for a single night upon the naked timbers could +hardly have tired me so much. + +What with the thirst, therefore, and the soreness of my bones, I kept +fidgeting and wriggling about for several hours, without intermission. + +For these two reasons I was very impatient to crawl forth from my narrow +quarters, and set my foot upon deck; but for other reasons I deemed it +prudent to endure both the thirst and the aching, and remain where I was +for some time longer. + +I had sufficient knowledge of seaport customs to be aware that ships +usually take a pilot a good way out to sea, and in all likelihood there +was one on board. Should I show myself before this functionary had been +dismissed, I would certainly be taken back in his pilot-boat; which, +after all my success, and all my sufferings, would have been a +humiliating result. + +Even had there been no pilot, we were yet in the track of fishing boats +and small coasting vessels; and one of these, inward bound, could easily +be brought alongside, and I might be chucked into it like a coil of +rope, and carried back to the port. + +These considerations passed through my mind, and despite the torment of +thirst and the painful aching of my joints, I remained within my +lurking-place. + +For the first hour or two, the ship moved steadily through the water. +It was calm weather, I supposed, and she was yet within the shelter of +the bay. Then I perceived that she began to sway a little to and fro, +and the rushing of the water along her sides became hoarser and more +violent. Now and then I could hear the loud bumping of waves as they +struck against the bows, and the timbers creaked under the concussions. + +These sounds were not displeasing. I reasoned that we had got out of +the bay, and were passing into the open sea, where I knew the wind was +always fresher, and the waves larger and bolder. "The pilot," thought +I, "will soon be dismissed, and then I may safely show myself on deck." + +Of course I was not without misgivings as to my reception by the people +of the ship--in truth, I felt serious apprehension upon that score. I +remembered the harsh brutal mate, and the reckless indifferent crew. +They would be indignant at the deception I had practised upon them-- +perhaps treat me with cruelty--flog me, or commit some other outrage. I +was far from being easy in my mind about how they would use me, and I +would fain have avoided the encounter. + +But that was clearly impossible. I could not keep concealed for the +whole voyage, for long weeks, ay, months; I had no provisions, no water, +and sooner or later I must go on deck, and take my chances. + +While speculating upon these chances, I began to feel very miserable, +not with mental anguish alone, but with bodily pain. Worse than thirst +it was, or the soreness of my bones. A new misery was fast growing upon +me. My head swam with dizziness, the sweat started from my brow, and I +felt sick both at the heart and in the stomach. I experienced a +suffocating sensation in my breast and throat, as if my ribs were being +compressed inwardly, and my lungs had not room enough to expand and let +me breathe. My nostrils were filled with a nauseating smell--the smell +of "bilge-water"--for being at the bottom of the hold, I was close to +the latter, and could hear it "jabbling" about under the timbers, where +no doubt it had lain for a long time. In all these symptoms I had no +difficulty in telling what ailed me: _sea-sickness_--nothing more. +Knowing this, I was not alarmed; but yet I experienced horrid +sensations, as every one must who is under the infliction of this +peculiar malady. Of course I felt ten times worse, situated as I was, +choking with thirst, and no water near; for I fancied that a glass of +pure water would to some extent have relieved me. It might remove the +nausea, and give me freer breath. I would have given anything for one +mouthful. + +In dread of that terrible pilot, I bore my sufferings as long as I +could. But the rocking of the ship every moment became more violent, +and the smell of the bilge-water more nauseous. In like proportion rose +the revolt in my stomach, until the sickness and retching became quite +unendurable. + +"Surely the pilot must have gone back? Whether or not, I can stand it +no longer; I must get upon deck, or I shall die--oh!" + +I rose from my recumbent position, and began to grope my way along the +side of the great butt. I reached the end of it, and felt for the +aperture by which I had squeezed myself in. To my great surprise, I +found that it was closed up! + +I could scarce credit my senses, and I felt again and again, passing my +hands upwards and downwards. Beyond a doubt the aperture was shut up! +My hands met resistance everywhere, coming in contact with a +perpendicular wall, which, I could tell by the "feel," was the side of +an immense box. It blocked up the interval between the butt and the +side of the ship so completely, that there was not space enough on +either side to thrust the point of my finger through. + +I placed my hands to the box in hopes of being able to push it away, but +I could not move it. I laid my shoulder to it, and heaved with all the +strength of my body; I could not even _shake it_! It was a large +packing-case, no doubt filled with heavy goods. A strong man could +scarce have stirred it from the spot, and my puny strength was +altogether insufficient to move it. + +After an effort I desisted from trying, and crept back along the side of +the butt, hoping I might get out by the other end; but on reaching this, +my hopes were dissipated in a moment. There was not the space of an +inch between the rim of the great cask and another similar barrel, which +filled the aperture up to the ribs of the vessel! A mouse could hardly +have squeezed itself through between. + +I next felt along the top of both casks, but with like result. There +was just space in that direction to admit of passing my hand through, +and no more. A huge beam, traversing along the top, was within a few +inches of the rounded sides of the casks, and there was no aperture that +would have permitted me, small as I was, to have squeezed myself +through. + +I shall leave you to fancy my feelings, when the conviction broke upon +me that I was actually shut in--imprisoned--_built up among the +merchandise_! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +ENTOMBED ALIVE. + +I could now comprehend why the night had seemed so long. There had been +light enough, but it reached me not. The great box had intercepted it. +There had been day, and I knew it not. The men had been working by day, +when I thought it was after midnight. Instead of a single night, at +least two nights and a day had passed since I crouched into my +hiding-place. No wonder I had hungered, and was thirsty--no wonder I +felt an aching in my bones. The short intervals of silence I had +observed were the hours when the crew were at their meals. The long +silence that preceded the weighing of the anchor, had been the second +night, when all were resting and asleep. + +I have stated, that I fell asleep almost instantly after I had crept +into my lurking-place. It then still wanted several hours of sunset. +My sleep had been sound and long, lasting, no doubt, till the following +morning. But on the previous evening, the stowers had been at work-- +though I heard them not; and during my deep, unconscious slumber, the +box, and no doubt many others, had been placed before the aperture. + +Every point was now clear to me, and clearer than all was the horrifying +fact, that I was "boxed up." + +I did not at first comprehend the full horror of my situation. I knew +that I was shut in, and that no strength I could exert would be enough +to get me out; but for all that, I did not apprehend any great +difficulty. The strong sailors, who had stowed the packages, could +remove them again; and I had only to shout and bring them to the spot. + +Alas! alas! little did I think that the loudest shout I might raise, +could not have been heard by human being. Little did I suspect, that +the hatchway, through which I had descended to the hold, was now closed +with its strong hatches and these again covered with a thick tarpaulin-- +to remain so, perhaps, to the end of the voyage! Even had the hatches +not been down, there would have been little chance of my being heard. +The thick wall of bales and boxes would have intercepted my voice, or it +might have been drowned altogether by the hoarse and constant rushing of +the waves, as they broke along the sides of the ship. + +I say, that, on first discovering that I was closed in, my apprehensions +were but slight, I thought, only, that I should be delayed awhile from +getting water, which I now longed for exceedingly. It would take some +time, no doubt, for the men to remove the boxes and relieve me; and +meanwhile I was in misery. These alone were the thoughts that troubled +me. + +It was only when I had screamed and shouted at the highest pitch of my +voice--after I had thundered upon the planks with the heels of my +shoes--after I had repeated my cries again and again, and still heard no +reply; it was only then, that I began to comprehend the true nature of +my situation. Then, indeed, did I perceive its full and perfect horror. +Then, did the conviction burst upon me, that I had no prospect of +escape--no hope of being relieved; in short, that I was _entombed +alive_! + +I cried, I screamed, I shouted. Long and loudly I cried, but how long I +cannot tell. I did not leave off till I was weak and hoarse. + +At intervals I listened, but no response reached me--no sound of human +voice. The echoes of my own reverberated along the sides of the ship, +throughout the dark hold; but no voice responded to its lamentable +tones. + +I listened to discover whether I could not hear the voices of the +sailors. I had heard them in their chorus, when they were weighing +anchor, but then the ship was at rest, and the waves were not lashing +her timbers. Moreover, as I afterwards learned, the hold hatches had +then been up, and were only put down on our standing out to sea. + +For a long while I listened, but neither command nor chorus reached my +ears. If I could not hear their loud baritone voices, how could they +hear mine? + +"Oh! they cannot hear me! They will never hear me! They will never +come to my rescue! Here I must die--I must die!" + +Such was my conviction, after I had shouted myself hoarse and feeble. +The sea-sickness had yielded for a time to the more powerful throes of +despair; but the physical malady returned again, and, acting in +conjunction with my mental misery, produced such agony as I never before +endured. I yielded to it; my energies gave way, and I fell over like +one struck down by paralysis. + +For a long while, I lay in a state of helpless stupor. I wished myself +dead, and indeed I thought I was going to die. I seriously believe, +that at that moment I would have hastened the event if I could; but I +was too weak to have killed myself, even had I been provided with a +weapon. I _had_ a weapon, but I had forgotten all about it in the +confusion of my thoughts. + +You will wonder at my making this confession--that I desired death; but +you would have to be placed in a situation similar to that I was in, to +be able to realise the horror of despair. Oh, it is a fearful thing! +May you never experience it! + +I fancied I was going to die, but I _did not_. Men do not die either +from sea-sickness or despair, nor boys either. Life is not so easily +laid down. + +I certainly was more than half dead, however; and I think for a good +while insensible. I was in a stupor for a long time--for many hours. + +At length my consciousness began to return, and along with it a portion +of my energies. Strange enough, too, I felt my appetite reviving; for, +in this respect, the "sea-sickness" is somewhat peculiar. Patients, +under it, often eat more heartily than at other times. With me, +however, the appetite of thirst was now far stronger than that of +hunger, and its misery was not allayed by any hope of its being +appeased. As for the other, I could still relieve it; some morsels were +in my pocket. + +I need not recount the many fearful reflections that passed through my +mind. For hours after, I was the victim of many a terrible paroxysm of +despair. For hours I lay, or rather tossed about, in a state of +confused thought; but at last, to my relief, I fell asleep. + +I fell asleep, for I had now been a long time awake, and this, with the +prostration of my strength from mental suffering, had at length deadened +the nerve of pain; so that, despite all my misery, I fell asleep. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +THIRST. + +I slept neither very long, nor very soundly. My sleep was full of +dreams, all troubled and horrid; but not more horrid than the reality to +which I once more awoke. + +After awaking, it was some time before I could think of where I was; but +on stretching out my arms, I was reminded of my situation: on every side +the wooden walls of my prison were within reach, and I could touch them +with my fingers all around. I had little more than room sufficient to +turn myself in. Small as was my body, another as big as myself would +almost have filled the space in which I was shut up. + +On again comprehending my fearful situation, I once more gave utterance +to loud cries, shouting and screaming at the very highest pitch of my +voice. I had not yet lost all hope that the sailors might hear me; for, +as already stated, I knew not what quantity of merchandise might be +stowed above me, nor did I think of the hatches of the lower deck being +fastened down. + +Perhaps it was as well I did not know the whole truth, else the complete +despair which the knowledge must have produced might have driven me out +of my senses. As it was, the intervals of despair already endured had +ever alternated with glimpses of hope; and this had sustained me, until +I became more able to look my terrible fate in the face. + +I continued to cry out, sometimes for minutes at a time, and then only +now and again, at intervals; but as no response came, the intervals +between my spells of shouting became longer and longer, till at length, +resigning all hope of being heard, I allowed my hoarse voice to rest, +and remained silent. + +For several hours after this, I lay in a sort of half stupor--that is, +my mind was in this state, but unfortunately my body was not so. On the +contrary, I was racked with severe bodily pain--the pain of extreme +thirst--perhaps the most grievous and hardest to endure of all physical +suffering. I never should have believed that one could be so tortured +by so simple a thing as the want of a drink of water, and when I used to +read of travellers in the desert, and shipwrecked mariners on the ocean, +having endured such agonies from thirst, as even to die of it, I always +fancied there was exaggeration in the narrative. Like all English boys, +brought up in a climate where there is plenty of moisture, and in a +country where springs or runlets exist within a few hundred yards of any +given point, it is not likely I should ever have known thirst by +experience. Perhaps a little of it at times, when at play off in the +fields, or by the sea-shore, where there was no fresh water. Then I had +felt what we ordinarily call thirst--a somewhat unpleasant sensation in +the throat, which causes us to yearn for a glass of water. But this +unpleasantness is very trifling, and is almost neutralised by the +anticipation we have of the pleasure to be experienced while allaying +it; for this, we know, we shall be able to accomplish in a very short +time. Indeed, so trifling is the annoyance we feel from ordinary +thirst, that it is rare when we are compelled to stoop, either to the +ditch or the pond, for the purpose of assuaging it. We are dainty +enough to wait, until we encounter a cool well or some limpid spring. + +This, however, is not thirst; it is but thirst in its first and mildest +stage--rather pleasant from the knowledge you have of being able soon to +remove the pain. Once take away this confidence--become assured that no +wells nor springs are near--no ponds, ditches, lakes, nor rivers--that +no fresh water is within hundreds of miles of you--no fluid of any kind +that will allay the appetite, and then even this incipient feeling of +thirst would at once assume a new character, and become sufficiently +painful to endure. + +I may not have been so absolutely in need of drink at the time, for I +had not been so long without it. I am sure I had often gone for days +without thinking of water, but this was just because I knew I might have +as much as I pleased at a moment's notice. Now, that there was none to +be had, and no prospect of obtaining any, I felt for the first time in +my life that thirst was a real agony. + +I was not again hungry. The provisions which I had purchased with the +price of my sloop were not yet exhausted. Some pieces of the cheese, +and several of the biscuits, still remained, but I did not venture to +touch them. They would only have increased my thirst. The last morsels +I had eaten had produced this effect. My parched throat called only for +water--water at that moment appeared to me the most desirable thing in +the world. + +I was in a situation somewhat similar to that of Tantalus. Water I saw +not, but I heard it. The hoarse rushing of the waves as they tore along +the sides of the ship was plainly audible. I knew it was the water of +the sea--salt, and of no service to me, even could I have reached it-- +but still it was the sound of water playing continually on my ears as if +to mock and tantalise me. + +I need not recount the many painful reflections that passed through my +mind during the period that followed. Suffice it to say, that for many +long hours I endured the terrible pain of thirst, without any hope of +being relieved from its torture. I felt certain it was going to kill +me. I knew not how soon, but I was sure that sooner or later it would +cause my death. I had read of men living for days under the agony of +thirst, before life became extinct. I tried to remember how many days +they had lived, but my memory was at fault. Six or seven, I fancied, +was the longest period. The prospect was appalling. How could I endure +for six or seven days what I was then suffering? How could I bear it +for even one day longer? Oh! it was fearful to endure! I hoped that +death would sooner come, and release me from such torture! + +But a far brighter hope was nigh; and almost upon the instant that I had +given mental expression to that despairing wish, a sound fell upon my +ears that at once changed the current of my thoughts, and caused me to +forget the horror of my situation. + +Oh! that sweet sound! It was like the whisper of an angel of mercy! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +A SWEET SOUND. + +I was lying, or half-standing erect, with my shoulder against one of the +great ribs of the ship that traversed my little chamber from top to +bottom, dividing it into two nearly equal parts. I had got into this +attitude merely as a change; for during the long days and nights since I +entered my confined quarters, I had tried every attitude I could think +of, in order to obtain freedom from the monotony of remaining too long +in one position. I had tried sitting; also standing, though somewhat +bent; more generally I had lain down--now on one side, now on the +other--sometimes upon my back, and even sometimes on my face. + +The position I had now assumed to rest me for a moment was a standing +one, though only half erect, as the height of my chamber was not equal +to my own length. The point of my shoulder found a resting-place +against the rib of the vessel, and my head, drooping forward, was nearly +in contact with the side of the great butt, upon the swell of which my +hand rested. + +Of course, my ear was close to the cask, almost touching its hard oaken +staves; and it was through these that the sound reached me which I have +described as having caused a sudden and pleasant reaction in my +feelings. + +The sound itself was simple enough to understand. I easily understood +it. It was the "cluk-cluk" of water moving about inside the butt, its +motion being caused by the pitching of the ship, and a slight rolling of +the cask itself, which had not been steadily "cleated" in its place. + +The first "cluk" was music to my ears; but I did not permit myself the +free enjoyment of it until I had fully satisfied myself as to the nature +of what I had heard. + +I had raised my head with a start, and I now placed my cheek against the +oak staves, and stood with every nerve in my ear straining to catch the +sounds. I waited a good while, for it was only at intervals that the +ship gave her heaviest lurches, and only then did the fluid within the +butt become disturbed. I waited patiently, and my patience was +rewarded. There again!--"cluk-cluk-cluk!" + +"_Cluk-cleek-clee-chuckle-cluk_." Beyond a doubt there was water in the +cask! + +I could not restrain myself from uttering a shout of joy. I felt like +one who had been for a long while in the act of being drowned, and who +at length had reached land, and was saved. + +The sudden transition in my feelings almost caused me to faint; as it +was, I staggered back against the timbers, and dropped down in a state +of half-insensibility. + +Not long did I remain so. The acute torture soon prompted me to action; +and I rose again, and leant forward against the cask. + +For what purpose? To find the bung, of course; draw it out, and relieve +my thirst by a draught of water. What other object could I have in +approaching it? + +Alas! alas! my new-sprung joy fast fleeted away, almost as suddenly as +it had arisen! Not quite so suddenly; for it took me some time to run +my fingers all over the swelling outlines of that great vessel; to pass +them around its ends as far as the heavy boxes would permit; to go over +the ground again and again, inch by inch, and stave by stave, with all +the careful touch of one who is blind. Yes, it took me minutes to +accomplish this, and to become satisfied that the bung was not upon my +side of the cask--that it was either upon the top or the opposite side; +but, whether one or the other, it was beyond my reach, and it was +therefore as useless to me as if no such aperture existed. + +In my search for the bung I had not forgotten the vent or tap-hole. I +knew that every cask is provided with both these apertures--that one +should be in the side and the other in the head or end. But my search +for the vent did not occupy two seconds of time. I at once perceived +that both ends of the barrel, with the exception of a few inches near +the edge, were completely blocked up--one by the box, and the opposite +one by the other cask, already mentioned--the latter of which appeared +to be a counterpart of that in front of me. + +It occurred to me that this other cask might also contain water, and I +proceeded to make a "reconnaissance" of it; but I could only "grope" a +small portion of its end, and there I felt only the smooth hard heading +of oak, that resisted my touch like a wall of rock. + +It was only after all this had been accomplished, that I began once more +to feel the misery of my situation--once more to resign myself to +despair. I was now tantalised even worse than ever. I could hear at +intervals the "jabbling" of the water within two inches of my lips, and +was unable to taste it! Oh! what I would have given for one drop upon +my tongue! one gill to moisten my throat, parched and burning like a +coal of fire! + +If I had had an axe, with room to wield it, how I should have burst open +that huge cistern, and drank fiercely of its contents! But I had no +axe, no weapon of any kind; and without one the thick oaken staves were +as impenetrable to me as if they had been solid iron. Even had I +succeeded in reaching the bung or vent, how could I have got out the +stopper or vent-peg? With my fingers it would plainly have been +impracticable; though in the eagerness of my first hope I had never +thought of this difficulty. + +I believe that I once more sat or staggered down, and after a little +while rose up again, and made a fresh examination of the butt; but I am +not sure about what I did, for this new disappointment had quite +stupefied me, and I cannot exactly remember what followed for a good +while after. I believe, however, that I performed these acts in a sort +of mechanical way; and also that I tried once more to move the box, and +pushed against it with all my strength; but, as before, to no purpose. + +After this I must have lain down, and resigned myself to despair, that +again bound me in its hideous embrace. How long I cannot tell; but its +spell was at length broken by a circumstance that once more put my +senses on the alert. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +TAPPING THE BUTT. + +I had stretched myself lengthwise in my cell, and was lying upon my +right side, with my head resting upon my arm. While thus placed, I felt +something pressing against my thigh, as though there was a protuberance +on the plank, or some piece of hard material under me. It began to give +me pain, and I reached down my hand to remove it, at the same time +raising my body so that I might get at it. I was a little surprised on +not finding anything, but the next moment I perceived that the hard +substance that annoyed me was not upon the planks, but inside the pocket +of my trousers! + +What had I got there? I remembered nothing, and might have supposed it +was some fragments of biscuit; but these I had deposited in the pockets +of my jacket, and they could not have got down to my trousers. I felt +the article from the outside. It was something very hard, and of a +longish shape; but I could not think what, for as yet I could remember +nothing that I had carried, with the exception of the biscuits and +cheese. + +I had to raise myself up in order to insert my hand into the pocket, and +not until I had done so was I made acquainted with the nature of its +contents. The hard oblong thing that had thus attracted my attention +was the knife given me by the sailor, Waters; and which, having thrust +mechanically into my pocket at the moment of receiving it, I had quite +forgotten. + +The discovery caused me no particular emotion at the moment. Simply a +thought of the kindness of the sailor as contrasted with the brutality +of the mate--just the same thought that passed through my mind at the +time the gift was presented. With this reflection I drew forth the +knife, and flinging it down beside me, so that it might be out of the +way, I lay down on my side as before. + +But I had scarcely stretched myself, when an idea crossed my mind, that +prompted me to start up again, as suddenly as if I had lain down upon +red-hot iron. Unlike the latter, however, it was not a feeling of pain +that caused this quick movement, but one of pleasure--of joyful hope. +It had just occurred to me that with the knife I might make a hole in +the side of the cask, and thus reach the water! + +So practicable did the design appear, that I had not a doubt of being +able to accomplish it; and the certainty I now felt of getting at the +precious contents of the cask, produced a complete revulsion in my +feelings--another sudden transition from despair to hope. I groped +eagerly about, and soon recovered the knife. I had scarce looked at it, +on receiving it from the hands of the friendly sailor. Now I examined +it carefully--by the touch, of course--I felt it all over; and as well +as I was able by such a test, calculated its strength and fitness for +the work I had designed for it. + +It was what is termed a "jack-knife," with a buckhorn handle, and but +one blade--a sort in common use among sailors, who usually carry them on +a string passed around the neck, and to which the knife is attached by a +hole drilled in the haft. The blade was a square one, drawn to an +angular point, and shaped somewhat like the blade of a razor. Like the +latter, too, the back was thick and strong, as I could tell by the +"feel." I was gratified at perceiving this, for I knew that it would +require a strong blade to hew a hole through the tough staves of oak. + +The instrument I held in my hands was the very thing for the purpose, +almost as good as a chisel. Haft and blade were nearly of equal length, +and when opened out, they measured about ten inches together. + +I have been thus particular in describing this knife; and from me it +merits all that has been said, and far more, in praise of its good +qualities; since, but for it, I should not now be alive to give an +account of its wonderful performances. + +Well, having opened the knife, and drawn my fingers along the blade, and +felt it over and over again, in order to get acquainted with its form +and fitness; and then, having examined the back-spring, and tried its +strength by various openings and shuttings: having done all this, I went +to work upon the hard oak. + +You will wonder that I wanted to take all these precautions. You will +fancy that, tortured as I was by thirst, I would scarce have had so much +patience, but would have set about making the hole at once, in order the +sooner to get relief by a draught of the water. Certainly my patience +was greatly tempted; but I never was what is called a rash boy, and in +that dark hour I felt more than ever in my life the necessity of +prudence and caution. I knew that death--a horrid death from thirst-- +awaited me, if I did not succeed in getting at the contents of the cask; +and should any accident happen to the knife, should the blade break, or +even the point be snapped off, this death would surely be my fate. No +wonder, then, I took the precaution to examine well my weapon and +ascertain its strength. I might have acted with more recklessness had I +reflected more. Even had I been certain of procuring the water, what +then? It could only save me from dying of thirst. But hunger? How was +that to be relieved? Water was drink, but not food. Where was I to +find food? + +Strange to say, I did not think of food at that moment. I was not yet +hungry, and the agony of thirst had hitherto been my only apprehension, +precluding all thoughts of the kindred appetite. The prospect of the +nearer danger--that of perishing from the want of water--had hindered my +mind from dwelling on that which was more remote; and, strange to say, I +had as yet scarce given a thought to what shortly after became my +exclusive apprehension--the danger of dying by hunger. + +It is certain, therefore, that had I reflected on this, I should have +proceeded with less prudence. Fortunately, I did not reflect; but set +about the accomplishment of my purpose with due method and caution. + +I selected a spot in the side of the cask, where one of the staves +appeared to be a little chafed and damaged. I chose it better than +half-way from the top. The cask might be only half full, though that +was not likely. If so, it would be necessary for me to make my tap +below the surface of the water, otherwise I should have to make it over +again. A hole would have been of no use to me, unless it entered below +the water-line. + +Having chosen the spot, I at once set to work, and in a short while had +the gratification to find that I was rapidly hollowing out a space in +the thick stave. The knife behaved admirably, and hard as was the oak, +it had to yield to the harder steel of that beautiful blade. Bit by +bit, and chip by chip, the wood was detached before its keen point; and +as each fresh fibre was loosened, I seized it with my fingers and pulled +it off, to make way for the blade. + +For more than an hour I kept on, of course working in darkness. I had +by this time grown so familiar with darkness, that I he longer +experienced the feeling of helplessness one always has when suddenly +plunged into it. My sense of touch seemed to have become keener and +more delicate, as is well-known to be the case with those who are blind. +I felt no difficulty on the score of light; and as it would have +availed but little for the work in which I was engaged, I never even +thought of its absence. + +I did not progress as fast as a carpenter would have done with his +mortising chisel, or a cooper with his breast-bit or auger; but I had +the gratification of knowing that I was progressing. Though slowly, I +perceived that the hollow was getting deeper and deeper; the stave could +not be more than an inch in thickness: surely I should soon be through +it? + +I could have done the business in less time, had I been more reckless of +consequences; but I feared to strain too heavily upon the blade, and, +remembering the old adage, "The more haste the less speed," I handled +the precious tool with care. + +It was more than an hour before I approached the inner surface of the +plank. I knew that I was nearly through it from the depth to which I +had cut. + +My hand now trembled as I worked. My heart beat loudly against my ribs. +It was a moment of vivid emotion. A fearful thought was in my mind--a +dread doubt was troubling me--a doubt that it was _water_! This doubt +had occurred to me at an earlier period, but at no time did I feel it so +intensely as at that moment, just upon the eve of its solution. + +Oh, heaven! should it not be water after all--should the contents of the +cask prove to be rum or brandy, or even wine! I knew that none of these +would avail to quench my burning thirst. For the moment they might, but +only for the moment; it would return fiercer and more craving than ever. +Oh! if it should be one, or any of them, then indeed was I lost--then +indeed might I yield up my last hope, and die as men have often died, +under the madness of intoxication! + +I was close to the inner surface of the stave; moisture was already +oozing through the wood, where it had been penetrated by the point of +the blade. I hesitated to make the last cut; I dreaded the result. + +I hesitated but a short while. The torture of my thirst impelled me on; +and plunging the blade deeply, I felt the last fibres yielding to its +point. Almost at the same instant a cold spray rushed out, sprinkling +my hand upon the haft, and rushing far up my sleeve. + +After giving the blade a twist, I drew it out, and then a jet shot +forth, as if forced from a syringe. In another instant my lips covered +the vent, and I drank delicious draughts--not of spirits, not of wine-- +but of water, cold and sweet as though it issued from a rock of +limestone! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +THE VENT-PEG. + +Oh! how I drank of that delicious water! I thought I should never be +satisfied; but at length satiety was produced, and I thirsted no more. + +The effect was not immediate--the first long draught did not relieve me, +or only for a time. I longed again, and again placed my lips to the +spouting stream; and this I did repeatedly, until the longing returned +not, and the pangs of thirst were forgotten as if I had never felt them! + +It is beyond the power of the imagination to form any idea of the agony +of thirst--mere fancy cannot realise it. It must be experienced to be +known, but a proof of its intensity might be given by adducing the +horrible alternatives to which men have resorted when reduced to the +extremity of this torturing pain. And yet, withal, as soon as the +craving is appeased, so soon as a sufficient quantity of water has +passed the lips, the pain exists no more, but ends with the suddenness +of a dream! No other bodily ill can be so quickly healed. + +My thirst was now gone, and I felt buoyant; but my habitual prudence did +not forsake me. During the intervals when my lips were removed from the +vent, I had kept the water from running by pressing the end of my +fore-finger into the hole, and using it as a stopper. Something +whispered me that it would be well not to waste the precious fluid, and +I resolved to obey the suggestion. When I had finished drinking, I used +my finger as before; but after a little, I grew tired of making a +vent-peg of my finger, and looked about for something else. I groped +all over the bottom timbers, but could find nothing--not the smallest +piece of stick within reach of my right hand. It was the fore-finger of +my left that was playing vent-peg; and I dared not remove it, else the +water would have gushed forth in a tolerably thick, and therefore a +wasteful, jet. + +I bethought me of a piece of cheese, and I drew what remained from my +pocket. It was of too excellent a quality for the purpose, and crumbled +as I applied it to the aperture. It was forced out of my fingers by the +strength of the spouting water. A biscuit would have been equally +unserviceable. What was I to do? + +In answer to this interrogatory, it occurred to me that I might caulk +the hole with a rag from my jacket. It was fustian, and would answer +admirably. + +No sooner thought of, than with my knife I cut a piece from the flap, +and placing it over the hole, and punching it well in with the blade, I +succeeded in stopping the run, though I could perceive that it yet +leaked a little. This, however, would not signify. I only intended the +piece of cloth for a temporary stopper, until I could cast around, and +contrive something better. + +I was once more free to reflect, and I need not tell you that my +reflections soon guided me back to despair. To what purpose had I been +saved from death by thirst? It would only be a protraction of my +misery--a few hours more of wretched existence--for certainly I must +meet death by hunger. There was no alternative. My little stock was +almost consumed. Two biscuits, and a handful of cheese-crumbs, were all +that remained. I might make another meal upon them--a very slight one; +and then--ay, then--hunger, gnawing hunger--weakness--feebleness-- +exhaustion--death! + +Strange to say that while suffering from thirst, I had not thought of +dying by hunger. It would be more exact to say I had _scarce_ thought +of it. At intervals, some glimpses of such a fate had been before my +mind's eye; but, as I have already stated, the stronger agony eclipsed +the weaker, and rendered it almost uncared for. + +Now, however, that all fears of the former were removed, the dread of +the latter usurped its place. The little interval of buoyant feeling +which I experienced, was merely the consequence of my unexpected relief +from a painful suffering, and only lasted until calm reflection +returned. In a few minutes it was over, and my apprehension of death +became as acute as ever. It is wrong to call it an apprehension, for it +was a positive certainty that stared me in the face. I had not given +five minutes' thought to my situation, till I felt as certain of death +as I was that I still lived. There was no hope of escape from my +prison--that I had given up long ago; and since I had nothing to eat, +and not the slightest hope of obtaining anything, how was I to live? It +required no reasoning to find an answer to the question. + +Perish I must, and by hunger--there was no alternative, unless I chose +to die by my own hand. I was now aware that I possessed the means to +effect the latter, but strange to say, the madness that would have +prompted me to it, during the first throes of my despair, was gone; and +I could now contemplate death with a calmness that surprised me. + +Three modes of dying were possible, and within my reach--thirst, hunger, +and suicide; and it may astonish you to know that the next thing I did +was to take into consideration which of the three it would be easiest to +endure. + +This in reality was the leading idea in my mind as soon as I became +convinced that I _must_ die. You need not be astonished. Only imagine +yourselves in my situation, and you will perceive that such thoughts +were but natural. + +The first of these three I rejected at once--it _could not be the +easiest_. I had almost tried it, and my experience satisfied me that +existence could scarce be ended in a less gentle way. Only upon the two +last, therefore, did my mind dwell; and for some time I sat coolly +weighing the one against the other. Unfortunately, my young days had +been passed in a manner almost heathenish; and at that time I did not +even know that taking one's own life was a crime. This consideration, +therefore, had no weight in the balance, and all I had to guide me was +the conjecture as to which of the two modes of death would be least +painful! + +And I sat for a long while--coolly and calmly I sat--engaged in this +singular contemplation. + +Good and evil must be instinctive. Something within told me it would be +wrong to take away the life which God had given, even though the act +might save me from protracted pain. + +This thought triumphed; and, mustering all my courage, I resolved to +await the event, whatever time it might please God to put a termination +to my misery. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +THE BISCUIT-BOX. + +Having resolved, then, not to die by my own hand, I at the same time +came to the resolution to live as long as I could. Though my two +biscuits would not have served me for another good meal, I determined to +make at least four out of them, and also to make the intervals between +each two as long as possible--just as long as I could endure without +eating. + +The desire of prolonging my existence had been gradually growing upon +me, ever since I had been relieved from the torture of thirst; and it +had now become as strong as at any period of my life. The truth is, I +had a presentiment that I should still survive--that I was not going to +perish of hunger; and this presentiment--though ever so slight, and +entertained only at intervals--helped to sustain me with a sort of faint +hope. + +I can hardly tell why I should have entertained it at all, so really +hopeless appeared my situation. But then I remembered that, but a few +hours before, the prospect of obtaining water was equally hopeless, and +now I possessed enough to drown myself in. Fanciful as it may seem, +this idea had occurred to me--that is, to drown myself! But the moment +before, while contemplating the easiest means of death, that of drowning +had actually come before my mind. I had often heard that it was about +the least painful mode of terminating one's existence. Indeed I might +say that I had myself made trial of it. + +When saved by Harry Blew I _was_ drowned to all intents and purposes--so +far as the suffering was concerned--and I am sure that had I been then +permitted to go to the bottom, I should never have felt another pang. I +was satisfied, therefore, that drowning was not so very hard a death; +and I actually had it in consideration whether I should not cut my way +into the great butt, and in this way end my misery! This was during my +moments of despair, when I seriously contemplated self-destruction; but +these moments had passed, and I again felt an unaccountable desire that +my life should be prolonged. + +Perhaps this change in my sentiments is not so inexplicable. The +strange circumstance of my finding the water, with the consequent escape +from death by thirst, had something in it of a nature almost miraculous: +something that suggested the hand of Providence stretched forth in my +favour. That hand could equally aid me in other ways--could equally +save me from starvation by hunger; and though I knew not how, it might +yet deliver me from my fearful prison. + +Perhaps some ideas of this kind were passing in my mind, and it was from +these I drew that indefinable presentiment that I should yet escape. + +I ate my half biscuit, and again drank of the water, for my thirst kept +returning upon me, though it no longer gave me uneasiness. I caulked up +the vent as before, and then sat down in silence. + +I had no idea of making any exertion. I had no hope that anything I +could do would in the least degree alter my situation. What could I do? +My hope--if hope I may call it--rested only upon fate, upon chance, or +rather, I should say, upon God. But how the hand of Providence could be +interposed on my behalf, I had not the slightest idea. + +Those dark, silent hours were hard to endure. It was only at intervals +that I was cheered by the presentiment I have described; but in the far +longer intervals between, I felt gloomy and despairing. + +Nearly twelve hours must have passed before I ate my second half +biscuit. I waited as long as I could, but at length I was obliged to +yield to the calls of hunger. The little morsel produced no +satisfaction. It rather appeared to render my appetite more keen and +craving. I drank copiously, but although the water filled my stomach, +it had no effect in stifling the sensations of hunger. + +In about six hours after, I made another meal--another half biscuit +gone. I could not endure longer; and when the tiny crumb was swallowed, +I knew not that I had eaten. I was as hungry as ever! + +Scarce three hours was the next interval. My brave resolution to make +the two biscuits last for as many days was to no purpose. Not one day +had passed, and the last morsel had disappeared. + +What next? What should I eat next? I was as hungry as ever. + +_I thought of my shoes_. I had read of men sustaining themselves for a +time by chewing up their boots, their belts, their gaiters, their +pouches and saddles; in short, anything that was made of leather. +Leather is an animal substance, and, even when tanned and manufactured, +still possesses nutriment, though only in a slight degree. With these +memories, then, I thought of my shoes. + +I was stooping down to unlace them, when I was startled by something +cold that struck me upon the back of the head. It was a stream of +water. The rag of fustian had been pressed out, and the water was +escaping. The jet had fallen on the back of my head, just upon the bare +part of the neck, and its coldness, together with the suddenness of the +thing, caused me to start up in some surprise. + +Of course, my astonishment ceased as soon as I perceived what it was +that had startled me. + +I placed my finger in the aperture, and groping about for the rag, soon +found it, and recaulked the cask. + +This had now happened more than once, and much water had been wasted. +The rag had become loosened by the action of the water, and was pressed +out. It occurred to me that it might occur again while I was asleep, +and most of the water in the butt might run off, and thus get lost +altogether. Some precaution, therefore, must be taken--I must find a +better stopper. + +With this idea I went to work to contrive one. I searched all around +the "floor" of my cabin in hopes of picking up some stray chip, but no +such thing was there. + +I bethought me of cutting a splint from one of the great ribs of the +ship; and I made the attempt with my knife, but the wood was hard oak +and painted, and defied all my efforts to split off a piece large enough +for my purpose. In the end, no doubt, I should have succeeded; but just +then it occurred to me that I could more easily get a supply from the +box. This being a rough packing-case, was no doubt made of common deal; +and from the touch I was convinced that it was so. Of course, being +much softer than the oak, and more easily split with a knife, I should +have a better chance of procuring what I wanted; and, moreover, a piece +of deal would do better for a stopper. + +Shifting myself round, therefore, so as to face towards the box, I began +to feel all over it for the best place to use my knife upon. + +At one of the corners I perceived the point of advantage, where one of +the boards slightly projected above the level of the top. Into this +board I sunk my blade, pressing it downward, and causing it to act both +as a wedge and a chisel. I had given but one push upon it, when I +perceived that the board was loose. The nails which had fastened it had +either been broken off or drawn out, probably by the rough mauling it +had got while being stowed. Whether or not, I felt that it was quite +loose, and moved under my touch. + +I at once drew out the blade. I saw that I could pull off the board +with my hands, and it would then be easier to split off the piece that I +wanted. I laid the knife down, and applying my fingers to the +projecting end of the board, I seized it firmly, and pulled with all my +might. + +It yielded to my strength. There was some creaking and crackling, as +the nails were drawn out or broken; and then a sound reached my ears +that caused me to desist and listen. It was the sound of some hard +objects escaping from out the box and falling with a rattle upon the +timbers beneath. + +I was curious to know what these objects were, and letting go my hold, I +stretched my hands downward, and groped for what had been spilled. I +lifted two of similar shape and size, and as I ran my fingers over them, +I could not restrain myself from giving utterance to a shout of joy. + +I have said that my touch had grown almost as delicate as that of a +blind man; but had it been ever so obtuse, I could have told at that +moment, what were the two flat round objects which I held between my +fingers. There was no mistaking the "feel" of them. They were +_biscuits_! + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +A CASK OF BRANDY. + +Yes, biscuits--each of them as large as a small plate, and nearly half +an inch in thickness, smooth and round and pleasant to the touch, and of +a rich brown colour--I could tell the colour, for I knew from the feel +that they were real _sea_ biscuits; or, as they are generally styled, +"sailor's biscuits," to distinguish them from the white "captain's +biscuits," to which, in my opinion, they are superior--far sweeter and +more wholesome. + +How sweet they tasted at that moment! for on the very instant that I got +hold of them, did I raise one to my mouth, and bite a large piece out of +its smooth circumference. Delicious morsel! a whole one was soon ground +into crumbs and swallowed, and then a second, and a third, and a fourth, +and a fifth, and perhaps still another! for I never thought of keeping +count, so long as hunger urged me to eat. Of course, I washed them down +with copious libations from the butt. + +I remember no meal eaten during all my life that I enjoyed with so much +relish, as this one of biscuits and water. It was not simply from the +delight experienced by satisfying the cravings of a hungry stomach-- +which of itself, as every one knows, is a high source of enjoyment--but +along with it, was the pleasure derived from my discovery--the +delightful consciousness, still fresh before my mind, that my life which +but the moment before I held as lost, was still to be spared me. Beyond +a question, the hand of Providence _had_ interposed to save my life. + +I had no doubt that this was so. With such store both of food and +drink, I could live, despite the darkness of my dungeon, for weeks, for +months--until the voyage should come to an end, and the ship be emptied +of its cargo. + +I felt sure of safety, as I made an inspection of my provision chest. +They came pouring forth, those precious cakes, spilling out at the +touch, and cracking together like castanets. + +Their rattle was music to my ears. I thrust my hands into the box, +delighting to bury my fingers amid the rich profusion of its contents; +as the miser joys to revel among his heaps of gold. I thought I should +never tire groping among them, feeling how thick and large they were, +and drawing them out from the box, and putting them back into it, and +tumbling them about in every way. I acted just like a child with its +drum and its ball, its top and its orange, rolling them from side to +side; and it was a long time before I grew tired of this childlike play. + +Long--I am sure I must have gone on in this way for nearly an hour, +before the excitement into which the discovery had put me cooled down, +and I could act and think calmly. + +It is difficult to describe the sensation one feels, when suddenly +rescued from the jaws of death. Escape from an impending danger is +different, as one is not certain that the danger would end in death; for +there are few kinds of peril that produce the conviction that death must +be the event. When this conviction once enters the mind, and after that +the self-expecting victim survives, the sudden reaction from despair to +joy is a feeling of such intense happiness, as almost to cause +bewilderment. Men ere now have died of such joy, while others have gone +mad. + +I neither died nor went mad; but could my behaviour have been observed +for some time after breaking open the biscuit-box, it might have been +_supposed_ that I was mad. + +The first thing that restored me to calmer reflection, was the discovery +that the water was running from the cask, in a full jet. The aperture +was quite open. I was chagrined at making this observation--I may say, +terrified. I knew not how long the waste had been going on; the _sough_ +of the sea outside prevented me from hearing it, and the water, as soon +as it fell, filtered off under the timbers of the vessel. Perhaps it +had been running ever since I last drank; for I had no recollection of +having put back the rag stopper. My excitement had hindered me from +thinking of it. If that were really the case, then there had been much +waste, and the thought filled me with dismay. + +But an hour ago, I should have not so much regarded this loss of water. +Then I knew there would still be drink enough to outlast the food--to +last as long as I expected to live. Now, however, my altered prospects +caused me to regard the circumstance with very different ideas. I might +be months alive, and still cooped up behind the cask. Every drop of its +contents might be required. If it was to run short before the ship +reached her port, then I should be brought back to my original position, +and death by thirst would be my fate after all. No wonder, I perceived +with dismay that the stopper was out, and the stream was flowing! + +I lost not a moment in pressing my fingers into the hole, and cutting +off the run. Then once more corking with the rag, I proceeded to carry +out my original design, of making a proper vent-peg of wood. + +A piece was easily obtained from the board I had detached from the lid +of the box--for it was the lid that was towards me; and the soft deal, +yielding to the keen blade of my knife, was soon shaped into a conical +peg, that fitted exactly. + +Brave sailor! how I blessed thee for thy gift! + +I blamed myself much for this piece of negligence; and I felt regret, +too, that I had tapped the cask so low down. However, the latter had +been itself a measure of precaution; and at the time it was done, I had +but one thought, and that was to allay my thirst as quickly as possible. + +It was fortunate I noticed the jet as soon as I did. Had it been +allowed to continue running, until it stopped of itself--in other words, +had the surface of the water sunk to the level of the tap-hole--then +would there have been but little left, scarce enough to have lasted me +for a week. + +I endeavoured to ascertain what had been the amount of wastage, but I +could arrive at no satisfactory conclusion. I sounded the cask, by +striking it in different places with the butt end of my knife, but I +derived little knowledge from this. The creaking of the ship's timbers, +and the rush of the waves, prevented any observation of this kind from +being definite or accurate. I fancied that the blows gave back a very +hollow sound, as if a large space within was empty. If it were a fancy, +it was far from being a pleasant one; and I gave over my "soundings" +with a considerable feeling of uneasiness. Fortunately the tap was a +very small hole, and the jet from it of no great thickness. As near as +I could tell by the touch, and from the repeated application I had made +to it with my lips, this could not have been over the thickness of my +little finger, which at that time was not of much greater circumference +than a goose's quill. I knew that such a tiny stream would be a long +while in spending the contents of so large a tank; and I endeavoured to +recall to mind how long it might have been since I last drank. In this, +however, I was not successful. It seemed but a short while to me, but +excited as I had been, and confused in my ideas, it might have been an +hour, or even more. I was completely baffled in any calculation that I +attempted. + +I remained for a considerable time, pondering upon some scheme by which +I might determine the quantity of water that still remained in the cask, +for about this I was now most anxious. Only one hour before, food had +been the source of my uneasiness; before that it had been drink; and now +once more drink was my trouble, for of meat I had a plenty. + +I remembered having heard that brewers, coopers, and others whose +business lies among the great wine vaults of the docks, had a way of +telling pretty nearly the contents of a barrel of liquid, without +submitting them to actual measurement, but I had not heard how they +managed the matter. I regretted not having been told. + +I thought of a plan by which I could have ascertained, to a nicety; but +I lacked the proper instrument to put it in execution. I understood +enough of hydraulics to know that water will rise to its own level if +guided by a pipe or tube; I knew, therefore, that if I had only +possessed a piece of hose, I could have attached it to the tap-hole, and +thus discovered how high the water stood in the cask. + +But where was the hose or other pipe to be had? Of course I could not +get at what I desired in this way, and I relinquished the idea without +giving it farther consideration. + +Just at this moment a better plan suggested itself, and I proceeded to +put it in execution. It was so simple, I wondered I had not thought of +it before. It was neither more nor less than to cut another hole +through the staves, higher up, and if need be another, and so on, until +I reached a point where the water ceased to run. This would give me the +knowledge I wanted. + +Should I make my first hole too low, I could easily stop it with a peg, +and so with all the others. + +It is true that I was laying out for myself a considerable amount of +work, but I rather liked this than otherwise. While employed, I should +feel much happier, as my occupation would enable me the better to pass +the time, and keep me from thinking too much of my miserable situation. + +But just as I was about to commence my experiments on the butt, it +occurred to me that I had better try the other one--that which stood at +the end of my little chamber. Should this also prove to be a +water-cask, then I need be no longer uneasy, for surely two such great +vessels should contain enough to supply me during the longest voyage +that ever was made. + +Without more ado, then, I turned upon the second cask, and commenced +drilling a hole in the end of it. I was not so excited as before, for I +did not feel that so much depended upon the result. For all that, it +caused me a good deal of disappointment, when, on getting the point of +my blade through to the inside, I discovered that the stream that came +jetting out was not water but pure brandy, which proved that it was a +brandy-cask I had tapped. + +I again turned my attention to the water-butt; for I was now more +anxious than ever to ascertain how much it contained, since on this +depended my future safety. + +Choosing a stave near the middle of the cask, I proceeded in the same +manner as I had done when making my first incision; and working +constantly for an hour or more, I felt the thin shell springing before +the point of my knife. My apprehensions were acute, though not so much +as on the former occasion. Then it was a matter of life or death, +almost upon the instant; now the contingency was more remote, and not +quite so definite or certain. Withal I could not help a strong feeling +of anxiety, nor could I avoid uttering an exclamation of delight, when I +felt the cold spring of water gushing along the blade of my knife. I +soon closed the slight aperture, and re-commenced my drilling process +upon the next stave higher up. + +This I also penetrated in due time, and was again rewarded for my +patient labour by getting my fingers wet, from the inside. + +Another step higher, with a result like. + +Another, and the water came not. No matter, I was now far up near the +top of the cask. I had found water at the last boring but one. It must +stand still higher within. The cask, therefore, was more than three +parts full. Thank Heaven! There would be enough to last me for many +months! + +I felt satisfied with the result, and, sitting down, I ate another +biscuit with as much relish and contentment as if I had been dining upon +turtle and venison at the table of a Lord Mayor. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +GOING ON "RATIONS." + +I was full of complacence. There was nothing now to cause me +uneasiness. The prospect of being cooped up for six months might have +been very unpleasant under other circumstances, but after the far more +terrible dread of horrid death from which I had just been delivered, it +appeared as nothing; and I resolved to bear my long imprisonment with +patience and resignation. + +Six months I would have to endure this gloomy confinement--six months, +at the least. There was but little probability of my being released +before the expiration of a half-year: a long term--long and hard to be +borne either by captive or criminal--hard even in a lighted chamber, +with bed and fire, and well-cooked food, in daily converse with human +beings, and the sound of human voices almost continually ringing in your +ears. Even with these advantages, to be shut up for six months is a +painful experience. + +How much more painful would mine be, cramped up in close quarters, where +I could neither stand erect nor lie at full length; neither couch, nor +fire, nor light to give me comfort; breathing foul air, reclining upon +the hardest of oak, living upon bread and water--the simplest diet upon +which a human being could exist, and that unvaried by the slightest +change, with no sound ever reaching my ear save the almost ceaseless +creaking of the ship's timbers, and the monotonous surging of the ocean +wave--certainly six months of such an existence was not a pleasant +prospect to contemplate. + +Withal I regarded it not. I was still too happy at my deliverance from +death, to be nice about the kind of life that was before me, though, as +time passed, most probably I should grow tired enough of such a dreary +existence. + +Now I was all joy and confidence. Not so confident, however, as to rely +upon conjecture--upon a mere guess as to the amount of my means of +existence. Upon this point I was determined to be fully assured, and +that without further loss of time. My stores, both of food and drink, I +resolved to submit to actual measurement, in order to be satisfied as to +whether they would be sufficient to last me till the end of the voyage. + +Hitherto I had felt no apprehension upon this head. Such a large box of +biscuit, and such an inexhaustible well of water, could never be +expended. This was my first idea; but, after a little reflection, I +began to have doubts. The constant drop will wear a hole in the hardest +stone, and will also empty the largest cistern, if time be allowed it; +and six months was a long time--nearly two hundred days--a very long +time. + +As I reflected thus, I grew a little uneasy as to the quantity both of +my food and drink; and to put an end to all doubt upon the subject, I +came to the above determination of measuring them. I recognised the +prudence of such a course. If it turned out that there were plenty of +both, and to spare, I should no longer be troubled with doubts; and if, +on the other hand, there was a danger of either running short, I should +then adopt the only precaution possible, and at once put myself on +_short rations_! + +When I look back, and think of my cunning at this early age, I am now +astonished at it; but it is surprising what forethought even a child +will exhibit, when placed in circumstances where self-preservation calls +forth all its instincts and energies. + +Without more ado, then, I proceeded to make my calculation. I allowed +for time, the full six months; or in other terms, a period of 183 days. +I did not even subtract the time--about a week, since we had set sail. +That I set aside to my advantage, allowing the full period of 183 days, +lest I might err by making the time too short. Surely, in six months, +the vessel would reach her port, and her cargo be discharged? Surely, I +might depend upon this? + +No, not surely. I was far from being confident on this head. I knew +that a voyage to Peru was usually reckoned a six months' voyage; but I +was not certain whether this was considered the average time; whether it +would be accounted a long voyage or a short one; and, therefore, I had +no confidence in basing my calculation on such uncertain data. + +There was the danger of delay from calms in the tropical latitudes, +through which we should have to pass--from storms off Cape Horn, +renowned among mariners for the fickleness of its wind--other obstacles +might be encountered, and the voyage protracted far beyond the period +above mentioned. + +I was not without such apprehensions, as I proceeded to examine my +resources. To ascertain how long my stock of food would last, was +simple and easy. I had only to count the biscuits, and find out their +number. I knew their size, and that I could live on two a day, though I +was not likely to grow fat on the allowance. Even one a day, or still +less than that, would sustain life; and I resolved to be as sparing of +them as I could. + +I soon ascertained the exact number. The box, as nearly as I could +guess, was about a yard long and two feet wide, by about one foot in +depth; for I noticed that it was a shallow one set upon its edge. Had I +known its exact dimensions, I could have told the number of biscuits +without counting them. Each was a little less than six inches in +diameter, and of an average thickness of three-fourths of an inch. +Therefore, packed as they had been, there would be exactly 32 dozen in +the case. + +But counting them over one by one was no labour, on the contrary, it +afforded pleasure to me; and drawing them forth out of the box, I told +them off in dozens. I found that 32 dozen was the number, wanting +eight; but the odd eight I was able to account for satisfactorily. I +knew where _they_ had gone. + +Thirty-two dozen would make 384 biscuits; and, now that I had eaten +eight of them, there remained exactly 376; which, at the rate of two per +diem, would last for 188 days. True, 188 days would be a little over +six months, but as I had not a clear confidence about the length of the +voyage being only six months, I perceived that I must go on short +rations, of less than two biscuits a day. + +What, thought I, if there should be another box of biscuits behind the +one I had emptied? That would secure me against all chances, and make +my mind easy at once and for ever. What if there should be another? +Was it unlikely? No: the reverse. In the stowage of a ship's hold, +there is not much order observed as regards the sort of goods that are +placed in juxta-position, but rather is regard paid to the size and +shape of the packages; and things of a miscellaneous kind are often +stowed together, according to convenience, as the particular piece-- +whether box, bale, or barrel--may fit into a particular space. +Notwithstanding that I knew all this, still it was probable enough that +two boxes of biscuits had been placed side by side. + +How was I to ascertain? I could not get round the box, even now that I +had emptied it; for, as already stated, it blocked up the whole aperture +through which I had originally squeezed myself. Neither could I get +over the top nor under it. + +"Ha!" I exclaimed, as a thought suddenly suggested itself, "I shall go +_through_ it." + +The idea was feasible enough. The board which I had already pulled off, +left an aperture wide enough to admit my body. This had been part of +the top or lid. I could, therefore, get my head and shoulders inside, +and with my knife cut a large hole in the bottom opposite. That would +enable me to ascertain whether another biscuit-box was beyond. + +I was not slow in putting my new design into execution. I first widened +a little more the aperture in the top, so that I could work more +conveniently; and then I attacked the bottom with my knife. The soft +deal yielded pretty freely, but I had not made much progress in this +way, when a better plan came into my head. I perceived that the bottom +boards of the case were only nailed on--perhaps a little more securely +than those of the top, but still not fast enough to resist the blows of +a mallet or hammer. I had neither one nor the other, but I thought of a +tolerable substitute--my heels. Laying myself, therefore, in a +horizontal position, and placing my hands against the great rib to act +as a support, I thrust both my feet inside the box. In this position I +was able to administer such a series of lusty kicks upon the bottom +boards, that one of them soon sprung its nails, and was pressed outward, +until I felt it could be driven no farther on account of some weighty +impediment beyond. + +I now got back to my old position, and examined the progress I had made. +I saw that I had dislodged a wide board, so far as the nails were +concerned; but it still stood upright, and prevented me feeling what was +behind it. + +Using all my strength, I succeeded in pressing it to one side and then +downward, until an aperture was obtained, through which I could thrust +my hands. Sure enough, a box was on the other side--a rough +packing-case, resembling that I had just broken through--but whether of +like contents had yet to be determined. It would not take long to tell +what it contained. I once more exerted my strength, and succeeded in +pressing the loose board quite into a horizontal position, so that it no +longer obstructed me. The other box was scarce two inches beyond; and +falling to upon it with my blade, I soon penetrated through its side. + +Alas! my hopes of finding more biscuit were doomed to disappointment. +Some woollen substance--either coarse cloth or blankets closely-packed-- +filled the inside, feeling as solid to the touch as a piece of timber. +There were no biscuits there; and I was now convinced I should have to +take to the short rations, and make the best of what I already +possessed. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +GAUGING THE WATER-CASK. + +My next operation was to put all the biscuits back into the box, for +strewed loosely about as they were, they interfered seriously with the +accommodation of my cabin, which by their bulk was diminished more than +half. In fact, I had scarce room to turn myself in, so long as they +remained outside the case, and I therefore lost no time in restoring +them to their former place of deposit. To make the box hold them all, I +was obliged to pack them in regular rows, as they had been before; with +this difference, that the case having been tilted on its side, the +biscuits had been lying with their edges in a horizontal position, +whereas I now built them vertically--the proper mode of packing such +goods, and the way in which they had been placed when they came from the +stores of the baker. Of course, it mattered not which way, as regards +the space they would take up. On the flat side, or on their edges, it +was all the same; and when I counted in the thirty-one dozen and four +odd, the box was full, with only a little empty space in the corner, +which the eight missing biscuits had formerly occupied. + +So, then, I had taken stock of my larder, and now knew the exact amount +of provision I had to depend upon. With two biscuits _per diem_ I could +stand siege for a little better than six months. It would not be high +living, yet I resolved to do with even less, for I could not feel +certain that six months would be the full period of my privations. I +formed the resolution to make two a day the rule, and never to exceed +that number; and on such days as I felt best able to bear hunger, I +should stint my measure a quarter or half a biscuit, or even a whole +one, if I found it possible. This economic purpose, if successfully +carried out, would throw forward the day of absolute want to a much +longer period than six months. + +My food being thus rationed out, it appeared equally necessary that I +should know the quantity of water I might use each day. To ascertain +this, at first appeared to be beyond my power. Apparently I had no +means of measuring what remained in the butt. It was an old wine or +spirit cask--for such are the vessels generally used on board ships to +carry water for their crews--but what kind of wine-cask I could not +tell, and therefore I could not even guess at the quantity it might have +contained when full. Could I only have established this point, I should +then have been able to make a rough calculation as to what had been +already spent; rough, but perhaps sufficiently precise for my purpose. + +I remembered well the _table of liquid measure_--I had good reason to +remember it--the most difficult of all the tables to commit to memory. +I had received many a smart rodding, before I was able to repeat it +over; but I at length succeeded in getting it _pit-pat_. + +I knew that wine-casks are of very different dimensions, according to +the sort of wine they contain: that under the different names of +"pipes", "butts", "hogsheads", "puncheons", "tuns," and "pieces," they +hold more or less, from the hogshead of hock of thirty gallons to the +great tun of wine containing 252. That the spirits--brandy, whiskey, +rum, gin; and the wines--sherry, Port, Madeira, Teneriffe, Malaga, and +many other sorts, are transported in casks of different capacity, but +usually containing about 100 gallons. I even remembered the number of +gallons of each, so well had my teacher--a great statistician--drilled +me in "liquid measure;" and could I only have known what sort of wine +had once been carried inside of my water-butt, I could have told its +measure in a moment. I fancied there was the "bouquet" of sherry about +it, and that would have made it a "pipe" of 108 gallons; but it might +have been a Madeira pipe, which holds only 92, or Cape, or Marsala, +which are about the same size. It might have been Port, which would +have stretched its capacity to 115, or a puncheon of Scotch whiskey, +some of which contain 120 gallons. I did not think it had been this +last, else I should have known the peculiar "twang" which Scotch whiskey +gives to water, however diluted it may be. Certainly, there was a +perceptible flavour of some liquor, but I was too young to be +experienced in drinks, and I learnt nothing from this. No doubt a +wine-taster could have told in an instant what sort had formerly filled +the barrel, for an old wine-cask will retain the particular "bouquet" of +the wine it had carried after performing several voyages as a +water-butt. + +I drew out the stopper, and tasted the water. I had not thought of +noticing its flavour before. It appeared to me to be sherry; but as I +have said, it might be Madeira, which would make a difference of sixteen +gallons--an important item in a calculation such as I was desirous of +making. I therefore could not trust to my judgment to make this the +basis of a computation, and I had to think of some other device. + +Fortunately in my school arithmetic there were a few hints upon +mensuration, and the good master had instructed us in these. + +I have often wondered that the simple but useful problems of this +branch, of science are so much neglected, while the most useless and +irrational rhymes are hammered into the heads of poor unfortunate boys. +I have no hesitation in giving my opinion, that a knowledge of simple +mensuration, which may be obtained in a week's study, is of more value +to an individual--or to the whole human race, if you will--than a +perfect scholarship in all the dead languages of the world. Greek and +Latin! These have been very barriers to the advancement of knowledge! + +Well, I was saying that my old teacher had taught me a few simple +problems in mensuration; and fortunately I still held them in my memory. +I could tell the solid contents of a cube, of a parallelopipedon, of a +pyramid, of a globe (nearly), of a cylinder, and of a cone. The last +was the figure that now interested me. + +I knew that a barrel was a pair of cones--that is, truncated cones or +_frustums_--with the bases resting against each other. Of course, when +I was taught how to measure a cone, I was also instructed to do the same +with the frustum of one. + +To ascertain the capacity of my butt, therefore, it was only necessary +for me to know its length--or its half-length would do as well--its +circumference at either end, and also its circumference around the +thickest part or "swell." These three measurements given me, I could +tell to a quart how much water would fill it--in other words, I could +calculate how many cubic inches of water it should contain. Knowing +this, I should simply have to divide by 69 and a small fraction over, +and this would give me the number of quarts, which another simple +division of 4 would reduce to gallons, if I required to use this +standard. + +I perceived, therefore, that if I could get the three measurements, I +could soon tell the capacity of my butt; but therein lay the difficulty. +How were these measurements to be obtained? + +I might have obtained the length, for that was before me from end to +end; but how should I get the circumference either of the middle or of +either end? I could not reach over the top, nor around the ends. Both +directions were blocked up against me. + +Another difficulty stared me in the face. I had nothing wherewith to +measure them--neither rule nor tape--no standard by which I could +determine the number of feet or inches; so that even had all sides been +free to me, I should still have been in a dilemma. + +I was determined, however, not to yield the point until I had given it a +good thinking. The occupation would help me to pass the time; and, as I +have already hinted, this was a matter of primary importance. Besides, +that faithful old schoolmaster had many a time impressed upon us the +valuable truth, that perseverance often finds success where success +appears impossible. Remembering this bit of admonition, I resolved not +to regard the thing as impracticable, until I had exhausted all my +powers of contrivance. + +I persevered, therefore, and in less time than I must take in describing +it, I hit upon a plan for "gauging" the butt. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +MY MEASURING-RULE. + +The details of my plan suggested themselves in the following order:-- + +While examining the cask, to find if there was not some means of +ascertaining its different diameters, I discovered the very way itself. +All I wanted was a straight rod or stick, of sufficient length to reach +quite across the butt at its thickest part. It was plain to me, that by +inserting such a stick into a hole in one side of the cask, and passing +it on till it touched the staves on the other side, at a point +diametrically opposite, I could thus obtain the exact measurement of the +diameter of that part of the vessel, since the portion of the rod +reaching from side to side would be the diameter itself. The diameter +once obtained, it needed only to multiply by three to get the +circumference. But in the calculation which I was desirous of making, +it was the diameter itself I wanted to find, and not the circumference. +I only thought of the latter, because, under ordinary circumstances, +when a cask is bunged up, it is easier to measure the circumference of +the swell than its diameter. In no case does it signify which, as the +figure three will always reduce the one to the other, near enough for +most practical purposes, though not mathematically exact. + +Now, it so chanced that one of the holes I had cut through the staves +had been made in the very middle of the swell, where the butt was +thickest. Therefore a straight stick passed into this hole, and pushed +on till it touched the opposite side, would give the greatest diameter +of the cask. + +You may imagine that this might have been obtained by simply planting +the stick in a vertical position _outside_ the butt, and notching it at +a point on a level with the top of the vessel. True, this might have +been done had I been operating with a barrel lying upon a plain surface, +with nothing around it to obstruct me, and plenty of light to observe +the true level. Even thus it would have been rough guess work, and not +to be depended on when a calculation was to be made involving life or +death in its consequences--for such it really did involve--at least, I +supposed so. But the butt was so placed, resting upon the timbers of +the ship, with its swollen side sunk between them, that I could not have +measured it in this manner. Even though I might have marked a rod on a +line with its top, I could not have planted the other end so as to be on +a level with its base. + +There seemed no other way to get at the thing than by inserting a +straight stick into the hole, and thus measure the diameter; nor did I +trouble myself about any other, as this appeared to be the best plan I +could adopt. + +Where was I to find my stick--my measuring-rule? That is your question, +is it not? + +It is easily answered. The deal board that had formed part of the +biscuit-box would supply me with the material, and out of that I could +soon make one. No sooner thought of than I set about it. + +The board was but a little over two feet in length, and of course not +long enough to reach across the great cask, which at its thickest part +appeared four or five. But a very little ingenuity sufficed to overcome +this obstacle. I should only have to split off three thin pieces, and +by splicing their ends together, I should get a stick of length +sufficient. + +I did so. Fortunately, the deal was cut nicely with the grain of the +wood; and in splitting it, I guided the blade of my knife so as not to +let it run out at the edges. + +I succeeded in getting three pieces of the thickness I wanted; and, +after shaving off their angles, and making them clean and trim, I cut +their ends with a slant for the splice. + +The next thing was to obtain two pieces of string, and this was the +easiest thing in the world. I wore upon my feet a pair of little +"buskins" that laced up to the very ankle. The laces were thongs of +calfskin, each of them a full yard long. They were just the thing; and, +drawing them out of the holes, I completed the splicing, and now held in +my hands a straight stick full five feet in length--quite long enough, I +conceived, to reach across the thickest part of the butt, and slender +enough to go into the hole--which I had already widened a little to +receive it. + +"So far good," thought I; "I shall now insert the measuring-stick, and +find my diameter." + +I rose to my feet to carry out this design, but I need not describe the +mortification I felt on perceiving that the first of these operations, +which would appear to be the simplest of all, could not be performed. +At the first trial I saw that it was quite impossible. It was not +because the hole was too small, or the stick too large. I had made no +mistake about this; but my miscalculation was in regard to the space in +which I had to work. Lengthways my little chamber was nearly six feet, +but crossways little more than two; and up where the hole was--in which +I intended to insert the measuring-rod--it was still less. Of course to +get the stiff piece of stick into the cask was plainly impossible-- +without bending it, so that it must break--for the dry deal would have +snapped through like the shank of a clay pipe. + +I was a good deal chagrined at not having thought of this before; but I +was still more vexed at the idea of being obliged to abandon the design +of making the measurement I had intended, for before reflecting I +believed that this was to be the result. A little further +consideration, however, helped to a new plan, proving the importance of +not arriving too hastily at conclusions. I discovered a way of getting +in the stick to its full length, without either breaking or bending it. + +This could be effected by taking it to pieces again, then first +inserting one of the pieces, and holding it till the second could be +spliced on to its end, and then pushing both into the cask, and joining +the third piece in a similar fashion. + +About this there appeared no difficulty, and the result proved there was +none; for in less than five minutes after conceiving it, I had carried +the design into execution, and the measuring-rod stood inside the +barrel, with one end projecting some inches on the outside. + +Holding this end carefully in my hand, I caused the other to play about +on the opposite side, until I felt convinced that it touched the point +that was exactly _vis-a-vis_ with the aperture; and then steadying the +stick, I notched it with my knife, on a level with the outer surface of +the stave. To calculate from this notch would not be correct, as it +would be more than the diameter of the cask--that is, in reference to +what it would contain--but I had no intention of doing so. I should +make allowance for the thickness of the stave, and that would give me +the measurement I wanted. + +Having made my mark, I drew forth my measuring-rod, piece by piece, as +it had been plunged in. I took care as I did so to notch both the +splices, so that I might be able to put them together again in the exact +place where they had been while making the measurement. All this +attention to such minute particulars was of importance, and I knew it to +be so, for the mistake of even a quarter of an inch in the length of my +diameter would cause a difference of many gallons in the result. Most +certainly, then, was it of consequence that I should be precise in my +_data_. + +I now had the diameter of the swell; the next thing was to get that of +the head, or end. About this there was less difficulty--in fact, not +any. It was obtained in a few seconds. + +Though I could not myself get round either of the ends of the butt, nor +even my arm, I could pass the rod around them, and in this way measure +them. Even had there not been space to admit the measuring-stick, I +should have found a means--by simply drilling another hole with my +knife, close to either end, and gauging as before. But this would have +occupied time, and it was not necessary to do so, since the stick passed +along the head of the butt without any obstruction, till its end rested +against the projecting rim on the opposite side. I had nothing to do +but assure myself that its point was fair in the middle, and then make +my mark as before. + +The length of the butt was yet to be ascertained; and this, though +apparently a simple operation, cost me a good deal of consideration, +before I could get at it with any degree of exactness. You may fancy +that it would have been easy enough to get at the length, by just +placing the stick parallel to the cask, and notching it square with the +ends of the latter? And so it might be easy enough, with plenty of +light around you to see when it _was_ square, and a level surface upon +which to rest your measure. But as I had the advantage neither of light +nor level ground, I encountered great difficulty in this operation. I +could not tell when the ends lay even with each other, merely by the +touch. I had to pass my fingers from one to the other, and could not +grasp both at one time--that is, the rim of the cask and the end of the +rod--since they must needs be several inches apart. The stick, too, lay +unsteady, and by the feel I could not be sure when its end was exactly +"flush" with the head of the cask. The mistake of an inch--it might be +several--would falsify all my computations, and render them of no use. +It would not do to proceed upon such a conjectural basis, and for a +while I was puzzled, and had to pause. + +This was an unexpected obstacle, for I had from the first regarded the +diameters as the only difficulty; about the possibility of obtaining the +length, I had never entertained a doubt. + +But my wits again came to the rescue, and I soon discovered a plan that +would effect the end in view. I had to make another rod--by splicing +two more lengths split from the board--and with this I was able to +determine the point. + +I managed the matter thus: The old rod I pushed along the head of the +cask quite beyond its outer edge, so that it rested at both ends against +the projecting rim. Thus placed, it was exactly parallel with the plane +of the barrel's head, while a foot or more projected outward and towards +me. Holding the end of the second rod against this projecting part, and +at right angles, I gave it a direction along the side of the cask, and I +was able to mark the point, where the middle part of the swell came in +contact with the second rod. This, of course, after deducting the depth +of the rim and the presumed thickness of the head, gave me half the +length of the interior of the cask, and that was all I wanted, since two +halves make one whole. + +I was now in possession of the _data_ of my problem; it only remained +for me to seek the solution. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +"QUOD ERAT FACIENDUM." + +To find the cubic contents of the butt in feet or inches, and afterwards +reduce them to liquid measure--to gallons or quarts--would have been +easy enough, and only required a simple computation in figures. I knew +that I was arithmetician enough to make this computation, even though I +possessed neither pen nor paper, slate nor pencil; and if I had, there +was no light by which I could have used them. "Ciphering," therefore, +in the ordinary way, was out of the question; but I had often practised +myself in casting up accounts by a mental process, and I could add and +subtract, multiply or divide a considerable series of figures without +the aid of either pen or pencil. The problem I had before me would +involve but a limited number of figures, and I felt satisfied I could +easily manage it, so far as that was concerned. + +I have said that it _would have been_ a simple and easy computation to +find the contents of the cask in cubic feet or inches. _Would have +been_ supposes that there was a difficulty--and there _was_ one. An +important preliminary matter had to be settled before I could enter upon +any calculation--a very important one; and that was, that I had not yet +reduced my measurements--neither the diameters nor the length--to feet +and inches! I had measured the cask with plain pieces of stick, and had +registered the dimensions in simple notches; but what of this? I knew +not what distance these notches might be from the end, or from each +other--how many feet or inches! I might make a rude guess, but that +would be of no service to me; so that after all my pains I had as yet no +_data_ to go upon, nor could I have any until I had first _measured my +measuring-rods themselves_! + +Apparently, here was a difficulty not to be got over. Considering that +I had no standard of measurement within reach--neither yard-stick, nor +foot rule, nor graduated scale of any kind--you will naturally conclude +that I must have abandoned the problem. A computation founded on the +mere length of the stick would have been absurd, and could have given me +no information whatever upon the point about which I wanted to be +informed. To find the cubic and liquid contents of the cask, I must +first have its length, with its largest and shortest diameters, +expressed in _standard_ terms--that is, either in feet or inches, or +some other divisions of a scale. + +And how, I ask, was this to be ascertained, when I possessed no standard +of measurement about my person? None whatever. I could not make one; +for in order to do so, I should have required another for a guide. Of +course, I could not _guess_ the length either of feet or inches. + +How, then, was I to proceed? + +Apparently, the difficulty was not to be got over. The thing seemed +impracticable. + +To you it may seem so, but it did not to me. I had thought of this +before. I should not have proceeded as far as I had done--taking so +much pains and trouble with the splitting and splicing of my sticks, and +making my measurements so exact--had I not foreseen this difficulty, and +thought of a way to surmount it. All this had been prospectively +arranged. I knew before-hand that I _could measure_ my sticks, and tell +their linear dimensions to the exactness of an inch. + +"How?" + +Thus, then-- + +When I said just a little ago that I had no standard about my person, I +spoke the truth only literally. Although not exactly _about_ my person, +I had one in my person--I was myself that standard! You will now +remember my having submitted myself to a measurement, which showed me to +be four feet in length. Of what value that knowledge now proved to me! + +Knowing, then, my own height to be very nearly four feet, I could notch +off that measure upon one of the sticks, which would give me a +measuring-rule of four feet in length. + +I proceeded to obtain this result without delay. The process was simple +and easy. Laying myself horizontally, I planted my feet against one of +the great ribs of the ship, and rested the end of the stick between +them. I now stretched myself out at full length, and guiding the rod so +as to keep it parallel to the axis of my body, I brought it across my +forehead, and beyond. With my fingers I could tell the point that was +opposite the crown of my head, and carefully marking this point, I +afterwards notched it with the knife. I now possessed a four-foot rule, +exact enough for my purpose. + +But there were difficulties yet to be encountered. With a four-foot +rule, I was but little advanced towards my computation. I might make a +nearer approach to the measurement of my diameters, but that would not +avail. I must know them _exactly_. I must know them in inches, and +even fractions of inches; for, as I have said, an error of half an inch +in some of my _data_ would make a difference of gallons in the result. +How, then, was I to divide a four-foot stick into inches, and register +the inches upon its edge? How was this to be done? + +It seems simple enough. The half of my four feet--already ascertained-- +would give me two feet; and the half of that again would reduce the +standard to a foot. This again notched in the middle would make two +lengths of six inches each. Then I could subdivide those into lengths +of three inches, which, if not small enough for my calculation, could be +still further subdivided into three equal parts, each of which would be +the desired minimum of an inch. + +Yes, all this seems easy enough in theory, but how was it to be put in +practice upon a piece of plain straight stick, and in the midst of as +perfect darkness as that which surrounds a blind man? How was I to find +the exact middle--for it must be exact--of even the four feet, much less +divide and subdivide till I got down to the inches? + +I confess that I was puzzled for awhile, and had to pause and reflect. + +Not very long, however; I was soon able to get over this trifling +obstacle. + +The plan that first suggested itself was to cut a third piece of stick +of a little over two feet in length, which I could easily guess at +within a few inches. This I could apply alongside of my four-foot rule, +beginning at the end, and proceeding as if I was measuring the latter +with the former. Of course, on the first application, two lengths would +reach from the end of the rule to the notch that marked the four feet +length, and perhaps extend a little beyond. I should then shorten the +measure and apply it again. This time its end would have approached +nearer to the aforesaid notch. Another bit cut off would bring it still +nearer; and the process being repeated, by shaving gradually from the +end of the stick, I should at last find that two lengths of it would +exactly correspond with the length of my four-foot rule. I should then +have a piece exactly two feet in length, and by the help of this I could +find the middle part of the longer piece, and could mark it with a +"nick." + +By cutting the short piece into two nearly equal parts, I could then +take the larger of them, and, by a similar process, obtain the standard +of a foot, and mark it also upon my rule; and so on till I had succeeded +in arriving at the inches. + +Of course, to do all this would require time, patience, and the nicest +precision; but I had plenty of time upon my hands, and it was my +interest to be both patient and precise. + +Although I regarded not the time, just as I was about to carry out the +plan described, another suggested itself that promised to lead me sooner +to the issue; it would call for less patience, though an equal amount of +precision. + +This new plan was a sort of corollary of the former one, the only +difference being, that instead of a _stick_ I should perform my +subdivision and graduation with a _string_. + +The thongs of my buskins came into my mind--the very thing! + +I could not have found a better string for the purpose. They were +strips of best calfskin, cut with the grain, and could not have been +stretched the eighth part of an inch. They would, therefore, measure as +accurately as a rule of boxwood or ivory. + +One would not be long enough; so I knotted the two together, taking care +to make a neat, firm knot of it. They made a string of over four feet, +and having laid it along the four-foot rule, I cut it with my knife to +that length exactly. I was not satisfied till I had measured it over +and over again, each time pulling the thong with all my strength, lest +some "kink" might be lurking in it. A slight error would derange my +intended scale, though there is less danger in graduating four feet down +to inches than in going from the less to the greater standard. In the +former, each subdivision naturally lessens the error, while in the +latter it is continually doubled. + +When convinced that I had got the thong to the precise length, I placed +its two ends together, and then drawing it with a firm pull through my +fingers, I creased it exactly in the middle. Holding it taut upon the +blade of my knife, I cut through at the crease, and thus divided it into +two moieties of equal length, each two feet long. The part with the +knot I laid aside as being no longer needed, and the remaining half I +again doubled, and cut into two. This gave me two pieces each a foot in +length. + +One of these I next folded in triple, and creased for cutting as before. +This was a delicate operation, and required all the skill of my fingers +to accomplish, for it is much easier to divide a string into two equal +parts than into three. I was a good long time before I could get it +trebled to my satisfaction; but I succeeded at length, and then severed +the parts. + +My object in thus cutting into three, was to get the pieces in even +fractions of four inches each, in order that by two more doublings I +might arrive more accurately at the inch. + +And in two more doublings I found it. + +To make sure that I had committed no error, I took up the knotted piece, +which I had laid aside, and after placing the other fragments where they +could be got at, I reduced the second half of the string as I had done +the first. + +To my gratification, the inch I obtained from both exactly corresponded. +There was not a hair's breadth of difference. + +I was now in possession of a guide to the true graduation of my +measuring-stick. I had pieces of one foot, of four inches, of two, and +of one; and by the help of these I proceeded to mark my rod after the +manner of a draper's yard-stick. + +It occupied some time, for I worked with care and caution; but my +patience was rewarded by finding myself in possession of a measure upon +which I could rely, even in a calculation involving the question of my +life. + +I was not much longer in deciding the point. The diameters were now +measured by feet and inches, and the _mean_ of the two taken. This was +reduced to surface measure by the usual method of squaring the circle +(multiplying by eight, and dividing by ten). This gave the base of the +hollow cylinder, which would be equal to the frustum of a cone of like +altitude; and another multiplication by the length produced the entire +cubic content. + +Dividing by sixty-nine, I got the number of quarts, and so gallons. + +The butt, when full, had contained somewhat above 100 gallons--as near +as I could calculate, about 108--and therefore it was in all likelihood +an old pipe that had once contained sherry. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. + +THE HORROR OF DARKNESS. + +The result of my calculation was of the most satisfactory nature. +Eighty gallons of water would give half a gallon each day for 160 days, +or a quart _per diem_ for 320 days--nearly a whole year! Surely I could +subsist on a quart a day?--surely the voyage could not last for so long +a period as 320 days? A ship might sail round the world in less time. +I remembered having been told so, and it was fortunate I remembered it, +for my mind was now at ease on the score of water. For all that, I +resolved not to drink more than a quart a day, and on this allowance I +made no doubt that the supply would be sufficient. + +There was more danger of running short of food; but, upon the whole, I +now felt very little apprehension, as I had fully resolved to diet +myself on the most economic scale. + +So far, then, as food and drink were concerned, I felt no further +uneasiness. It was well assured that I was not to die either of thirst +or starvation; and the very remarkable manner in which both food and +drink had been supplied--placed, as it were, before me--naturally led me +to the reflection that the hand of Providence had been extended to aid +me, and I was still further consoled with the hope that He who had thus +mercifully preserved me for the present, would not forsake me in the +future. + +In this state of feeling I continued for several days, and although it +was an irksome life--every hour seeming of itself a day--still I was +able to endure it. Sometimes I endeavoured to kill time by counting not +only the hours, but even the minutes and seconds; and in this occupation +(for I could think of no other) I often passed several hours at a time. +My watch enabled me to amuse myself in this manner, and I found +companionship in its cheerful ticking. I fancied that it beat louder +than I had ever before heard it, and most likely this was so, the sound +being magnified by the wooden walls that surrounded my cell. I took +care never to let the watch go to the full length of its chain, lest it +might run down and derange my reckoning. Not that I cared to know the +hour. That was of no consequence. I did not even know whether it was +night or day by the watch, nor would it have mattered had I not known +the one from the other, as the brightest sun could not have lent a ray +of his light to cheer my dungeon. It chanced, however, that I _did_ +know the night from the day. No doubt you will wonder how I came by +this knowledge--since I had kept no time for the first hundred hours +after getting aboard, and there was then, in the complete darkness that +surrounded me, no means of distinguishing the one from the other. I had +a means of telling, however, and it was this: During all my life I had +been trained to the habit of going to bed at a particular hour--ten +o'clock at night--and also of rising at six exactly. This was a rule in +my father's house, as well as that of my uncle--in the latter, indeed, I +was compelled to observe it with a stern exactitude. The consequence of +this habit was, that whenever the hour of ten drew nigh, I naturally +felt the inclination for sleep; and the habit had grown so fixed, that, +notwithstanding the change of circumstances, it still continued. This I +was not slow to observe. I felt the desire to sleep come upon me at +regular periods, and I concluded, therefore, that whenever I had this +feeling upon me it was about ten o'clock of the night. I had +discovered, too, by registering the time with my watch, that I usually +slept about eight hours, and then I felt no desire to remain asleep any +longer. When I awoke it would be six in the morning; and, in this +belief, I regulated my watch to that hour. So convinced was I of these +facts, that I felt confident I could have counted the days without the +watch; but fearing that some change might occur in my habitual hours of +rest, in consequence of the altered circumstances in which I was placed, +I resolved always to keep the time-piece going. Ever before lying down +to sleep, I took the precaution to wind it up to the full length of its +chain, and on awaking I repeated the operation, so that there might be +no danger of even a moment's stoppage. + +Though satisfied that I could tell night from day, I have said that it +mattered little, or not at all. It was of importance, however, that I +should know when each twenty-four hours had ended, for it was only by +that means I could have any knowledge of the progress of the voyage. I +took especial care to count the hours; and whenever I perceived that the +hour-hand had completed two circuits around the dial, I cut a fresh +notch in a piece of stick, set aside for this especial purpose. I need +not say that my registry was kept with the greatest care. The only part +of it on which I could not depend was that referring to the first days +after my departure, when I had taken no notice whatever of the time that +had passed. By guess I had put down four notches against those days and +nights, and I afterwards found that my memorandum was correct. + +Thus for several days--nearly a week--passed I the hours--the long +hours--long, and dark, and irksome: ever more or less miserable, at +times sadly dejected, but never positively despairing. + +Strange to say, my greatest misery arose from the absence of light. I +had at first suffered from my cramped position, and also from lying upon +the hard oak timber; but I got used to these inconveniences. Besides, +for the hardness of my bed I soon discovered a remedy. I had observed +that the box which stood upon the other side of my biscuit-house +contained some sort of stuff that had the feel of woollen goods. On +further examination, it proved to be broadcloth, closely-packed in large +webs as it had come from the manufactory. This suggested an idea that +was likely to contribute to my comfort; and I set about putting it into +execution. After removing the biscuits out of my way, I enlarged the +hole (which I had already made in the side of the cloth-box) to such an +extent that I was able--not without much labour, however--to detach one +of the pieces, and draw it out; and then with less trouble I pulled +forth another and another, until I had as much as would serve my +purpose. I was two hours in completing this operation, but having got +possession of the cloth, and shaken it out of its hard foldings, I +procured both carpet and couch soft enough for a king to rest upon; and +perhaps as costly, too--for I could feel that I was handling an article +that was "superfine." I did not use more of it than was absolutely +required to cover the hard oaken planks. Its bulk would have +inconvenienced me had I taken much of it from the box; and before +spreading it out, I had to clear the way, by returning all the biscuits +to their old repository. + +Having spread my costly couch, I lay down upon it, and felt a great deal +more comfortable than I had yet done. + +But I still longed for light more than for anything else. It is +difficult to conceive the misery of existence under complete darkness; +and I could now well comprehend the reason why the "dungeon" has always +been regarded as the most awful punishment which a prisoner can be made +to endure. No wonder men's hair has turned grey, and their senses have +forsaken them, under such circumstances; for in truth darkness is as +hard to endure as if light were essential to our existence. + +I thought that if I only had a light, I could have passed the time +without thinking it half so long. The darkness appeared to me to double +the duration of the hours, as though it was something physical and +substantial that clogged the wheels of my watch, and hindered the motion +of time itself. Amorphous darkness! I fancied it gave me pain--a pain +that light would at once have alleviated; and sometimes I felt as I had +once done before, when laid upon a sick couch counting over the long +drear hours of the night, and anxiously watching for the day. In this +way slowly, and far from pleasantly, did time pass on. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +THE STORM. + +More than a week had I spent under this tedious monotony of existence. +The only sound that reached my ears was the hoarse rushing of the waves +_above_ me. Above me--for I knew that I was far down amid their depths, +far below the surface of the sea. At long intervals only, I could +distinguish other noises, like a thumping upon the decks as if some +heavy object was being moved about, and no doubt such was the cause of +it. In calm weather I sometimes fancied I could hear the bell calling +the men upon their watches, but I was not sure of this. At all events, +the sound appeared so distant and indistinct, that I could not +positively say it was a bell; and if so, it was only during the calmest +weather I could hear it. + +I speak of calm weather, for I knew perfectly when there were changes. +I could tell the breeze, the gale, the storm--when they commenced and +when they ended--just as well as if I had been upon deck. The rolling +of the ship, and the creaking of her timbers, were good indices as to +how the wind blew, or whether it was rough or mild weather. On the +sixth day--that is, the tenth from departure, but the sixth of my +register--we encountered a regular storm. It lasted for two days and a +night; and must have been a terribly severe one, as it shook the timbers +of the vessel as though it would have torn them asunder. At times I +really thought that the great ship was going to pieces; and the noises +made by huge boxes and casks striking and grinding against each other, +or knocking violently upon the sides and bulwarks of the ship itself, +was sufficiently terrible. At intervals, too; I could distinguish the +sound of big waves--"seas," as the sailors call them--breaking against +the vessel with awful crash, as if a huge trip-hammer or battering-ram +had been directed with full force against the timbers of the ship. + +I had no doubt that the vessel was in danger of being wrecked; and under +this belief you may fancy my situation. I need not tell you that I was +in fear. When I thought that we should go to the bottom of the sea, and +I situated as I was--shut in on all sides as if in a coffin--with no +chance to move, not even to make, an effort to save myself by swimming, +how could it be otherwise with me than a time of great fear? Had I been +upon deck and free, I am certain I should not have been half so +frightened at that storm. + +To increase my misery, the sea-sickness had returned upon me, for this +is usually the case with those who go to sea on a first voyage. A great +storm encountered brings a return of the nauseous malady, often as +disagreeably vigorous as that experienced during the first twenty-four +hours at sea. This is accounted for very easily: it is simply the +consequence of the more violent rocking of the ship while buffeted by +the storm. + +For nearly forty hours the gale continued, and then there succeeded a +perfect calm. I knew this to be the case, because I no longer heard the +seething sound which usually betokens that the ship is moving through +the water. But notwithstanding that the wind had ceased to blow, the +vessel kept tumbling about; and her timbers creaked, and boxes and +barrels rolled and knocked each other, as badly as ever. This was +occasioned by the "swell" which always succeeds a heavy gale, and which +is sometimes as dangerous to vessels as the stormy weather itself. In a +very heavy swell the masts are sometimes broken, and the ship thrown +upon her beam-ends--a catastrophe ever dreaded by sailors. + +The swell gradually subsided, until, in about twenty-four hours after, +it had ceased altogether, and the vessel appeared to glide along more +smoothly than ever. The nauseating sickness took its departure about +the same time, and I felt the reaction of health, which produced a +little cheerfulness within me. As my fears had kept me awake during the +whole time the storm was raging, and as I had continued ill so long as +the violent rocking prevailed, I was quite worn out; so that the moment +things were smooth again, I fell off into a profound slumber. + +I had dreams that were nearly as terrible as the realities through which +I had been passing. In fact, I dreamt what but the hours before I had +been dreading. I dreamt that I was being drowned, and just under the +circumstances in which I was--shut up in the hold without the chance of +swimming a stroke for my life. Nay more, I dreamt that I actually _was_ +drowned, and lying at the bottom of the sea--that I was dead, but not +unconscious. On the contrary, I could see well around me, and +perceived, among other things, horrible green monsters--crabs or +lobsters--crawling towards me, as if with the design of tearing me with +their hideous claws, and feasting on my flesh! One, in particular, drew +my attention, larger and more spiteful-looking than the rest, and closer +to me than any. Each instant, too, he was drawing nearer and nearer. I +thought he had reached my hand, and I could feel him crawling upon it. +I could feel the cold harsh touch as he dragged his unwieldy shape over +my fingers, but I could not move either hand or finger to cast him off. +On he came over my wrist and straight up my arm, which was lying +outstretched from my body. He appeared as if determined to attack me in +the face or the throat. I read his intention to do so from the +eagerness with which he advanced, but despite the horror I felt, I could +do nothing to repel him. I could not move hand or arm--nor a muscle of +my body. How could I, since I was drowned and dead? "Ha! he is on my +breast--at my very throat--he will soon clutch me--ha!" + +I awoke with a shriek, and started upward. I would have risen to my +feet, had there been room to stand erect. As it was, there was not +room; and a blow which I received by dashing my head against the great +oak rib of the vessel, brought me back to my couch, and, after some +moments, to a consciousness of my situation. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +A NOVEL DRINKING-CUP. + +Notwithstanding that it was all a dream, and that no crab could possibly +have crept up my arm--notwithstanding that I was now awake, and knew I +had been only dreaming about it--I could not help fancying that a crab +_actually had been crawling over me_--a crab or some other creature. I +felt that peculiar tingling sensation along my arm and upon my breast, +which was quite open and bare, that might be produced by the claws of +some small animal creeping over one, and I could not help thinking that +there had been _something_! + +So convinced was I of this, that on awaking I flung out my arms +mechanically, and groped all over the spread broadcloth, and around the +edges of my lurking-place, expecting to lay them upon some _living +creature_! + +Half asleep, I still believed it _was_ a crab; but as my senses became +clearer, I reasoned upon the improbability of there being one in such a +place. And yet, why not? A crab might very well find lodgment in the +hold of a ship: it might have been brought aboard in some strange way-- +among the ballast--or possibly carried aboard by some of the sailors, +out of curiosity; it may have been abandoned to its fate, and left to +hide itself among the numerous corners and crevices which are found +among the timbers of a vessel's hold? It might procure sustenance in +the bilge-water, or in the ballast rubbish, or perhaps, like the +chameleon, crabs could exist on air? + +I had such thoughts, but only for a few moments after awaking; and as I +reasoned further on the matter, I abandoned them. It could only be my +dream that had made me think of crabs at all. But for that, the thought +of such a creature would not have entered my mind. There could have +been no crab, else I should have laid my hands upon it; for I had lost +no time in groping over the surface of my cloth carpeting--every inch of +it--and I found nothing there. There were but two crevices leading out +of my cell, by which a crab of any considerable size could have entered +or escaped; and I had felt these places at the very first moment. So +slow a traveller could not have passed through either of them in so +short a time! No, there could have been no crab; and yet there _was +something_, certainly--something had crawled over me. I could not be +convinced of the contrary. + +I lay for a long time pondering over the subject of my dream. The +unpleasant feeling which it had occasioned me soon passed away. It was +very natural I should have dreamt what I did, since it was almost the +same thing I had been thinking of during the continuance of the storm. + +On examining my watch, I found that I had considerably overslept myself, +having been unconscious for nearly sixteen hours! This prolonged +slumber was the result of my having been kept so long awake by the +storm, and the sickness that it had occasioned me. + +I now felt more hungry than I had done for days, and at once set about +satisfying that appetite. Strive as I would, I could not resist the +temptation of eating more than my allotted ration, and I did not leave +off till I had eaten four of my precious biscuits. I had been told that +nothing creates so keen an appetite as a turn of sea-sickness, and I +found this to be truth. Indeed, I felt as if I could have consumed the +whole of my stock, and the four biscuits I ate scarcely took the edge +well off my hunger. Nothing but the dread of running short hindered me +from eating three times as many. + +I was also in great thirst, and swallowed far more than my allowance of +water; but I was not so careful of this, as I believed it would be quite +sure to last me to the end of the voyage. One thing about the water +troubled me not a little. Each time that I went to take a drink, a +considerable waste took place, in consequence of my having no vessel to +draw it in; and, moreover, to drink from the hole I had made was +altogether an unsatisfactory way of quenching my thirst. As soon as the +peg was drawn out, a strong jet would shoot forth, to which I applied my +mouth. But I could not swallow it as fast as it came, and it was sure-- +after taking away my breath, and half choking me--to squirt all over my +face, wetting my clothes and everything else about me, before I could +get the stopper back into its place. + +If I only had had a vessel to draw it in--a cup or anything? + +I thought of using one of my buskins, for I had no need for them +otherwise; but I felt some qualms about making this use of them. + +I should not have hesitated to have drunk out of them, or any other +vessel, when pressed by thirst previous to my having tapped the butt; +but now that I had water in plenty, the case was different. Still, I +could get one of them sufficiently clean for the purpose. Better, +thought I, to waste a little water in washing one of them, than lose a +large quantity every time I went to drink. + +I was about to put this design into execution, when a better idea came +into my head--that was to make a drinking-cup out of a piece of +broadcloth. This was altogether better. I had already observed that +the cloth was waterproof--at least, the water that was spilt from the +butt appeared to lie upon it without passing through--for I had been +obliged to shake it off on each occasion. A piece of the cloth, +therefore, formed into a cup shape, would be likely enough to serve my +purpose; and accordingly I resolved to make me such a vessel. + +It needed only to cut a broad strip with my knife, roll it up, as if I +was intending it for a funnel--taking care to fold it of several +thicknesses of the cloth. When rolled, I bound it in its place with a +fragment of the thong from my buskins, and I thus succeeded in making me +a drinking-vessel, which would, and _did_, serve me as well as if it had +been of best china or glass. I was henceforth enabled to take a drink +more to my satisfaction, and without wasting the precious fluid upon +which my life depended. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. + +As I had eaten so many biscuits for breakfast, I intended to make +breakfast serve me for that day; but, hungering as I was, I could not +carry out my good intent. About mid-day, I found myself groping at the +box, and the result was, that I abstracted another biscuit. I resolved, +however, to eat only half of it for dinner, and keep the other half for +supper. Following out this resolution, I broke the biscuit across the +middle, and laid one half aside. The other I ate, washing it down with +a little more water. + +You may think it strange that I did not fancy a little brandy along with +it, which I might have had without any trouble, since there were at +least a hundred gallons of it within reach. The brandy, however, was +nothing to me; and the great cask might as well have contained vitriol, +for aught I cared for it. There were several reasons why I did not +meddle with it. First, because I did not relish it; second, because it +made me feel sick, and nauseated both my palate and stomach. I suppose +it had been of an inferior kind, intended, not as an article of +commerce, but for the use of the sailors, as casks of very bad brandy +and rum are carried in most ships for the use of the crew. A third +reason why I kept clear of the brandy was, that I had already drunk of +it--only about one wine-glassful--and it had the effect of making me so +thirsty that I drank nearly half a gallon of water before I succeeded in +fully quenching my thirst again. I reasoned, therefore, that if I +touched the brandy, it would cause me, either great suffering from +thirst, or that I should have to use more water than I could spare. +Therefore it was, that I determined to abstain altogether from this +alcoholic spirit. + +When my watch warned me that it was my usual hour to go to sleep, I +resolved to eat the odd half biscuit, which I had reserved for supper; +and then "retire for the night." + +This operation consisted simply in stretching myself in a new position, +and drawing a fold or two of the broadcloth over me, to keep me from +getting chilled while asleep. + +For the first week after leaving port, I had found it very cold, for it +was the winter season when we left home. The cloth, however, after it +was discovered, enabled me to wrap up snugly enough, and I no longer +cared for the cold. After a time, however, I began to perceive that the +cold had quite taken its departure, and each day and night the +atmosphere in the hold of the ship appeared to be growing warmer. On +the night after the storm had passed, it did not feel at all cold, and +the slightest covering sufficed. + +At first, I was surprised by this sudden change in the state of the +atmosphere; but when I reflected a little, I was able to explain it to +my satisfaction. "Beyond a doubt," thought I, "we have been all the +while sailing southward, and we are getting into the hot latitudes of +the torrid zone." + +I knew but little of what that meant, but I had heard that the torrid +zone--or the tropics, as it was also called--lay to the south of +England; and that there the climate was hotter than the hottest summer +day at home. I had also heard that Peru was a southern country, and +therefore we must be going in a southerly direction to reach it. + +This was a very good explanation of the warm weather that had set in. +The ship had now been sailing for nearly two weeks; and allowing her to +have made two hundred miles a day (and ships, I knew, often go faster +than that), she would at this time be a long way from England, and in a +different climate altogether. + +Thus reasoning with myself, I contrived to pass that afternoon and +evening, and as I felt the hands of my watch indicating the hour of ten, +I resolved, as already stated, to eat the half biscuit, and then go to +sleep. + +I first drew a cup of water, so that the biscuit might not be eaten dry; +and, this done, I stretched forth my hand for the bread. I knew the +exact spot where it lay, for I had a little corner, just alongside the +great beam, where I kept my knife and cup, and wooden almanack--a sort +of little shelf, raised by a roll of the cloth above the common level of +my cell. There I had placed the half biscuit, and there, of course, I +could lay my hand upon it as well without a light as with one. So +perfectly had I become acquainted with every corner of my apartment, and +every crevice leading from it, that I could place my finger on any given +spot of the size of a crown-piece, without the slightest deviation. + +I reached forth my hand, then, to clutch the precious morsel. Judge my +astonishment when I touched the spot where I supposed it to be lying, +and found _it was not there_! + +At first, I fancied I might be mistaken--that perhaps I had not left it +in the usual place on my shelf. There it certainly was not. + +I felt the cloth cup, for that was in my hand full of water. The knife +was in its place--so, too, the little notched stick, and the pieces of +the string which I had used in measuring the butt--but no half biscuit! + +Could I have put it anywhere else? I thought not; and yet, to make +sure, I felt all over the bottom of my cell, and among the folds and +wrinkles of the cloth, and even in the pockets both of my jacket and +trousers. I felt in my buskins too, for these were not upon my feet, as +I no longer needed them, but lying idle in a corner. I left not an inch +of the place that I did not examine--and minutely too--yet still no half +biscuit could be found! + +I looked carefully for it, not so much on account of its value; but that +its disappearance from the shelf was something rather strange--stranger +still that I could nowhere lay my hand upon it. + +_Had I eaten it_? + +I began to fancy that I had done so. Perhaps, during a period of +absent-mindedness, I might have swallowed it up, without ever thinking +of what I was doing. Certainly, I had no remembrance of having tasted +food since I ate its counterpart--the other half; and if I had eaten it +also, it must have done me very little good. I had neither enjoyed the +meal, nor yet did my stomach appear to have received much benefit from +it, since I was just as hungry as if I had not tasted food that day. + +I recollected perfectly having placed it alongside the knife and cup; +and how could it part from the place, unless it had been taken away by +my own hand? I could not have thrown it accidentally from the little +shelf, for I did not remember making a movement in that direction. But +even so, it would still have been somewhere about me? It could not get +underneath the butt, for the crevice there was closed up, regularly +caulked with pieces of the cloth. I had done this for the purpose of +making a level surface to rest upon. + +Certainly the half biscuit was not to be found. It was gone--whether +down my throat or in some other way, I could not decide--but if the +former, I thought to myself, what a pity I had eaten it without knowing +what I was about, for certainly my absence of mind had deprived me of +all enjoyment of the meal. + +I wavered for a long while, as to whether I should take another biscuit +out of the box, or go to bed supperless. But the dread of the future +decided me to abstain; and, summoning all my resolution, I drank off the +cold water, placed my cup upon the shelf, and laid myself down for the +night. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +AN UGLY INTRUDER. + +For a long while I did not sleep, but lay thinking over the mysterious +disappearance of the half biscuit. I say _mysterious_, for I was more +than half convinced that I had _not_ eaten it, but that it had gone in +some other way; though how, I could not even guess, since I was +perfectly alone, the only living thing, as I supposed, in that vessel's +hold which could have touched it. Ah! now I thought of my dream--of the +crab! Perhaps, after all, there might have been a crab?--and though it +was but a dream that I was drowned, yet the rest might be true enough, +and a crab might actually have crawled over me? It might have eaten the +biscuit? + +It would not be its natural food, I knew; but shut up in a ship's hold, +where it could have no choice, it would be likely enough to eat such a +thing rather than suffer starvation. There might be a crab after all? + +Partly by such a train of reflections, and partly by the hungry craving +of my stomach, I was kept awake for hours. At length I found myself +going off, not into a regular sleep, but a half sleep or doze, from +which every two or three minutes I awoke again. + +In one of these intervals, during which I lay awake, I fancied that I +heard a noise, different from the sounds that habitually fell upon my +ear. The ship was running smoothly, and I could distinguish this +unusual sound above the soft sighing of the waves. This last was now so +slight, that the ticking of my watch appeared louder and more distinct +than I had ever observed it. + +The sound which had attracted my attention, and which was something new +to me, appeared like a gentle scratching. It came from the corner where +my buskins lay empty and idle. _Something was scratching at my +buskins_! + +"The crab, to a certainty!" I said to myself. The thought at once +drove away all ideas of sleep; and I placed myself in an attitude to +listen, and, if possible, lay my hands on the thievish intruder; for I +now felt certain that, crab or no crab, whatever creature was making the +scratching noise was the same that had stolen my supper. + +Once more I heard the scraping and scratching noise. Certainly it +proceeded from my buskins? + +Slowly and silently I raised myself into a half-upright position, so +that I could reach the buskins with a single effort, and in this +attitude I again listened for a repetition of the sound. + +But though I remained patient for a considerable time, I did not hear it +again; and I then passed my hands over the buskins, and around the place +where they were lying, but felt nothing there. They appeared to be just +as they had been left, and nothing amiss. I also groped over all the +floor of my cell, but with like result. Nothing was there that ought +not to have been. + +I was not a little perplexed, and lay for a good while awake and +listening, without hearing anything more of the mysterious noise. Sleep +once more began to steal upon me, and I dropped off into a series of +dozing fits as before. + +Once again the scraping and scratching noise falling upon my ear +disturbed me, and caused me to lie listening. Most surely it came from +the buskins; but when I moved to get within reach of them, the noise +instantly ceased, as if I had frightened the creature that was making +it; and, just as before, I groped everywhere and found nothing! + +"Ha!" muttered I to myself, "I now know what has been causing all this +disturbance: no crab at all--for a crab could not possibly crawl so +quickly out of the way. The intruder is a mouse. Nothing more nor +less. Strange I did not think of this before! I might have guessed +that it was a mouse, and not have made myself so uneasy about it. It +could only be a mouse; and, but for my dream, I should, perhaps, never +have thought of its being a crab." + +With this reflection I lay down again, intending to go to sleep at once, +and not trouble myself any more about the mouse or its movements. + +But I had scarcely settled my cheek upon the pillow, when the scratching +began afresh, and it now occurred to me that the mouse was gnawing at my +buskins, and probably doing them a serious damage. Although they were +of no service to me just then, I could not permit them to be eaten up in +this way; and, raising myself once more, I made a dash to catch the +mouse. + +In this I was unsuccessful. I did not even touch the animal; but I +thought I heard it scampering through the crevice that led out between +the brandy-cask and the timbers of the ship. + +On handling the buskins, I discovered to my chagrin that half of the +upper leather of one of them was eaten away! The mouse must have been +busy to have made so much ruin in so short a time, for it was but a few +hours before that I had had the buskins in my hands, and I had then +noticed nothing wrong with them. Perhaps several mice had been at work? +This was likely enough. + +Partly to save the buskins from total destruction, and partly to hinder +myself from being disturbed again, I took them out of the corner, and +placing them near my head, covered them up with a fold of the +broadcloth. This done, I once more laid myself out for a sleep. + +After awhile the dozing fit came on me, but I was again awakened by a +singular sensation, as of something crawling over me! It appeared as if +some creature had just crept over my legs with great rapidity. + +The feeling startled me into complete wakefulness, I did not move, +however, but lay quietly waiting to see if the thing should come again. + +Of course, I concluded that it was still my mouse, now running about in +search of the buskins. I was getting annoyed by its intrusion, and I +knew it would be no use to grope for it, as it would easily escape +through one of the crevices, as soon as it found me moving. I +determined, therefore, to lie quite still, and let it again crawl upon +me as before, and I could then easily seize upon it. It was not my +intention to kill the little creature; but I intended to give it a good +squeeze, or pinch its ear sharply, so that it would not come troubling +me any more. + +I lay a long while without hearing or feeling it. At last, however, my +patience was likely to be rewarded. I could tell by a slight movement, +in the piece of cloth that covered my limbs, that something was running +upon it, and I even fancied that I heard the pattering of little feet. +Nearer still the cloth appeared to move, until I could distinctly feel a +creature crawling on my ankles, and then upward to my thighs. It +appeared heavy for a mouse; but I did not stay to reflect about this, +for now or never was the time to seize upon it. + +Down came my hands, with fingers outstretched to cover it; but, oh, +horror! what a mistake I had made. + +Instead of the little tiny mouse, which I intended to clutch, my hand +rested upon the body of an animal almost as large as a kitten! There +was no mistaking what it was. _Beyond doubt, it was a great, horrid +rat_! + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. + +REFLECTIONS ON RATS. + +The ugly animal left me no choice to doubt of its species. The moment +my fingers touched its smooth coat, I recognised it by the "feel;" but I +felt the wicked creature in a double sense, for before I could disengage +my hand from the clutch I had so rashly taken, its sharp teeth had +pierced my thumb, until they nearly met through the flesh. At the same +instant its screech sounded in my ears shrill and terrifying! + +I withdrew my fingers as quickly as I could, and flinging myself to the +furthest corner of the chamber--that is, the one which I thought +furthest from my disagreeable visitor--there for some minutes I +crouched, listening to hear whether the hideous animal had left me. + +I could hear nothing, and I concluded it had made a retreat to some +other part of the ship. Most probably it was as badly scared as I-- +though that could hardly have been--and in proof that I was the more +frightened of the two, the rat had the presence of mind to use its teeth +and bite me, while I was for the moment quite driven out of my senses. + +In the brief encounter my antagonist had certainly proved victorious; +for in addition to the fright he had given me, he had inflicted a severe +and painful wound, that was every moment growing more painful. I +perceived that my thumb was bleeding freely, for I could feel the blood +running over my fingers, and glueing them to the very tips. + +I could have borne my discomfiture calmly enough, for what signified the +bite of a rat? but that was not the whole question. The thought that +troubled me was, whether the creature had quite gone away, or whether it +was still near, and would return? + +The thought of its coming back again, perhaps emboldened by having got +off without punishment, caused me very great annoyance. + +You may wonder at this, but it was really the case. During all my life +I have had a sort of instinctive antipathy to rats--I might even say a +_dread_ of them. This feeling was stronger while I was only a boy; but, +although I have since encountered animals of a much more dangerous +character, and fought with some, I do not remember any that ever +inspired me with more fear than I have felt in coming in contact with +that common and ubiquitous creature--the _rat_. It is a fear blended +with a feeling of disgust; and it is a fear not altogether unfounded-- +for I know of many well-authenticated cases, in which rats have attacked +human beings, and not a few where children, and even men, wounded or +otherwise disabled, have actually been killed and devoured by these +hideous _omnivora_. + +Many such stories had been told me while I was a boy; and it was but +natural I should remember them at that moment. I _did_ remember them; +and under the influence of such memories, I felt a fear upon me very +much akin to terror. The rat, too, was one of the largest I had ever +encountered, so large that for a moment I could scarce believe it to be +a rat. It _felt_ as bulky as a half-grown cat. + +As soon as I became a little composed, I tied up my thumb with a rag +torn from my shirt. The wound in a few minutes' time had grown +exceedingly painful--for the tooth of a rat is almost as poisonous as +the bite of a scorpion--and small as was the scratch, I anticipated a +good deal of suffering from it. + +I need not add that the incident had banished sleep, at least for a +time. In reality I did not go to sleep again till nearly morning; and +then I awoke every minute or two with a start--from fearful dreams, in +which the vision was either a rat or a crab making to seize me by the +throat! + +For hours before I slept at all, I lay listening to see if the brute +would return; but I did not note any signs of his presence for the +remainder of that night. Perhaps the _squeeze_ I had given him--for I +had come down rather heavily upon him--had frightened him enough to +hinder a repetition of his visit. With this hope I consoled myself, +else it might have been still longer before I should have slept. + +Of course, the presence of the rat at once accounted for the +disappearance of my half biscuit, as well as for the damaged upper +leather of my buskin, which latter had been lying at the door of his +milder cousin the mouse. The rat, then, must have been prowling around +me all the while, without my having known of it. + +During the hours I lay listening, before falling asleep again, my mind +was busy with one particular thought--that was, how I should manage in +case the rat should return? How was I to destroy--or, at all events, +get rid of--this most unwelcome intruder? I would at that moment have +given a year of my life for the loan of a steel trap, or any trap that +would take rats; but since the loan of a trap was out of the question, I +set my brains to work to invent some contrivance that would enable me to +rid myself of my unpleasant neighbour: neighbour I might call him, for I +knew that his house was not far off--perhaps at that moment he had his +den not three feet from my face--likely enough, under the biscuit-box or +the cask of brandy. + +Cudgel my brains as I might I could hit upon no plan to get hold of +him--at least, no plan to trap him with safety. I felt pretty sure I +could lay my hands upon him, provided he came near enough, just as I had +done already; but I was in no humour to repeat that performance. I knew +the crevice by which he had retreated. It was the aperture between the +two great barrels--the brandy-cask and the water-butt. + +I fancied he would return the same way, if he came back at all; and it +occurred to me that if I were to stop up all the other apertures except +that one--which I could easily do with pieces of cloth--let him come in, +and then suddenly cut off his retreat by caulking that one also, I +should have him in the trap. But this would be placing myself in an +awkward situation. I should be in the trap as well as he, and he no +nearer destruction than ever, unless I finished him by a hand-to-hand +tussle. Of course, I knew I could conquer and kill the rat. My +superior strength would enable me to squeeze him to death between my +hands, but not without getting a good many severe bites, and the one I +had got already hindered me from having any relish for another encounter +of the kind. + +How, then, was I to manage without a trap? That was the thought that +occupied me as I lay sleepless and in dread of the rat returning. + +But I cogitated to no purpose. It was well-nigh morning, when, worn +with watching and planning, I fell off into the half-dozing +half-dreaming State--of which I have already spoken--and still no +feasible plan had offered itself for entrapping the "vermin" that was +causing me so much annoyance and alarm. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +OH! FOR A STEEL TRAP! + +After several hours spent in dozing and dreaming by "fits and starts," I +was again fairly awake, and could sleep no more for thinking of the +great rat. Indeed, the pain I suffered was of itself sufficient to keep +me awake; for not only my thumb, but the whole hand was swollen, and +ached acutely. I had no remedy but to bear it patiently; and knowing +that the inflammation would soon subside and relieve me, I made up my +mind to endure it with fortitude. Greater evils absorb the less; and it +was so in my case. My dread of the rat paying me another visit was a +far greater trouble to me than the pain of my wound, and as my attention +was wholly taken up with the former, I almost forgot that my thumb was +aching. + +As soon as I was well awake, my thoughts returned to the subject of +trapping my tormentor. I was quite sure he would return to trouble me, +for I already had some indications of his presence. The weather still +continued calm, and I could hear any occasional sounds very distinctly. +I heard what resembled the pattering of little feet, as of the rat +running over the lid of an empty box; and once or twice I clearly +distinguished the short, shrill cricket-like "chirp" that rats are wont +to utter. I can think of no more disagreeable sound than the voice of a +rat, and at that time it sounded doubly disagreeable. You may smile at +my simple fears, but I could not help them. I could not help a +presentiment that somehow or other my life was in danger from the +presence of this rat, and the presentiment was not a vain or idle one, +as you shall afterwards learn. + +The fear that I had, then, was that the rat would attack me in my sleep. +So long as I might be awake, I was not much afraid that it could do me +any very great injury. It might bite me, as it had done already, but +that signified little. I should be able to destroy it somehow. But +supposing I should fall into a deep sleep, and the spiteful creature +should then seize me by the throat? Some such idea as this it was that +kept me in misery. I could not always keep awake and on the _qui vive_. +The longer I did so, the more deeply would I slumber afterwards, and +then would be the time of danger. I could not go to sleep again with +any feeling of security until that rat was destroyed; and therefore its +destruction was the end I now aimed at. + +I remained cogitating as to how I should encompass it; but for the life +of me I could think of no other way than to gripe the creature in my +hands, and squeeze it to death. If I could have made sure of getting a +proper hold of it--that is, with my fingers round its throat, so that it +could not turn its teeth upon me--then the thing would be easy enough. +But therein lay the difficulty. I should have to seize it in the dark-- +at random--and likely enough it would prove as quick as myself in +getting the advantage of the hold. Moreover, my crippled thumb was in +such a condition, that in that hand--my right one, too--I was not sure I +could even hold the rat, much less crush the life out of it. + +I bethought me of some means of protecting my fingers from its teeth. +If I had only been possessed of a pair of strong gloves; but then I was +not, and it was no use thinking of them. + +Yes, it was of use: it proved so; for thinking of the gloves suggested +the idea of a substitute; and this substitute _was_ within my reach--_my +buskins_. By inserting my hands into these, and covering them up to the +wrists, I should gain a protection against the sharp teeth of the rat, +and could I only get the animal under the soles, I would surely have +strength enough to squeeze the breath out of it. A capital idea, and I +at once proceeded to carry it into execution. + +Placing the buskins in readiness, I crouched near the crevice where the +rat should enter. All the others, as already stated, I had carefully +plugged up, and I now determined, if the rat came in, to stuff my jacket +into the aperture before it could retreat, and thus have it at my mercy. +I should then speedily put on my gloves, and pound away till I had +finished the business. + +It seemed as if the rat had either determined to brave the encounter, or +that fortune was against it. + +I had scarcely set my house in order to receive my visitor, when the +pattering of feet upon the broadcloth, and a little squeak which I +heard, told me that the rat had passed through the crevice, and was +actually inside the enclosure. I plainly heard it rushing about, as I +pushed the jacket into the aperture; and once or twice I felt it +coursing across my legs; but I took no heed of its movements until I had +made all secure against its retreat. Then I planted my hands firmly in +the buskins, and commenced searching for the enemy. + +As I was intimately acquainted with the shape of my little chamber, and +knew to the breadth of a hair where every corner lay, I was not long in +"feeling" it up. My mode of proceeding was to raise the buskins, and +plant them down again, each time striking upon new ground. I believed +that if I could only get one of them upon a portion of the rat's body, I +could hold it, until I might secure a safer hold with both, and then it +would only remain to press downward with all my might. This was my +programme, but though well enough designed, I was unable to carry it +through. + +The affair ended in a very different way. I succeeded in planting one +of the buskins upon the animal, but from the want of a firm floor +underneath, I was not able to hold it, and the soft cloth yielding +enabled it to get away. It escaped from my hold with a loud screech, +and the next place I felt it was running up the leg of my trousers and +inside! + +A feeling of horror ran through my veins; but I was now warmed to the +encounter; and, throwing aside the buskins, which were no longer of +service, I grasped the body of the rat, just as it had reached the +height of my knee. I was able to hold it there, although it struggled +with a strength that quite astonished me, and its loud squealing was +terrible to hear. + +I still held on, pressing the body with all my might, and quite +insensible to the pain in my thumb. The cloth of my trousers protected +my fingers from being bitten, but I did not come off unscathed, for the +spiteful creature buried its teeth in my flesh, and kept them there as +long as it was able to move. It was only after I had got my thumb round +its throat, and fairly _choked it to death_, that the teeth relaxed +their grasp, and I perceived that I had succeeded in putting a period to +its existence. + +Having released the body from my hold, I shook it out of my trousers +quite lifeless and limp; and then, removing my jacket from the aperture, +I flung the dead rat out in the direction whence it had come. + +I felt greatly relieved; and, confident that I should no longer be +troubled by Monsieur Rat, I betook myself to sleep, determined to make +up for what I had lost during the night. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +A SWARM OF INTRUDERS. + +My feeling of security proved to be a false one. I could not have been +asleep more than a quarter of an hour, when I was suddenly awakened by +something running over my breast. Was it another rat? If not, it +certainly was some creature that behaved exactly like one. + +I lay for some moments without stirring, and listened attentively; but I +could hear nothing. Had I only dreamt that something ran over me? Not +so; for just then I thought I could hear the pattering of little feet +over the loose cloth. Right; I did hear the sound, and the moment after +felt the same feet upon my thigh. + +Starting upward, and bringing my hand down upon the spot, I was again +horrified by feeling a large rat, that, as soon as I touched it, sprang +away, and I could hear it rattling off through the crevice between the +casks. + +Surely it could not be the same I had just despatched? No, cats _do_ +come to life again after being supposed to be dead (sometimes after +being buried!) but I never heard of rats possessing this extraordinary +power of vitality. I felt satisfied that I had quite killed the rat--in +fact, the handling I gave it might have taken nine lives, if it had had +that number to spare. It was dead as a nail when I flung it out. It +could not be that one. + +And yet, absurd as it may seem, I fancied, half asleep as I was, that it +was the same rat returning to avenge itself. This fancy, however, +forsook me as soon as I was fairly awake, and I knew it could not be the +same. Most likely it was its mate, or partner, and a fit partner it +was, for I noticed as I passed my fingers over it, that this second one +was also a rat of very large size. + +No doubt, thought I, this is the female of the one I have killed coming +in search of her mate. But she had entered by the same crevice; she +must have passed where the dead one lay, and must know what had +occurred? Was she going to avenge his death? + +Sleep was again banished from my eyes. How could I sleep, with such a +hideous animal prowling about, and perhaps with the fixed intention to +attack me? + +Wearied as I had now grown with watching, I could not go to rest until I +should rid myself of this second intruder. + +I was under the belief that this one would soon return again. I had not +caught hold of it, but merely touched it with my fingers, and as I had +offered no particular violence to it, likely enough it would soon +venture back. + +Under this conviction I placed myself as before, close to the crevice, +jacket in hand, and with my ear set close to the aperture, I listened +attentively. + +In a few minutes I distinctly heard the chirrup of a rat outside, and +almost continually the same scratching and pattering I had noticed +before. + +I think there was some loose board or hollow box by which the sound was +produced--for it was very loud to be caused by so small an animal. +These noises continued, and I fancied that I also heard the rat passing +into my chamber, but still the pattering and scratching were kept up +outside, and therefore the animal could not be in. + +Once more I was sure I heard it passing me, but at the same time the +chirrup fell on my ear, and that certainly came from without. Again and +again I fancied I was not the only tenant of the chamber, but I still +restrained myself from closing up the crevice, thinking I might be +mistaken. + +At length, however, a loud squeal was uttered to the right of my +position, certainly within the enclosure; and, waiting no longer, I +stuffed the jacket into the aperture, and made all tight and sure. + +I now turned to feel for the rat, taking the precaution, as before, to +insert my hands into the buskins. I had taken still another precaution, +and that was to tie the legs of my trousers tight around my ankles, lest +this other rat should act as its predecessor had done. Thus prepared, I +proceeded to grope around. + +I had no liking for the encounter, but I was determined to rid myself of +the annoyance which I had been suffering, and get some sleep, without +being again disturbed; and I could think of no other way than to kill +the rat as I had done its companion. + +So to work I again went. Horror of horrors! fancy the terrible fears +that ran through me, when, instead of one rat, I discovered that a whole +swarm of these hideous brutes was enclosed in my apartment! Not one, +but probably half a score of them! The place appeared crowded with +them, and I could scarce put down the buskins without touching one. I +felt them running all around me, over my legs, the backs of my hands-- +everywhere--at the same time uttering their fierce cries as if they were +menacing me! + +It is but truth to say, I was frightened nearly out of my senses. I +thought no longer about killing them. For some moments I scarcely knew +what I was doing; but I remember that I had the presence of mind to lay +hold of my jacket, and pull it out of the aperture. Then swinging it +around, I continued to beat the floor in every direction, shouting all +the while at the top of my voice. + +My shouts and the violence of my actions appeared to produce the desired +effect, for I heard the rats retreating through the crevice; and after a +time, on venturing to reconnoitre the floor with my naked hands, I +found, to my delight, they had taken their departure, one and all of +them. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +THE NORWAY RAT. + +If I was uncomfortable before with the presence of a single rat, how +much more uneasy was I with the knowledge that a whole gang of these +disgusting animals was in my neighbourhood! There must be a still +greater number than those I had just routed; for before closing up the +aperture with my jacket, I had still heard others squeaking and scraping +on the boards outside. Like enough there were scores of them; for I had +heard that in many ships such vermin abound, finding a secure +hiding-place in the numerous crevices among the timbers of the hold. I +had heard, moreover, that these ship-rats are the fiercest of their +kind, and when driven to extremes by hunger--which is not unfrequently +the case--will not hesitate to attack living creatures, and show but +little fear of either cat or dog. They often commit extensive damage +upon articles of the cargo, and are thus a great nuisance in a ship, +especially when she has not been properly overhauled and cleaned out +before loading for a voyage. These ship-rats are the sort known as +"Norway rats," on account of a belief that they were first brought to +England in Norwegian ships; but whether they originated in Norway or +elsewhere, it matters little, as they are now universally distributed +over the whole globe, and I believe there is no part of the earth, where +ships have touched, that Norway rats are not found in abundance. If +Norway was in reality the country of their origin, then it follows that +all climes are alike to them, since they are especially abundant and +thriving in the hot tropical climates of America. Seaport towns in the +West Indies and the continents of both North and South America are +infested with them; and so great a nuisance are they deemed in some of +these places, that a "rat-bounty" is usually offered by the municipal +authorities for their destruction. Notwithstanding this premium for +killing them, they still exist in countless numbers, and the wooden +wharves of these American seaports appear to be their true _harbours of +refuge_! + +The Norway rats are not individually large rats. Occasionally very +large ones are found among them, but these are exceptional cases. They +are in general less distinguished for size, than for a fierce and +spiteful disposition, combined with a great fecundity, which of course +renders them exceedingly numerous and troublesome. It has been observed +that wherever they make their appearance, in a few years the rats of all +other species disappear; and it is therefore conjectured that the Norway +rats destroy the other kinds! Weazels are no match for them--for what +they lack in individual strength is amply compensated for by their +numbers--and in these hot countries they outnumber their enemies in the +proportion of hundreds to one. Even cats are afraid of them; and in +many parts of the world the cats will shy away from an encounter with +Norway rats, choosing for their prey some victim of a milder +disposition. Even large dogs, unless specially set on, will prefer to +pass and give them a wide berth. + +One fact about the Norway rat is peculiar: it appears to know when it +possesses the advantage. Where they are but few and in danger of being +destroyed, they are timid enough; but in those countries where they are +allowed to increase, they become emboldened by impunity, and are much +less awed by the presence of man. In the seaports of some tropical +countries they will scarce take the precaution to hide themselves; and +on moonlight nights, when they come out in great numbers, they hardly +deign to turn aside out of the way of the passenger. They will just +creep a little to one side, and then close up behind the heels of any +one who may be passing along. Such creatures are the Norway rats. + +I was not acquainted with all these facts at the time of my adventure +with the rats in the ship _Inca_; but I knew enough, even then, from +sailors' yarns I had heard, to make me very uncomfortable at the +presence of so many of these ugly animals; and, after I had succeeded in +driving them out of my little chamber, I was far from being easy in my +mind. I felt almost certain they would return again, and perhaps in +greater force than ever. Perhaps they would become hungered during the +voyage, and consequently bolder and fiercer--bold enough to attack me. +Even then, I thought that they had appeared by no means afraid of me. +Though with my shouts and violent efforts I had forced them out, I could +still hear them near at hand, scampering about and squeaking to one +another. What if they were already half famished and meditating an +attack upon me! From facts that I had heard of, the thing was not very +improbable; and I need hardly say that the very suspicion of such a +probability made a most painful impression upon me. The thought of +being killed and devoured by these horrid creatures, caused within me a +feeling of dread far greater than I had felt when I was anticipating +death by being drowned. I should have preferred drowning to a death +like that; and when for a moment I dwelt upon the probability of such a +fate, the blood ran coldly through my veins, and the hair seemed to +stiffen upon my scalp. + +For some minutes I sat, or rather knelt (for I was upon my knees while +striking around me with the jacket), not knowing what course to follow. +I still believed that the rats would not have the boldness to approach +me, so long as I remained awake and could defend myself. But how would +it be were I to go to sleep again? Then, indeed, they might be +encouraged to attack me, and once they had got their teeth into my +flesh, they might resemble the tiger, who, having tasted blood, is not +satisfied till he has destroyed his victim. I dared not go to sleep. + +And yet I could not always keep awake. Sleep would in time overpower +me, and I should have to yield to it in the end. The longer I struggled +against it, the deeper the sleep that would follow; and perhaps I might +fall into some profound slumber from which I might never awake--some +terrible "nightmare" that would bind me beyond the power of moving, and +thus render me an easy prey to the voracious monsters that surrounded +me! + +For a short while I suffered these painful apprehensions, but soon an +idea came into my mind that gave me relief; and that was, to replace my +jacket in the crevice through which the rats had entered, and thus shut +them out altogether. + +It was certainly a very simple way of getting over the difficulty; and, +no doubt, it would have occurred to me sooner--that is, when the first +and second rats had been troubling me--but then I thought there were but +the two, and I might settle with them in a different way. Now, however, +the case was different. To destroy all the rats that were in the hold +of that ship would be a serious undertaking, if not an impossibility, +and I no longer thought of such a thing. The best plan, therefore, +would be that which I had now hit upon: to stop up the main aperture, +and also every other through which a rat could possibly squeeze his +body, and thus be at once secured against either their intrusion or +their attacks. + +Without further delay, I "plugged" up the crevice with my jacket; and, +wondering that I had not thought of this simple plan before, I laid me +down--this time with a full confidence that I might sleep undisturbed, +as long as I should feel the necessity or inclination. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY ONE. + +DREAM AND REALITY. + +So wearied had I become with fears and long waking, that my cheek had +scarce touched my pillow, before I was off into the land of dreams. And +not the _land_ of dreams either, for it was the _sea_ of which I dreamt; +and, just as before, that I was at its bottom, and surrounded by horrid +crab-like monsters who threatened to eat me up. + +Now and then, however, these crab-like creatures assumed the form of +rats; and then my dream more resembled reality. I dreamt that they were +in vast numbers around me, and menaced me from every side; that I had +only my jacket to keep them off, and that I was sweeping it from side to +side for that purpose. I thought they grew bolder and bolder as they +saw how little damage I was able to do them with such a weapon; and that +a very large rat, much bigger than any of the others, was encouraging +them on to the attack. This was not a real rat, but the ghost of one-- +of that one I had killed! He was leading the swarm of my assailants, +and counselling them to avenge his murder! Such was the fancy of my +dream. + +I thought that, for a long time, I was successful in keeping them at +bay; but my strength was fast failing me, and unless succour arrived, I +would be overpowered. I looked around and called loudly for help, but +no one appeared to be near me. + +My assailants at length perceived that my strength was gone; and, at a +signal given by their ghost leader, made a simultaneous rush upon me. +They came from the front, from behind, from both sides, and although I +struck around me in a last despairing effort, it was to no purpose. +Dozens of them I had flung backward, tumbling upon their backs and over +one another, but their places were instantly filled up again by others +that came from behind. + +I could struggle no longer. Resistance was idle. I felt them crawling +up my legs, my thighs, my back. They clung to me all over, their bodies +covering mine like a swarm of bees upon a branch; and before they had +time to inflict a wound upon my flesh, their very weight caused me to +stagger, and fall heavily to the earth! + +The fall appeared to save me; for as soon as I touched ground, the rats +let go their hold and ran scampering off, as if frightened at the effect +they had produced! + +I was pleasantly surprised at this _denouement_, and for some moments +was unable to explain it; but my senses soon became clearer; and I was +rejoiced to find that the horror I had been experiencing was only the +illusion of a dream; and the fall which I had suffered, was the breaking +up of the vision that had awakened me! + +In the next instant, however, I changed my mind; and my new-sprung joy +departed as suddenly as it had arisen. It was not all a dream. _Rats +had been upon me, and rats were at that moment in my chamber_! I heard +them scampering about. I heard their ugly screeches; and before I could +raise myself, one of them ran over my face! + +This was a new source of terror. How had they got in? The very mystery +of their being inside was of itself enough to give me a shock. How had +they got there? Had they pushed out the jacket? Mechanically, I felt +for it. No. It was there in its place, just as I had left it! I drew +it out for the purpose of striking around me, to drive the vermin off. +I struck with it and shouted as I had done before, and succeeded in +clearing them off; but I was now in greater terror than ever, for I +could not explain how they were able thus to reach me, notwithstanding +all my precautions. + +For a time, I was sorely perplexed, but I found the explanation at +length. It was not through the crevice, I had stopped with the jacket, +they had sought entrance; but by another aperture, which I had caulked +with a piece of cloth. The cloth was too small--it had been loose, and +the rats had actually torn it out with their teeth! + +This accounted for their gaining an entrance; but, at the same time, it +by no means removed my alarm. On the contrary, it furnished me cause +for increased anxiety. Why were those creatures thus pertinacious, +returning again and again? What wanted they in my hiding-place, more +than in any other part of the ship? What could they want, but _to kill +and eat me_? + +Verily, I could think of no other reason why I was thus assailed. + +The fear of such a consequence now aroused all my energies. I had not +been asleep more than an hour, as I knew by my watch; but I could not go +to sleep again, until I had fully secured myself; and for this purpose, +I set about putting my fortress in a more proper state of defence. I +removed the former stuffings from the apertures, one by one, and +replaced them more firmly. I even went through the labour of taking all +the biscuits out of the box, and drawing forth two or three fresh pieces +of cloth to help me in my "caulking." I then restored the biscuits to +their places, and closed up every aperture that existed. I had the +greatest difficulty upon that side where the box stood, for around it +there were many ill-shaped crevices; but I got over the difficulty, by +means of a large web of cloth, which, when placed upon its end, exactly +fitted the open space--through which I had squeezed my own carcass on +that occasion, when I was so unfortunate as to set my foot aboard the +ship. On this side, the piece of cloth left no more caulking to be +done, as it fitted just tight enough to prevent any living creature from +passing beside it. The only disadvantage it offered was, that it +hindered me from getting conveniently at my store of biscuits, for it +covered the opening in the box; but I thought of this before pushing it +into its place, and carried a supply of the biscuits inside--enough to +last me for a week or two. When these should be eaten, I could remove +the web; and, before any rats could come in to trouble me, provide +myself for another week. + +It occupied me full two hours, in completing all these arrangements, for +I worked with great care to make my fortress walls secure. It was no +play I was performing. It was a matter that possessed the serious +interest of my life's safety. + +When I had made all tight to my perfect satisfaction, I lay down to +sleep again--this time _quite certain_ that I should get something more +than a mere "cat-nap." + + + +CHAPTER FORTY TWO. + +A SOUND SLEEP AT LAST. + +I was not disappointed. I slept for a period of twelve hours' +duration--not without many fearful dreams--terrible encounters with +crabs and rats. So far as the comfort of the thing was concerned, I +might almost as well have been awake, and actually engaged in such +conflicts. My sleep was far from refreshing, notwithstanding its long +continuance; but it was pleasant on awaking to find that my unwelcome +visitors had not been back again, and that no breach had been made in my +defences. I groped all around, and found that everything was just as I +had left it. + +For several days, I felt comparatively at my ease. I had no longer any +apprehension of danger from the rats, though I knew they were still +close to me. When the weather was calm (and it continued so for a long +while), I could hear the animals outside, busy at whatever they had to +do, rattling about among the packages of merchandise, and occasionally +uttering spiteful shrieks, as if they were engaged in combats with each +other. But their voices no longer terrified me, as I was pretty sure +they could not get nearer me. Whenever, for any purpose, I removed one +of the cloth pieces with which my little cabin was "chinked," I took +good care to return it to its place again, before any of the animals +could know that the aperture was open. + +I experienced a good deal of discomfort from being thus shut up. The +weather was exceedingly warm; and as not a breath of air could reach me, +or circulate through the apartment, it felt at times as hot as the +inside of a baker's oven. Very likely we were sailing under the line, +or, at all events, in some part of the tropical latitudes; and this +would account for the calmness of the atmosphere, since, in these +latitudes, stormy weather is much more rare than in either of the +so-called temperate zones. Once, indeed, during this time, we +experienced a very sharp gale, which lasted for a day and night. It was +succeeded as usual by a heavy swell, during which the ship tumbled +about, as if she would turn bottom upwards. + +I was not sea-sick on this occasion; but, as I had nothing to hold on +by, I was sadly rolled about in my little cabin, now pitching head +foremost against the butt, now falling backward upon the side of the +ship, till every bone in my body was as sore as if I had been cudgelled! +The rocking of the vessel, too, occasionally caused the boxes and +barrels to move a little; and this had the effect of loosening the cloth +caulking, and causing it to drop out. Still apprehensive of an inroad +from the rats, I was kept busy, all the time the gale lasted, in +plugging the crevices afresh. + +Upon the whole, I think that this employment was pleasanter than doing +nothing. It rather helped me to pass the time; and the two days during +which the gale and swell kept me so occupied, seemed shorter than any +other two. By far the bitterest hours were those in which I could find +nothing at all to do--absolutely nothing to engage my thoughts. Then I +would remain for long hours together--sometimes without making a motion, +or changing the attitude in which I lay--sometimes without even having a +thought; and thus dark, and lonely, and longing, I feared that my reason +would forsake me, and that I should go mad! + +In this way, two more weeks had passed over, as I knew by the notches on +my stick. Otherwise they might have been months--ay, years--so long did +the time appear. With the exception of the hours in which we +experienced the gale, all the rest was complete monotony; and not one +fact or occurrence transpired to make an impression on my memory. + +During all this time, I had strictly adhered to my regulations regarding +food and drink. Notwithstanding that I often hungered, and could have +eaten up a week's allowance at a single meal, I had not exceeded the +prescribed ration. Many a time it cost me an effort to deny myself; and +often the half biscuit, which was to serve for another meal, was put +aside with most tardy reluctance, and seemed to cling to my fingers, as +I placed it on the little shelf. But I congratulated myself that up to +this time--with the exception of that day upon which I had eaten the +four biscuits at a meal--I had been able to keep my resolve, and contend +bravely against the craving appetite of hunger. + +Thirsty I never was. I had no uneasiness on this score. My ration of +water was quite enough for me, and more than enough. On most days I +used far short of the allowance, and could drink as much as I wanted. + +The supply of biscuits I had brought inside, when shutting myself up +against the rats, was at length exhausted. I was glad of this. It +proved that time was passing away--two weeks must have elapsed, as I had +counted the biscuits at the commencement of this period, and found that +they were just the allowance for so long. The time, then, had come +round for me to go back to my larder, and procure a fresh supply. + +As I proceeded to do so, a singular apprehension arose in my mind. It +came suddenly, as if an arrow had been shot into my heart. It was the +presentiment, of a great misfortune; or not exactly a presentiment, but +a fear caused by something I had noticed only the minute before. I had +heard a noise outside, which as usual I attributed to my neighbours the +rats. Often, indeed almost continually, similar noises had proceeded +from without, but none that impressed me like this, for it appeared to +reach me from a new direction--the direction of the biscuit-box. + +My fingers trembled as I removed the web; and still more as I thrust my +hands into the box. Merciful heavens! _the box was empty_! + +No, not empty. As I plunged my hand deeper, it rested upon something +soft and smooth--a rat. The animal sprang suddenly aside as it felt my +touch, and I drew back my hand with a like rapid movement. Mechanically +I felt in another place, only to touch another rat, and then another, +and another! The box appeared half full of them, side by side, as close +as they could sit. They leaped about and scattered off in different +directions, some even jumping against my breast, as they shot out by the +aperture, and others striking the sides of the box, and uttering loud +cries. + +I succeeded in routing them. But, alas! when they were gone, and I +proceeded to examine my store, I found, to my chagrin, that nearly the +whole of my biscuits were gone too! All of them that were left were +broken to pieces, and nothing remained in the box, but a pile of crumbs +covering the bottom, upon which the rats had been feeding at the moment +I surprised them. + +This was an evil of the grandest magnitude; and I was so overwhelmed +upon the discovery of it, that for a time I scarce knew what I was +doing. + +The consequences were plain enough. My provisions were gone--starvation +stared me in the face. Nay, starvation was no longer a matter of doubt. +It was now certain. The mumbled crumbs which the hideous robbers had +left (and which they would also have eaten up in another hour, had I not +surprised them) would not keep the life in me for a week; and what then? +ay, what then! Starvation--death by hunger! + +There was no alternative. So reasoned I, and how could it be otherwise? + +For awhile, I felt reckless and despairing--almost reckless enough to +refrain from taking any steps to hinder the rats from returning to the +box. It was my belief, that I must in the end succumb to this +misfortune--_must starve_--and it was no use procrastinating my fate. I +might as well die at once, as at the end of the week. To live for days, +knowing that death was certain, would be a terrible state of endurance-- +worse than death itself; and here again returned to me those dark +suicidal thoughts, that had once before passed through my mind. + +They troubled me only for a moment. The remembrance that I had had them +before, and that then I had been delivered from them--as it were +miraculously--that although I could not see how it was to be found, +there might still be a way of escape--the hand of Providence, as it had +done already, might still be held over me, and point out that way--these +reflections and remembrances came back into my mind, and once more a ray +of hope shone upon my future. True, there was no definite hope, but +just enough to arouse me to fresh energy, and save me from absolute +despair. The presence of the rats, too, had an effect in quickening my +actions. I perceived that they were still close at hand, threatening to +re-enter the box and finish their work of demolition. In truth, I could +now only keep them out by making the most violent demonstrations. + +I found that the place where they had got in was not the aperture which +I myself used. That was closed up with the web, and they could not pass +through there. They had entered on the opposite side, from the box of +cloth, into which they had been able to make their way, since I had +myself removed one of the boards out of its side. It had all been done +recently; or, more likely, to cut through the thick plank had employed +them for some time, and so delayed the execution of their design. But +for this, they might have reached the inside sooner, and then not a +morsel would have been left. No doubt it was for the purpose of getting +at the biscuits that they had swarmed once or twice into my chamber--for +that gave them free access to the box. + +I now deeply regretted my negligence in not securing my store in a safe +way. I had already thought of doing so, but I never imagined these +creatures could make an entry from behind, and I knew that the web of +cloth completely shut them out on the inside. + +Alas! it was now too late; regrets were idle; and, following out that +instinct which prompts us to preserve life as long as we can, I +transferred the fragments from the box to my little shelf inside; and +then, making all tight as before, I lay down to reflect upon my +situation, rendered gloomier than ever by this unexpected misfortune. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY THREE. + +SEARCH AFTER ANOTHER BISCUIT-BOX. + +For many hours I remained brooding over the altered state of my affairs, +with no thought arising to cheer me. I felt so hopeless that I did not +even take stock of the biscuits, or rather the crumbs that were left. I +guessed roughly by the size of the little heap that it might sustain +life--keeping up the very small ration I had been hitherto using--for +about ten days--not more. Ten days, then, or at most a fortnight, had I +to live, with the prospect of certain death at the end of that time--and +a death that experience told me must be slow and painful. I had already +suffered the extreme of hunger, almost to death, and I dreaded to try it +again; but there appeared no hope of escaping from such a doom--at +least, none appeared at the moment. + +The shock that followed the discovery of my loss rendered me for a long +time unable to think clearly. My mind was dejected and pusillanimous-- +my brain, as it were, paralysed--so that whenever I took to thinking, my +thoughts only wandered, or centred on the terrible doom that waited me. + +In time a reaction arrived, and I was better able to reflect on the +circumstances in which I was now placed. Gradually hope dawned again, +though it was only, of an indistinct and very indefinite character-- +literally but a "ray." The thought that occurred to me was simply this: +that as I had found one box of biscuits, why might there not be a +second? If not immediately beside the first, it might be near. As +stated already, I believed that in the stowage of a ship, goods of the +same kind are not always placed together, but miscellaneously--just as +the different packages may fit to the shape of the hold and to each +other. I had proof that this was the usual arrangement, since around +me, and in juxta-position, were articles of very different kinds-- +biscuits, broadcloth, brandy, and the butt of water. Although there was +no second box of biscuits immediately adjoining the one already emptied, +there might be another _not far off_--perhaps just on the other side of +the cloth-box, or in some place where I might be able to _get at it_. + +This, then, was the thought that inspired me with new hope. + +As soon as I had conceived it, all my energies returned, and I set about +reflecting on what course I should take to ascertain whether there was +another biscuit-box that it was possible for me to reach. + +The plan of reaching it was already shaped out in my mind. In fact, +there was but one way--with my knife. No other means were within my +reach, and therefore I thought of none. To cut a way with my knife +through such packages--boxes, bales, or barrels--as might lie between my +chamber and the desired biscuits, was the idea that had entered my mind, +and it seemed more feasible and practicable the longer I reflected upon +it. Deeds that would appear difficult, if not impossible, under +ordinary circumstances, present a different aspect to one whose life is +in danger, and who knows it may be saved by accomplishing them. The +direst hardships, and severest privations, become light trials when life +and death are on the issue. + +It was from this point of view that I was compelled to contemplate the +feat I now intended to perform; and I thought but lightly of the time +and trouble, so long as there was a prospect of their saving me from +horrid death by starvation. + +I resolved, therefore, to hew a way with my knife among the packages of +merchandise, in hopes of coming to one that contained food. If +successful, then I should live; if not, I must die. Another thought had +some effect in encouraging me to the attempt. It would be better for me +to pass my time still hoping, than to yield to despair and remain idle. +To live for two weeks in the certain anticipation of death, would have +been a thousand times more painful than death itself. + +Far better to struggle on, nourishing hope with the exertions I should +be making for my safety. The very labour itself would help me to pass +the time, and hinder me from brooding too keenly on my doubtful fate. + +Thus ran my reflections, as I became once more roused to the energy that +for awhile had forsaken me. + +I was on my knees, knife in hand, resolved and ready. That precious +piece of steel, how prized at the moment! I would not have exchanged it +for the full of the ship of red gold! + +I have said that I was upon my knees. I could not have stood erect, had +I wished it. There was not room. The ceiling of my cabin was too low. + +Was it my peculiar attitude that suggested the thought? Perhaps it had +some influence. I cannot now remember; but I well remember that before +proceeding farther in my design, I offered up a prayer--humble and +earnest--to God, who had already, as I firmly believed, stretched forth +his hand to succour me. I prayed for guidance, for strength, for +success. I need not add that my prayer was heard, else I should not now +have been living to record it. + +My intention was first to work through the cloth-box, and discover what +was behind it. That which had contained the biscuits was now empty, and +I could get through it without trouble. It will be remembered that I +had already been inside the biscuit-box while searching for another, and +also while procuring the pieces of cloth; and so far my way was clear. +But to get across the one in which the broadcloth was packed, it would +be necessary to pull out several more pieces, to give me room to work on +to the next. My knife, therefore, would not be needed at first +starting; and putting it aside, where I could easily lay my hands upon +it again, I ducked my head and crawled into the empty box. In another +minute I was pulling and tugging away at the stiff rolls of broadcloth-- +all my strength being exerted, and all my energies employed in detaching +them from their places. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FOUR. + +THE CRUMBS SECURED. + +This was a work that cost me both time and labour much more than you +might imagine. No doubt the cloth had been packed with the idea of +economising space, and the pieces were wedged as tightly together as if +done by a steam-press. Those opposite the opening I had made, came out +easily enough; but with the others I had more trouble. It took all my +strength to detach many of them from their places. When a few were +removed, the work became easier. There were several rolls larger than +the rest. They were larger, because they were of coarser cloth. They +were too big to pass through the apertures I had made, either the one in +the cloth-case, or that in the side of the biscuit-box. I was puzzled +how to deal with them. I could not enlarge the openings without a great +deal of labour. On account of the situation of the two boxes, it was +not possible to knock off another board. I should have to cut the hole +wider with my knife; and this, for the same reason, would have been +difficult. + +A better plan suggested itself--apparently a better, but which in the +end proved a mistake. I managed the matter by cutting off the +fastenings of each piece, and, laying hold of the end of the web, +unrolled it. I then drew out the loose cloth until the web became small +enough to pass through. In this way I succeeded in emptying the case, +but the work kept me employed for several hours. + +I was delayed, moreover, by a more serious interruption. On returning +to my chamber, with the first piece of cloth which I had drawn out of +the box, I found, to my consternation, that it was already occupied by +other tenants--a score of them: the rats were in possession! + +I dropped the piece of cloth; and, dashing into their midst, succeeded +in routing them; but, as I had anticipated from their presence, I found +that another portion of my wretched store of provisions was eaten or +carried off. Not a great deal, however, appeared to have been taken. +Fortunately, I had been absent only for a short while. Had I been gone +for but another twenty minutes, the robbers would have quite cleared me +out, and left me not a crumb to live upon. + +The consequence of this would have been fatal; and once more deploring +my negligence, I resolved to take better care for the future. I spread +out a large piece of the cloth, and depositing the fragments upon it, I +wrapped them up into a sort of bag-like bundle, which I tied as firmly +as I could with a strip of list torn from the cloth itself. This, I +fancied, would keep all safe; and placing it in a corner, I proceeded +with my work. + +As I passed to and fro upon my hands and knees--now empty-handed, now +dragging with me a piece of the cloth--I might have been likened to an +ant crawling upon its track, and laying in its stores for the winter; +and during many hours I was kept as busy as an ant might be. The +weather still continued calm, but the atmosphere appeared hotter than I +had yet felt it, and the perspiration ran from every pore of my skin. I +was often obliged to use a loose piece of the broadcloth to wipe the +drops from my forehead and out of my eyes; and at times it appeared as +if the heat would suffocate me. But with such a motive as I had for +perseverance, I continued to toil on, without thought of resting for a +moment. + +All the while I was conscious of the presence of the rats. They +appeared to be everywhere around me--in the crevices between the casks +and boxes, which they used as so many ways and paths. They met me in my +own particular gallery, crossing or running before me, and sometimes I +felt them behind me coursing over my legs. Singular enough, I was less +afraid of them than formerly. This partially arose from my observance +of the fact, that it was the biscuit-box that had brought them in such +numbers into my chamber, and not _me_. At first I was under the +impression that they had come there to assail myself, but I now thought +differently, and felt less apprehension of their attacking me. I no +longer dreaded them while awake; but for all that, I could not have gone +to sleep--nor did I intend to do so again--without first securing myself +against their attacks. + +Another reason there was why I feared them less. My situation had grown +more desperate, and the necessity for action so apparent, that all +lesser dangers had given way to the greater one that threatened me--the +danger of starvation. + +Having finished emptying the cloth-case of its contents, I resolved to +rest a bit, and refresh myself with a scanty ration of crumbs and a cup +of water. During the whole time I was engaged in unpacking I had not +left off, even to take a drink, and I was now thirsty enough to drink +quarts. As I had no fear that my water supply would run short, I now +opened the tap and drank to my satisfaction. I must have lowered the +water-line very considerably, before I could drag myself away from the +butt. The precious fluid seemed sweeter than honey itself; and after +drinking, I felt as though it had re-invigorated me to the tips of my +fingers. + +I now turned to my stock of food, but another cry of chagrin escaped me +as I laid my hands upon the bundle. The rats again! Yes; I found, to +my astonishment, that these persevering robbers had been back again, had +gnawed a hole through the cloth, and abstracted another portion from my +now greatly reduced store! A pound at least of the precious crumbs had +been taken, and this must have been done within a few minutes' time; +for, only a few minutes before, I had occasion to move the bundle, and I +had then observed that there was nothing amiss. + +The discovery of this new misfortune caused me fresh misery and +vexation. I saw that if I left the biscuit-bag behind me, even for the +shortest space of time, I might expect on my return to find every crumb +gone out of it. + +Already I had lost nearly half of what I had taken from the box, and +which I had calculated might keep me alive for a period of ten or twelve +days. This calculation included everything, even to the dust, which I +had carefully gathered up from the boards; and now, on re-examining what +remained, I perceived that there was not enough to sustain me for a +week! + +This discovery added to the gloom of my situation; but I did not suffer +it to bring despair. I resolved to proceed with my design, as if no new +misfortune had happened; for the further reduction of my stores rendered +both energy and perseverance more necessary than ever. + +I could not think of any way of securing my crumbs, except by taking the +bag along with me and keeping it by my side. I might have folded more +cloth around them, but I was impressed with the belief that these vermin +would have gnawed their way to my crumbs had I placed them in a box of +iron. + +To make safe, therefore, I tied up the hole that had been cut in the +cloth; and, dragging the bundle after me, I took it into the cloth-case, +determined to defend it against all comers. + +Having deposited it between my knees, I once more set to work with my +knife to tunnel through the side of the adjacent box. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY FIVE. + +ANOTHER BITE. + +Before proceeding to use the knife, I had endeavoured to burst one of +the boards outward, first by pressing upon it with my hands. Finding I +could not move it in this way, I lay down upon my back, and tried it +with my heels. I even put on my old buskins in hopes of being able to +_kick_ it out; but, after thumping at it for a considerable time, I saw +it would not do. It was too securely nailed, and, as I found out +afterwards, it was still more strongly secured with strips of iron +hooping, which would have resisted a stronger effort than any I could +make. My kicks and thumps, therefore, were all given to no purpose; and +as soon as I became convinced of this, I went to work with my knife. + +I designed cutting across one of the boards near the end--and only at +one end, as I could then force the piece out, no matter how securely it +might be clasped at the other. + +The timber was not very hard, being only common spruce deal, and I could +soon have made a cross-cut of the whole piece, even with no better tool +than my knife, if I had been in a proper attitude, with the box fairly +before me. But instead of that, I was obliged to operate in a +constrained position, that was both disadvantageous and fatiguing. +Moreover, my hand was still painful from the bite of the rat, the scar +not yet being closed up. The troubles I had been enduring had kept my +blood in a constant fever, and this I suppose, had prevented the healing +of the wound. Unfortunately, it was my right hand that had been bitten; +and, being right-handed, I could not manage the knife with my left. I +tried it at times, to relieve the other, but could make little progress +at left-hand work. + +For these reasons, then, I was several hours in cutting across a piece +of nine-inch deal of only an inch in thickness; but I got through at +last, and then, placing myself once more on my back, and setting my +heels to the plank, I had the satisfaction to feel it yielding. + +It did not move a great way, and I could perceive that there was +something hindering it behind--either another box or a barrel--but this +was exactly what I had expected. Only two or three inches of empty +space were between the two, and it required a good deal of kicking, and +twisting backward and forward, and upward and downward, before I could +detach the piece from its fastenings of iron. + +Before I had got it quite out of my way, I knew what was behind, for I +had passed my fingers through to ascertain. It was another +packing-case, and, alas! too similar to the one I was crouching in. The +same kind of timber, if my touch was true--and this one of my senses had +of late become wonderfully acute. + +I felt its outline, as much of it as I could reach: the same size it +appeared to be--the same rough, unplaned plank, just like that I had +been cutting at--and both, as I now perceived, iron hooped at the ends. +Beyond doubt, it was "another of the same." + +I came to this conclusion without proceeding further, and it was a +conclusion that filled me with chagrin and disappointment. But although +I felt too bitterly satisfied that it was another cloth-box, I deemed it +worth while to put the matter beyond any doubt. To effect this, I +proceeded to take out one of the pieces of the second box, just as I had +done with the other--by making a clear cut across--and then prising it +out, and drawing it towards me. It cost me even more labour than the +first, for I could not get at it so well; besides, I had to widen the +aperture in the other, before I could reach the joining between two +pieces. The widening was not so difficult, as the soft plank split off +readily under the blade of my knife. + +I worked cheerlessly at this second box, as I worked without hope. I +might have spared myself the pains; for during the operation the blade +of my knife frequently came in contact with what was inside, and I knew +from the soft dull object which resisted the steel with elastic silence, +that I was coming upon _cloth_. I might have spared myself any further +labour, but a kind of involuntary curiosity influenced me to go on--that +curiosity which refuses to be satisfied until demonstration is complete +and certain; and, thus impelled, I hewed away mechanically, till I had +reached the completion of the task. + +The result was as I had expected--the contents were cloth! + +The knife dropped from my grasp; and, overcome, as much by fatigue as by +the faintness produced by disappointment, I fell backward, and lay for +some minutes in a state of partial insensibility. + +This lethargy of despair continued upon me for some time--I noted not +how long; but I was at length aroused from it by an acute pain, which I +felt in the tip of my middle finger. It was sudden as acute, and +resembled the pricking of a needle, or a sharp cut with the blade of a +knife. + +I started suddenly up, thinking I had caught hold of my knife--while +half conscious of what I was doing--for I remembered that I had thrown +it with open blade beside me. + +In a second or two, however, I was convinced that it was not that which +had caused me the pain. It was not a wound made with cold steel, but +with the venomous tooth of a living creature. I had been bitten by a +rat! + +My lethargic indifference to my situation soon passed away, and was +succeeded by a keen sense of fear. I was now convinced, more than ever, +that my life was in danger from these hideous animals; for this was the +first actual attempt they had made upon my person _without provocation_. +Although my sudden movement, and the loud cries I involuntarily +uttered, had once more driven them off, I felt satisfied they would +become bolder anon, and take no heed of such idle demonstrations. I had +threatened them too often, without making them feel my power to punish +them. + +Clearly it would not do to go to sleep again, with my person exposed to +their attacks; for although my hopes of ultimate deliverance were now +sadly diminished, and in all likelihood starvation was to be my fate, +still this kind of death was preferable to being eaten up by rats. The +very thought of such a fate filled me with horror, and determined me to +do all in my power to save myself from so fearful a doom. + +I was now very tired, and required rest. The box was large enough for +me to have slept within it, stretched at full length; but I thought I +could more easily defend myself against the encroachments of the rats in +my old quarters; and, taking up my knife and bundle, I crawled back +behind the butt. + +My little chamber was now of much smaller dimensions, for in it I had +stowed the cloth taken from the box. In fact, there was just room +enough for my body and the bag of crumbs--so that it was more like a +nest than an apartment. + +With the pieces of cloth piled in one end against the brandy-cask, I was +well defended in that quarter, and it only remained to close up the +other end as I had done before. This I accomplished; and then, after +eating my slender supper, and washing it down with copious libations, I +sought the repose, both of body and mind, of which I stood in such need. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SIX. + +THE BALE OF LINEN. + +My sleep was neither very sweet nor very sound. In addition to my +gloomy prospects, I was rendered uncomfortable by the hot atmosphere, +now closer than ever, in consequence of the stoppage of every aperture. +No current of air, that might otherwise have cooled me, was permitted to +reach my prison, and I might almost as well have been inside a heated +oven. I got a little sleep, however, and with that little I was under +the necessity of being satisfied. + +When fairly awake again, I treated myself to a meal, which might be +called my breakfast; but it was certainly the lightest of all +breakfasts, and did not deserve the name. Of water I again drank +freely, for I was thirsty with the fever that was in my blood, and my +head ached as if it would split open. + +All this did not deter me from returning to my work. If two boxes +contained broadcloth, it did not follow that all the cargo was of this +sort of merchandise, and I resolved to persevere. I had made up my mind +to try in a new direction--that is, to tunnel through the end of the +packing-case as I had done through its side--the end which was turned +towards the outside--for I knew that the other rested against the side +of the ship, and it would be no use searching in that direction. + +Taking my bread-bag with me as before, I went to work with renewed hope, +and after long and severe labour--severe on account of the crouching +attitude I had to keep, as also from the pain caused by my wounded +thumb--I succeeded in detaching one of the end pieces from its place. + +Something _soft_ lay beyond. There was encouragement even in this. At +all events, it was not another case of broadcloth; but what it was, I +could not guess until I had laid bare the full breadth of the board. +Then my hands were eagerly passed through the aperture, and with +trembling fingers I examined this new object of interest. Coarse canvas +it appeared to the touch; but that was only the covering. What was +there inside? + +Until I had taken up my knife again, and cut off a portion of the +canvas, I knew not what it was; but then, to my bitter disappointment, +the real nature of the package was revealed. + +It proved to be _linen_--a bale of fine linen, packed in pieces, just as +the cloth had been; but so tight that if I had used all my strength I +could not have detached one piece from the bale. + +The discovery of what it was, caused me greater chagrin than if it had +proved to be broadcloth. This I could take out with less difficulty, +and make way to try farther on; but with the linen I could do nothing, +for, after several attempts, I was unable to move any of the pieces, and +as to cutting a way through them, a wall of adamant would scarce have +been more impervious to the blade of my knife. It would have been the +work of a week at least. My provision would not keep me alive till I +had reached the other side. But I did not speculate on such a +performance. It was too manifestly impossible, and I turned away from +it without giving it another thought. + +For a little while I remained inactive, considering what should be my +next movement. I did not rest long. Time was too precious to be wasted +in mere reflection. Action alone could save me; and, spurred on by this +thought, I was soon at work again. + +My new design was simply to clear out the cloth from the second box, cut +through its farther side, and find out what lay in that direction. + +As I had already made a way into the box, the first thing was to remove +the cloth. For the time my knife was laid aside, and I commenced +pulling out the pieces. It was no light labour, getting out the first +three or four. Unfortunately, the ends of the webs were towards me, and +this rendered it more difficult to separate them; but I continued to tug +and pull until I had extracted a few; and then the work became easier. + +Just as in the other case, I found large coarse pieces that would not +pass through the aperture I had made; and not liking to take the pains +to make a wider opening in the wood, I adopted the same plan I had tried +before; that is, to cut the cloth loose from its fastenings, unroll it, +and draw it out by the yard. + +This was easier, I thought; but, alas! it proved the source of a new and +unexpected dilemma, as I had occasion soon after to perceive. + +I was getting on well enough, and had succeeded in clearing out a space +almost large enough to work in, when I was suddenly brought to a stop, +by finding that I had no room for any more cloth _behind me_! The whole +of the open space--including my little apartment, the biscuit-box, and +the other case--was quite full, for I had filled each in succession as I +went along. There was not a foot of space left--not so much as would +hold another web! + +This discovery did not create an immediate alarm; for I did not at first +perceive the full consequence of it. It was only after a little +reflection, that I recognised the difficulty; and then I saw that it was +indeed a difficulty--a very dangerous dilemma. + +It was plain that I could proceed no farther in my work without clearing +off the "back-water" that I had so thoughtlessly accumulated; and how +was this to be done? I could not destroy the cloth by burning, nor in +any other way that I could think of. I could not lessen its bulk, for I +had already pressed it together as closely as I had strength. How, +then, was it to be disposed of? + +I now perceived the imprudence I had committed in unrolling the webs. +This was the cause of its having increased so in bulk though not +altogether, for the very taking out of the pieces--on account of the +tight pressure they had originally undergone while being packed in the +cases--of itself greatly enlarged their mass. To restore them to the +state in which I had found them, was no longer possible. They were +littered through and through in the most complete confusion, and I had +no room to work in, even to refold them again, since I could scarce move +about in the constrained quarters and attitude I was compelled to +assume. Even had I had ample space to work in, I could not easily have +got the stuff back to a suitable bulk; for the coarser material, elastic +as it was, would have required a screw-press to bring it to its former +size. I felt quite disheartened as I thought the thing over--more than +disheartened, again almost despairing. + +But, no! it had not yet reached the point of despair with me. By +getting enough space for another piece or two, I should have room to cut +a hole through the opposite side of the box, and there was still hope +beyond. If, indeed, another case of broadcloth, or another bale of +linen, should be found there, it would then be time to yield myself up +to despair. + +But hope in the human breast is hard to destroy, and it was so in mine. +So long as there is life, thought I, let there be hope; and, inspired +with the old proverb, I renewed my exertions. + +After awhile, I succeeded in stowing away two more pieces; and this gave +me just room to creep inside the now nearly empty box, and go to work +again with my knife. + +This time I had to cut the board across the middle, as the cloth on both +sides would not permit me to get at either end. It made little +difference, however; and when I had finished carving at the wood, I was +able to push out both sections, and make an aperture sufficient for my +purpose. I say sufficient for my purpose, for it only needed a hole +large enough to admit my hand; and, once protruding my fingers, I was +satisfied, as before, with a most melancholy result. _Another bale of +linen_! + +Fatigued and faint, I could have fallen, had it been possible to fall +lower; but I was already upon my face, alike prostrate in body and soul! + + + +CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN. + +EXCELSIOR! + +It was some time before I recovered strength or spirit to arouse myself. +But for hunger, I might have remained longer in the sort of torpid +lethargy into which I had fallen; but nature craved loudly for +sustenance. I could have eaten my crumbs where I lay, and would have +done so, but that thirst carried me back to my old quarters. It made +little difference where I slept, as I could have fenced myself against +the rats within either of the boxes; but it was necessary to be near the +water-butt, and this alone influenced me in the choice of my +sleeping-place. + +It was not such an easy matter getting back to my former position. Many +pieces of cloth had to be lifted out of the way and drawn behind me. +They had to be placed carefully, else on reaching the entrance to my +chamber, I should not be able to clear a space large enough to contain +my body. + +I succeeded, however, in effecting my purpose; and having eaten my +morsel, and quenched my feverish thirst, I fell back upon the mass of +cloth, and was asleep in the twinkling of an eye. + +I had taken the usual precaution to close the gates of my fortress, and +this time I slept my sleep out, undisturbed by the rats. + +In the morning--or rather, I should say, in the hour of my awaking--I +again ate and drank. I know not whether it was morning; for, in +consequence of my watch having once or twice run down, I could no longer +tell night from day; and my sleep, now not regular as formerly, failed +to inform me of the hours. What I ate failed to satisfy hunger. All +the food that was left me would not have sufficed for that; and not the +least difficult part I had to perform, was the restraining myself from +eating out my whole stock at a meal. I could easily have done it, and +it required all my resolution to refrain. But my resolution was backed +by the too certain knowledge that such a meal would be my last, and my +abstinence was strengthened simply by the fear of starvation. + +Having breakfasted, then, as sparingly as possible, and filled my +stomach with water instead of food, I once more worked my way into the +second cloth-box, determined to continue my search as long as strength +was left me. There was not much left now. I knew that what I ate was +barely sufficient to sustain life, and I felt that I was fast wasting +away. My ribs projected like those of a skeleton, and it was as much as +I could do to move the heavier pieces of the cloth. + +One end of all the boxes, as already stated, was placed against the side +of the ship. Of course, it was of no use tunnelling in that direction; +but the end of the second case, which faced inwards, I had not yet +tried. This was now my task. + +I need not detail the particulars of the work. It resembled that I had +executed already, and lasted for several successive hours. The result +was, once again, a painful disappointment. Another bale of linen! I +could go no farther in that direction. And now no farther in any +direction! + +Boxes of broadcloth and bales of linen were all around me. I could not +penetrate beyond. I could not make a way through them. There was no +room for further progress. + +This was the melancholy conclusion at which I had arrived, and I was +once more thrown back into my despairing mood. + +Fortunately, this did not last long, for shortly after a train of +thought came into my mind that prompted me to further action. It was +memory that came to my aid. I remembered having read a book, which +described very beautifully the struggles of a boy, amidst great +difficulties--how he bravely refused to yield to each new +disappointment; but, by dint of courage and perseverance, overcame every +obstacle, and at last obtained success. I remembered, too, that this +boy had adopted for his motto, the Latin word "Excelsior," which was +explained to mean "_higher_" or "_upward_." + +On reflecting upon the struggles which this boy had undergone, and how +he had succeeded in surmounting so many difficulties--some even as great +as those that surrounded myself--I was nerved to make a new effort. + +But I believe it was this peculiar word, "Excelsior," that guided me in +my after proceedings, for by its most literal sense was I directed. +_Upward_, thought I; I might search upward. Why did it not occur to me +before? There might be food in this direction, as likely as in any +other, and certainly I had no choice, as every other direction had been +tried. I resolved, then, to search _upward_. + +In another minute I was upon my back, knife in hand. I propped myself +with pieces of cloth, so that I might work more conveniently, and after +groping out one of the divisions of the lid, I commenced notching it +crossways. + +The board at length gave way to my exertions. I dragged it downwards. +Oh, heavens! were my hopes again destined to suffer defeat and mockery? + +Alas! it was even so. The coarse, hard-grained canvas, with the dull +sodden mass behind it, answered me with a sad affirmative. + +There yet remained the upper side of the other case, and then that of +the biscuit-box. Both should be tried as a last effort, and that before +I could again sleep. + +And both _were_ tried, with like evil fortune. Upon the former rested a +case of the cloth, while another bale of linen completely covered the +top of the latter. + +"Merciful God! am I forsaken?" + +Such was my exclamation as I sank back into an attitude of complete +exhaustion. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. + +A TORRENT OF BRANDY. + +Sleep followed, brought on by weariness and long exertion; and when I +awoke, I felt my strength greatly restored. Singular enough, my spirits +were a good deal lighter, and I was far less despairing than I had been +before. It seemed as if some supernatural influence sustained me-- +perhaps an inspiration given by the great Creator himself, to enable me +to persevere. Notwithstanding that my disappointments had been many and +oft-repeated, I bore up under the infliction as meekly as I could, and +never yet had I felt in my heart a rebellious feeling against God. + +I still continued to offer up prayers for my success, and to place +reliance upon the hope that His mercy would yet be extended to me. This +feeling it was--I am sure it was--that upheld me, and kept me from +falling into utter despondency. + +On awaking again, as I have said, my spirits felt lighter, though I know +not why, unless it was that I was cheered by some influence from above. +I can only account for it in this way, since there was no change in the +circumstances that surrounded me--at least none for the better--nor had +I conceived any new hope or plan. + +It was certain that I could penetrate no further through the boxes of +cloth and bales of linen, as I had no place to stow their contents +behind me. That side, therefore, was now no longer the object of my +attention. + +There were still two other directions in which I might search--the one +directly in front, and that toward the left, which last I knew to be in +the direction of the bows of the ship. + +In front, the space was taken up by the great water-butt, and of course +I did not think of cutting a way through this. It would lead to the +loss of my supply of water. I did for a moment imagine that I might +make a hole high up above the water-line, through which I might squeeze +my body, and then get through to the opposite side by making a second +hole. I knew that the butt was now scarce half full, as the heat had +kept me almost continually athirst, and, confident in my supply, I had +drunk large quantities. But it occurred to me that if I made this great +opening, I might lose all my water in a single night. A sudden squall +might arise--for several had been encountered already--and set the ship +a-rolling. In that case, if the vessel, crank as she was, came near +getting upon her beam-ends, which she often did, my butt would be turned +half over, and the water of course would all escape--the precious water +that had hitherto stood my friend, and but for which I should have long +ago miserably perished. + +Another consideration influenced me not to touch the butt: there was an +easier direction to proceed in, and that was _through the brandy-cask_. + +This stood end towards me, and, as already stated, shut me in upon the +left. Its head or bottom--I could not say which--lay quite up against +the end of the water-butt; but for some reason it had been cleated +closer up to the side timbers of the ship, so that there was hardly any +vacant space behind it. For this reason, nearly one half of its +diameter overlapped the end of the water-butt--the other half completing +the enclosure of my cabin. + +Through this last half I resolved to cut my way, and then, creeping +inside the cask, to make another hole that would let me through its +opposite side. + +Perhaps, beyond the brandy-cask I might find food and safety? It was +only blind guessing on my part; but I again prayed for success. + +Making an incision across the thick oak plank that formed the bottom +staves, was a very different affair from cutting through soft spruce +deal, and I progressed but slowly. A beginning had already been made, +however, where I had formerly tapped the cask; and entering my blade at +this same hole, I worked away until I had cut one of the pieces clear +across. I then put on my buskins, and, getting upon my back, kicked +upon the stave with all my might, using my heels as a trip-hammer. It +was a stiff job; for the piece, being jointed into the others on both +sides, refused for a long time to yield. But the constant hammering at +length loosened it, by breaking off one of the joinings, and I had the +satisfaction to find that it was giving way. A few more strong +finishing blows did the business, and the stave was at length forced +inward. + +The immediate result was a gush of brandy that completely overwhelmed +me. It rushed over me, not in a jet but in a grand volume as thick as +my body; and before I could raise myself into an erect position, it was +all over and around me, so that I had a fear I was going to be drowned +in it! The whole space I occupied was filled up, and it was only by +holding my head close up to the ship's timbers that I could keep my +mouth clear of being filled. At the first gush, a quantity had got into +my throat, and eyes as well, and well-nigh choked and blinded me; and it +was some time before I got over the fit of coughing and sneezing which +it had suddenly brought on. + +I was in no mood to be merry at the time; yet strange enough, I could +not help thinking of the Duke of Clarence and his odd fancy of being +drowned in the butt of malmsey. + +The singular flood subsided almost as rapidly as it had risen. There +was plenty of space for it down below; and in a few seconds' time it had +all gone down to mix among the bilge-water, and jabble about during the +remainder of the voyage. The only traces it had left were in my wet +clothes, and the strong alcoholic smell that filled the atmosphere +around me, and almost hindered me from getting breath. + +As the ship's head rose upon the waves, the cask was tilted upwards, and +this movement in ten minutes emptied it so completely that not a single +pint remained inside. + +But I had not waited for this. The stave I had kicked out left an +aperture large enough to admit my body--it did not need to be very large +for that--and as soon as my coughing fit had ended, I squeezed myself +through to the inside of the cask. + +I groped around for the bung, believing that this would be the best +place to cut across one of the staves. The hole, usually a large one, +would admit the blade of my knife, and would be so much of my work done +to hand. I found the place easily enough, and fortunately it was not on +the top, where I fancied it might be, but on the side, and just at a +convenient height. Closing the blade of my knife, I hammered on the +wooden plug with the half. After a few strokes, I succeeded in forcing +it outwards, and then set to work to make the cross-cut of the stave. + +I had not made a dozen notches, before I felt my strength wonderfully +increased. I had been weak before, but now it appeared to me as if I +could push out the staves without cutting them. I felt in a measure +cheerful, as if I had been merely working for the play of the thing, and +it was of but little consequence whether I succeeded or not. I have +some recollection that I both whistled and sang as I worked. The idea +that I was in any danger of losing my life quite forsook me, and all the +hardships through which I had been passing appeared to have been only +imaginary--a chimera of my brain, or, at most, only a dream. + +Just then I was seized with a terrible fit of thirst, and I remember +making a struggle to get out of the brandy-cask for the purpose of +having a drink from the water-butt. I must have succeeded in getting +out of the cask, but whether I actually did drink at the time, I could +never be certain; for after that I remembered nothing more, but was for +a long while as completely unconscious as if I had been dead! + + + +CHAPTER FORTY NINE. + +A NEW DANGER. + +I remained in this state of insensibility for several hours, and was not +even troubled, as was usual when I slept, with painful dreams. I did +not dream at all; but, on awaking to consciousness, I had a dread +feeling upon me, just as if I had been cast from off the earth into +infinite space, and was rapidly floating onwards, or falling from some +great height, without ever reaching a point of rest. It was a feeling +of a most unpleasant kind--in fact, a feeling of horror. + +Fortunately, it did not continue long; and as I endeavoured to rouse +myself it became less painful, and at length passed away. In its stead, +however, I felt sick at the stomach, and my head ached as though it +would split. Surely it was not the sea that had made me sick? No, it +could not be that. I was long since hardened against sea-sickness. +Even another storm would not have brought it on; but there was no +particular roughness. The ship was sailing under breezy but not stormy +weather. + +Was it fever that had suddenly attacked me in a violent manner? or had I +fainted from want of strength? No; I had experienced both calamities, +but this new sensation resembled neither. + +I was in reality at a loss to account for what was ailing me. In a +short time, however, my thoughts became clearer, and then the truth +dawned upon my mind. I had been in a _state of intoxication_! + +Intoxication it must have been, though wine I had not tasted, nor brandy +neither--not a mouthful. I disliked it _too_ much for that; and +although there was plenty of it--or had been, for it was now all gone-- +enough to have drowned myself in, I was not conscious of having drunk a +drop of it. True, a drop had passed into my mouth--a drop, or maybe a +spoonful, had gone down my throat when the torrent gushed over me; but +surely this small quantity could not have produced intoxication, even if +it had been liquor ever so much _above proof_? Impossible; it could not +have been that that produced intoxication! + +And what, then? Something had made me _drunk_. Although I had never +been so in my life, yet I guessed the symptoms to mean only this. + +As I continued to reflect--that is, as I grew more _sober_--the mystery +was cleared up, and I discovered the cause of my intoxication. It was +not brandy, but the "fumes" of brandy, that had done it--this, and +nothing else. + +Even before entering the cask, I had noticed a decided change in my +feelings, for the fumes of the liquor, even outside, were strong enough +to make me sneeze; but this was nothing to the effluvia which I +encountered inside the vessel. At first I could scarcely breathe, but +by little and little I became accustomed to it, and rather liked it. No +wonder, since it was making me feel so strong and happy! + +On cogitating further on this singular incident, I remembered how I came +to be outside the cask--how thirst had influenced me to come out; and I +now perceived how fortunate it was that I had followed the guidance of +this appetite. I have said that I did not know whether I had actually +quenched my thirst. I had no remembrance of going to the butt, or of +drawing a cup of water. I think I did not get so far. Had I done so, +in all probability I should have left out the vent-peg, and then a large +quantity of water would have been spilled. The water-line would have +been down to a level with the vent; and this, on examination, I gladly +perceived was not the case. Moreover, my drinking-cup felt too dry to +have been used lately. I had not drunk, then, and this was a fortunate +circumstance, though far more fortunate was the circumstance that I had +thirsted. Had it not been for this, I should no doubt have remained +inside the cask, and the consequence must have been disastrous indeed. +I cannot say what, but certainly some fatal result would have followed. +In all likelihood, I should have remained in a state of intoxication-- +how was I ever to get sober?--every moment getting worse, until when? +Until death! Who knows? + +A mere accidental circumstance, then, had once more saved my life; but +perhaps it was not accidental. It may have been the hand of Providence, +and I believed so at the time. If prayers express gratitude, mine were +given, and with all the fervour of my soul. + +Whether I had allayed my thirst or not, certain it was that the +quenching had been but temporary; for I now felt as if I could drink the +butt dry. I lost no time in groping for my cup, and I am sure I did not +leave off till I had drunk nearly half a gallon of water. + +The water removed a good deal of the sickness, and also cleared my +brains, as if it had washed them. Being once more restored to my proper +senses, I returned to the consideration of the perils by which I was +surrounded. + +My first thought was about continuing the work I had so abruptly left +off, and only now did it occur to me that I might not be able to go on +with it. What if I was to get into the same state as before--what if my +senses again became stupefied, and I should not have presence of mind or +resolution to come out of the cask? + +Perhaps I might labour away for awhile without getting into the same +state, and if I felt it coming on me I could hasten out? Perhaps! But +should it be otherwise? If the intoxication should come suddenly upon +me, how then? How long had it been before I felt it on the former +occasion? I tried to remember, but could not. + +I remembered how this strange influence had stolen over me--how +soothingly and sweetly it came, wrapping my senses as if in a delightful +dream. How it had made me reckless of consequences, forgetful even of +my appalling situation! + +Supposing that all was to be repeated--the same scene to be enacted over +again--and only one incident to be left out: that is, the thirst which +brought me forth from the cask--supposing all this? And why might it +not be just what would take place? I could not answer the question one +way or the other; but so strong were my apprehensions of the probability +that it might, that I hesitated _to re-enter the cask_! + +There was no help for it, however. I must either do so, or die where I +lay. If death in the end was to be my fate, better far, thought I, to +die by this apparently easy mode; for I felt convinced, from the +experience I had had, that such death would be without a pang. + +The reflection emboldened me, as well as the knowledge that I had no +alternative, no choice of plan; and again pronouncing a prayer, I +crawled back into the brandy-cask. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY. + +WHERE WAS MY KNIFE? + +On entering, I groped about for my knife. I had quite forgotten how or +where I had laid it down. I had already searched for it outside, but +without success; and I concluded that I must have left it behind me in +the cask. I was surprised at not laying my hand upon it at once, for +although I ran my fingers all around the under-side of the vessel, +nothing like a knife did I touch. + +I was beginning to feel alarmed about it. It might be lost, and if so, +all hopes of deliverance would be at an end. Without the knife, I could +proceed no farther in any direction, but might lie down inactive to +abide my fate. Where could the knife be? Was it likely that the rats +had carried it off? + +I again backed out of the cask, and made a new search outside; but not +finding what I was looking for, I once more crept into the barrel, and +once more felt it all over--that is, every part of it where a knife +could lie. + +I was very near going out again, when it occurred to me to raise my +hands a little higher, and examine the bung-hole, at which I had been +working when I last had the knife in my hands. It may be there, thought +I; and to my joy it _was_ there, sticking in the notch I had been +cutting with it. + +I set to work, without further delay, to widen the hole crossways; but +the blade, from so much use, had become "dull as a beetle," and my +progress through the hard oaken stave was as slow as if I had been +cutting through a stone. I carved away for a quarter of an hour, +without making the notch the eighth part of an inch deeper; and I almost +despaired of ever getting through the stave. + +I now felt the singular influence again coming over me, and could have +remained without much fear, for such is the effect of intoxication; but +I had promised myself that the moment I became aware of any change, I +should retreat from the dangerous spot. Fortunately, I had resolution, +and barely enough, to keep my promise; and, before it was too late, I +dragged myself back to the rear of the water-butt. + +It was well I did so at the very time, for had I remained in the +brandy-cask but ten minutes longer, beyond doubt I should have been +hopelessly insensible. As it was, I already felt quite "happy," and +remained so for some time. + +But as the alcoholic influence departed, I grew more miserable than +ever; for I now perceived that this unexpected obstacle to my progress +was about to ruin all my hopes. I believed that I could return at +intervals, and go on with the work; but only at long intervals, and now +that the blade of my knife had grown so blunt, I could make but little +progress. It would be days before I should get through the side of the +cask; and days were denied me. The small store of crumbs were sadly +reduced; in fact, I was on my last handful. I had not enough to keep me +alive for three days! The chances of saving my life were growing +narrower with every fresh move, and I was fast giving way to despair. +Had I been sure that after cutting through the cask, I should have found +relief on the other side, I might have contemplated the enterprise with +more eagerness and energy; but this was worse than doubtful. There were +ten chances to one against my finding a box of biscuits, or anything +that was eatable. + +One advantage had arisen from my breaking into the brandy-cask, which +now occurred to me in full force. It had given me a large empty space; +and therefore, if I could only get beyond--even though there should not +be a package containing food--still it might be something which I could +remove into the inside of the cask, and thus make way for further +operations. + +This was certainly a fresh phase which my situation had assumed; but a +still better idea succeeded, that lent a new and joyous aspect to my +thoughts. It was this: if I could so easily cut my way from box to box, +as I had already proved, _why might I not tunnel upwards, and reach the +deck_? + +The thought startled me. It was quite new. It had not occurred to me +before--strangely enough it had not--and I can only explain its tardy +conception by the fact of the confused state of mind in which I had all +along been, and which might have led me to deem such an enterprise an +impossibility. + +No doubt there were numberless packages heaped over me, one upon +another. No doubt the hold was quite full of them, and I knew that I +was near the bottom of all. I remembered, too--what had _puzzled_ me at +the time--that the stowage had continued for a long time after I came +aboard; that for two days and nights the work seemed to be going on, and +therefore the whole cargo must have been placed above me. Still, +withal, a dozen large boxes would reach to the top, or, maybe, not half +so many would fill up to the deck. Allowing a day to the cutting +through each one, I might be able to reach the top in about a week or +ten days! + +Though a joyful thought, it would have been far more welcome at an +earlier period, but it now came accompanied by the wildest regrets. +Perhaps it had come too late to save me? Had I begun aright, when I had +my full box of biscuits, I might easily have carried the plan into +execution; but now, alas! scarce a morsel remained; and it seemed +hopeless to attempt what I had conceived. + +Still, I could not surrender up this alluring prospect of life and +freedom; and, stifling all idle regrets, I gave my mind to its further +consideration. + +Time, of course, was now the important matter, and that which caused me +the greatest anxiety. I feared that even before I could accomplish an +opening on the farther side of the empty barrel, my food would be all +consumed, and my strength quite exhausted. Perhaps I should die in the +middle of my work--literally "in the breach." + +While pondering thus, another new thought came uppermost in my mind. It +was also a good idea, however horrid it may seem to those who do not +hunger. But hunger and the dread of starvation have the effect of +simplifying the choice of a man's appetite, and under such circumstances +the stomach ceases to be dainty. + +Mine had long since lost all niceness; and was no longer squeamish as to +the sort of food I might swallow. In fact, _I could have eaten anything +that was eatable_. And now for the new idea. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. + +A GRAND RAT-TRAP. + +For some time I have said nothing of the _rats_. Do not fancy, from +this silence about them, that they had gone away and left me to myself! +They had done no such thing. They were around and about me, as brisk as +ever, and as troublesome. Bolder they could not have been, unless they +had positively assailed me; and no doubt such would have been the case, +had I exposed myself to their attack. + +But, whenever I moved, my first care had been to close them out, by +means of walls, which I constructed with pieces of cloth, and thus only +had I kept them at bay. Now and then, when I had passed from place to +place, I could hear and feel them all around me; and twice or three +times had I been bitten by one or another. It was only by exercising +extreme vigilance and caution, that I was enabled to keep them from +attacking me. + +This parenthesis will, no doubt, lead you to anticipate what I am coming +to, and enable you to guess what was the idea that had taken possession +of my mind. It had occurred to me, then, that instead of letting the +rats eat me, _I should eat them_. That was it exactly. + +I felt no disgust at the thought of such food; nor would you, if placed +in a situation similar to mine. On the contrary, I hailed the idea as a +welcome one, since it promised to enable me to carry out my plan of +cutting my way up to the deck--in other words, of _saving my life_. +Indeed, as soon as I had conceived it, I felt as if I was actually +saved. It only remained to carry out the intention. + +I knew there were many rats--too many, I had thought before--but now I +cared not how plentiful they were. At all events, there were enough of +them to "ration" me for a long while--I hoped long enough for my +purpose. The question was, how should I capture them? + +I could think of no other way but by feeling for them with my hands, and +boldly grasping them, one at a time, and so squeezing the life out of +them. I had already given my attention to trapping them, without +success. I had, as you know, killed one, by the only ingenuity I could +think of, and likely enough I might get one or two more in the same way, +but it was just as likely I might not; or even if I succeeded in killing +one or two, the rest might become shy of me, and then the supply would +stop. Better, therefore, to consider some plan for capturing a large +number of them at once, and so have a larder that would last me for ten +or twelve days. Perhaps by that time I might be within reach of more +palatable food. This would be wiser, as well as safer; and I remained +for a long while considering how I should make a wholesale capture. + +Necessity is the parent of invention; and I suppose, by the help of +this, more than from any real genius I possessed for contriving, I at +last succeeded in sketching out the plan of a rat-trap. It was +certainly of the simplest kind, but I felt pretty sure it would be +effective. I should make me a large bag out of the broadcloth, which I +could easily do, by cutting a piece of the proper length, and sewing up +the two sides with a string. Strings I had in plenty for the rolls of +cloth had been tied with strong pieces of twine, and of course these +were at hand. I should use the blade of my knife for a needle, and by +the same instrument I should be enabled to reeve round the mouth of the +bag a strong piece of the twine, to act as a draw-string. + +I not only _should_ do all this, but _did_ it without further delay; for +in less than an hour I had my bag (net, I called it) quite finished, +draw-string rove around the mouth, and all complete for action. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY TWO. + +A WHOLESALE TAKE. + +I now proceeded to the further carrying out of my design, which had all +been matured while I was working at the bag. The next step was the +"setting of the net," and this was done as follows:-- + +I first cleared away the loose bundles so as to make a large space--in +fact, the whole of my original apartment. This I was able to accomplish +by means of the empty brandy-cask, which I had now filled with +broadcloth. I also stopped up every aperture and crevice as before, +leaving only one large one--that which I knew the rats were accustomed +to use as their principal entrance. + +Right in front of this I placed my bag, with its opened mouth covering +the whole aperture, and with the remainder kept in a state of extension +by means of several props of sticks, which I had cut for the purpose to +a proper length. Then placing myself on my knees by the mouth of the +bag, I held it wide open, and also kept the draw-string ready between my +fingers. In this attitude I awaited the coming of the rats. + +I knew they would enter the bag, for I had there placed a bait for them. +This bait consisted of some crumbs of biscuit--the very last I had--as +sailors would say, the "last shot in the locker." I was risking all +upon the cast; and should the rats eat all up and then escape, I should +not have a scrap left me for another meal. + +I knew some of them would come, but I was in doubt whether they might +arrive in numbers sufficient to make a good haul. I feared they might +come one at a time, and thus carry off the bait piece-meal; and to +prevent this, I had ground the crumbs to very dust. This, I thought, +would delay the first comers until a large assemblage had got into the +bag, and then it was my intention to cut off their retreat by drawing +the string upon them. + +Fortune favoured me. I had not been upon my knees more than a minute, +when I heard the pattering of the little paws of the rats outside, and +also the occasional "queek-queek" of their sharp voices. In another +second or two, I felt the bag moving between my fingers, and knew that +my victims were creeping inside. The shaking of the cloth became more +violent, and I was able to perceive that large numbers were crowding in, +eager to get part of the powdered biscuits. I could feel them +scrambling about, leaping over one another, and squealing as they +quarrelled. + +This was my cue for drawing the string; and in the next instant I had it +pulled all taut, and the mouth of the bag gathered close and firmly +tied. + +Not a rat that had entered got out again; and I had the satisfaction to +find that the bag was about half full of these savage creatures. + +I lost no time in taming them, however; and this I effected in a +somewhat original manner. + +There was one part of the floor of my apartment that was level and firm. +By removing the cloth off it, it was quite hard, being the oak timbers +of the ship itself. Upon this I deposited the bag of rats, and then, +laying a large piece of deal board on the top, I mounted on this board, +upon my knees, and then pressed it downward with all my weight and +strength. + +For awhile the bag underneath felt as elastic as a spring mattress, and +heaved upward with a tendency to roll from under the board, but I +replaced the latter with my hands, and then pounced upon it as before. +There was, no doubt, a deal of kicking, and scrambling, and biting +within the bag, and I am sure there was plenty of squealing, for that I +heard. I gave no heed to such demonstrations, but kept churning on till +every motion had ceased, and all was silence underneath. + +I now ventured to take up the bag, and examine its contents. I was +gratified at the wholesale slaughter I had committed. There was +evidently a large number of rats within the trap, and every one of them +dead as a door-nail! + +At all events, none of them seemed to be stirring, for when I held the +bag up by its mouth, it hung down perfectly still, and there was neither +kick nor squeak inside; and therefore I took it for granted that I had +killed them all. + +Notwithstanding this belief, when I proceeded to count them, I inserted +my hand with great caution, and drew them one by one out of the bag. +There were ten of them! + +"Ha! ha!" exclaimed I, apostrophising the dead rats, "I've got you at +last, you ugly brutes! and this serves you right for the trouble you +have put me to. If one good turn deserves another, I suppose so does +one evil one. Had you let me and mine alone, this ill fortune might not +have befallen you. But you left me no alternative. You ate my +biscuits, and, to save myself from starving, I am compelled to eat you!" + +This apostrophe ended, I commenced skinning one of the rats, with the +intention of dining upon him. + +You may fancy that I anticipated the meal with a feeling of disgust, but +in this you would be greatly mistaken. Hunger had cured me of all +daintiness. I had not the slightest repugnance for the food of which I +was about to partake. On the contrary, I longed to be at it, as much as +you might do for a dinner of the most delicate viands. + +So keen was my hunger, that I could hardly wait till I had stripped off +the skin; and five minutes after this operation was finished, I had +bolted the rat raw--body, bones, and all! + +If you are anxious to know how it tasted I can only tell you that I +observed nothing disagreeable about it, no more than if it had been the +leg of a fowl or a slice off the most delicate mutton. It was the first +flesh-meat I had eaten for weeks, and this may have added to my zest for +such food. Certainly I thought, at the time, that a sweeter morsel had +never gone down my throat, and no longer felt wonder at what books had +told me about the rat-eating Laplanders. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY THREE. + +ABOUT FACE! + +The aspect of my affairs had now undergone a complete change for the +better. My larder was replenished with store enough to last me for ten +days, at the least; for I made a sort of resolution that my future +ration should be one rat per diem. In ten days what might I not effect? +Surely I should be able to accomplish the great feat which I ought to +have attempted at the first, but which, as ill fortune would have it, I +had hitherto considered impossible--that is, to cut my way to the deck. + +A rat a day, reflected I, will not only keep me alive, but restore some +of my spent strength; and labouring constantly for ten days, I should be +almost certain to reach the topmost tier of the cargo. Perhaps in less +time? If less, all the better; but certainly in ten days I might get +through them all, even though there should be ten tiers of boxes between +me and the upper deck. + +Such were the new hopes with which the successful rat-catching had +inspired me, and my mind was restored to a state of confidence and +equanimity that had long been stranger to it. + +I had one apprehension that still slightly troubled me, and that was +about getting through the cask. It was not the fear of the time it +might take, for I no longer believed that I should be pinched for time; +but I was still in dread lest the fumes of the brandy (which inside the +cask were as strong as ever) might again overcome my senses, despite all +my resolution to guard against a too long exposure to them. Even when I +had entered the cask on the second occasion, it was as much as I could +do to drag myself out of it again. + +I resolved, however, to steel myself against the seductions of the +potent spirit that dwelt within the great barrel, and retreat before I +felt its influence too strong to be resisted. + +Notwithstanding that I was now more confident as regarded time, I had no +thought of wasting it in idleness; and as soon as my dinner was washed +down by a copious libation from the water-butt, I possessed myself once +more of my knife, and proceeded towards the empty cask, to take a new +spell at enlarging the bung-hole. + +Ha! the cask was not empty. It was full of cloth. In the excitement of +trapping the "vermin," I had forgotten the circumstance of my having +placed the cloth within the empty barrel. + +Of course, thought I, I must remove it again, in order to make room for +my work; and laying aside the knife, I commenced pulling out the pieces. + +While thus engaged, a new reflection arose, and I asked myself some +questions, to the following effect:-- + +Why am I removing the cloth from the brandy-cask? Why not let it remain +there? Why try to go through the cask at all? + +Certainly there was no reason why I should proceed in that direction. +There _had been_, at an earlier period--while I was only searching for +food, and not thinking of the object I now desired and hoped to +accomplish--but for my newly-conceived enterprise there was no necessity +to cut through the cask at all. On the contrary, it would be the worst +direction I could take. It did not lie in the line which would lead to +the hatchway, and that was the line in which my tunnel ought to point. +I was pretty certain as to the direction of the hatch, for I remembered +how I passed from it to the water-butt when I first came into the hold. + +I had struck sharply to the right, and gone in a nearly direct line for +the end of the butt. All these little points I distinctly remembered, +and I was confident that my position was somewhere near the middle of +the ship, on the side which sailors would call the "starboard beam." To +go through the cask, therefore, would lead me too far aft of the +main-hatchway, which was that by which I had come down. Moreover, there +was still the difficulty of broaching the side of the cask--greatly +exaggerated, of course, by the dangerous atmosphere I should be +compelled to breathe while effecting it. + +Why, then, should I attempt it at all? Why not return, and proceed once +more in the direction of the boxes? Circumstances were changed since I +was last there. I could now find vent for my "back-water," since the +empty cask would serve for that, in one case as well as the other. +Besides, it would be much easier to cut through the deal board than the +hard oak; and, moreover, I had made some progress in that--the right-- +direction already. Therefore, considering all things--the danger as +well as the difficulty--I came to the conclusion that, by tunnelling +through the cask, I would be heading the wrong way; and, in this belief, +I turned right about, determined to take the other. + +Before proceeding to the boxes, I repacked the cloth into the cask, and +added more, placing it piece by piece, with sufficient care, and +afterwards wedging it in as tightly as my strength would permit. + +I was considerate, also, to return my nine rats to the bag, and draw the +string; for I suspected that I had not killed all the rats in the ship, +and I feared that the comrades of the defunct nine might take a fancy to +eat their old shipmates. This I had been told was not an uncommon habit +of the hideous brutes, and I determined to guard against it, so far as +my victims were concerned. + +When these arrangements were completed, I swallowed a fresh cup of +water, and crawled once more into one of the empty boxes. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR. + +CONJECTURES. + +It was into the cloth-case which I had entered--that one which lay +contiguous to the box that had contained the biscuits. It was from it I +determined to start with my new tunnel; and I had two reasons for making +it my terminus: first, because I believed that it was situated almost in +a direct line with the main-hatchway. For that matter, so too was the +biscuit-box; but the latter was smaller than the cloth-case, and +therefore would not afford me so much room to carry on my work. + +The second reason, however, which influenced my choice, was of more +importance. I had already ascertained that another cloth-case stood on +the top of this one, whereas the biscuit-box had bales of linen--both on +the top, and at that end through which I should have to make way. Now, +I was convinced that I could much more easily remove the pieces of cloth +than the hard rolls of linen--indeed I was not certain that these could +be stirred at all--and therefore it was that I made choice of the +cloth-case. + +Once inside it, you will suppose that I went immediately to work; but +no. I remained for a considerable time without moving either hand or +arm. I was not idle, however, for all that, but busy with all the +faculties of my mind in full action. + +In fact, the plan I had just conceived, had awakened in me a sort of new +energy; and the hopes of safety that now presented themselves were as +strong, and stronger, than any I had entertained since the first hour of +my captivity. The prospect, too, was far brighter. Even after my +discovery of the butt of water and box of biscuits--even when I believed +there would be a sufficient quantity of both to last out the voyage, +there was still the long imprisonment before me--months of silent and +wretched solitude to be endured. + +Now it was different. In a few days, if fortune favoured me, I should +once more gaze upon the bright sky--once more breathe the free air of +heaven--once more look upon the faces of men, and listen to the sweetest +of all sounds--the voices of my fellow-creatures. + +I felt like one long lost in the desert, who beholds afar off upon the +horizon some signs of the habitation of civilised men. Perhaps the dark +outlines of trees--perhaps the blue smoke rising over some distant +fire--but something that produces within him a hope that he will soon be +restored to the association of his fellow-men. + +Just such a hope had sprung up within me, every moment becoming +stronger, till it amounted almost to a feeling of certainty. + +It was perhaps this very confidence that kept me from rushing too +hastily towards the execution of my plan. It was a matter of too much +importance to be trifled with--an enterprise too grand either to be +commenced or carried through in a reckless or hurried manner. Some +unforeseen object might become an obstacle--some accident might arise, +which would lead to failure and ruin. + +To avoid all chances of this, therefore, I resolved to proceed with as +much caution as I could command; and before making any commencement of +the work designed, to consider it in all its bearings. For this +purpose, I sat down within the cloth-case, and yielded up my whole power +of thought to an examination of my intended task. + +One thing appeared very clear to me--that the task would be one of very +considerable magnitude. As already stated, I knew that I was near the +bottom of the hold; and I was not ignorant of the great depth of the +hold of a large ship. I remembered that in slipping down the +rope-tackle, it was as much as I could do to hold on till I had reached +the bottom; and a glance upward after I had reached it, showed the +hatchway a vast height above me. I reasoned, then, that if all that +space was filled with merchandise quite up to the hatch--and no doubt it +was--then I should have a long tunnel to make. + +Besides, I should not only have to cut upwards, but also in a direction +leading towards the hatchway--that is, nearly half across the breadth of +the ship. This last did not trouble me so much; for I was pretty sure I +would not be able to go in a direct line, on account of the nature of +the packages I should encounter. A bale of linen, for instance, or some +like unwieldy substance, would have to be got round; and, at each stage, +I should have a choice either to proceed upward or in a horizontal +direction--whichever might appear the easiest. + +In this way I should rise by steps, as it were, obliquing always in the +direction of the hatchway. + +Neither the number of the packages I might have to burrow through, nor +the distance, troubled me so much as the materials which they might +contain. It was this thought which gave me the most concern; for the +difficulty would be greater or less according to the materials I should +have to remove out of my way. Should many of the articles prove to be +of that kind, that, when taken out of the cases, would become more +bulky, and could not be compressed again, then I should have to dread +the "back-water;" and in reality this was one of the worst of my +apprehensions. I had experienced already what a misfortune it would be, +since, but for the lucky circumstance of the brandy-cask, the plan I was +now about to attempt would have been altogether impracticable. + +Linen I dreaded more than any other material. It would be more +difficult to get through, and when removed from its close-pressed bales, +could not possibly be repacked in so small a space. I could only hope, +therefore, that the cargo contained a very small quantity of this +beautiful and useful fabric. + +I thought over many things which might be comprised in that great wooden +chamber. I even tried to remember what sort of a country Peru was, and +what articles of commerce would be most likely to be carried there from +England. But I could make very little of this train of reasoning, so +ignorant was I of commercial geography. One thing was certain: it was +what is called an "assorted cargo," for such are the cargoes usually +sent to the seaports of the Pacific. I might, therefore, expect to +encounter a little of this, and a little of that--in short, everything +produced in our great manufacturing cities. + +After I had spent nearly half an hour in this sort of conjecturing. I +began to perceive that it could serve no purpose. It would be only +guesswork, at best, and it was evident I could not tell what quality of +metal the mine contained, until I had first sunk my shaft. + +The moment to commence that labour had arrived; and, throwing reflection +for the time behind me, I betook myself to the task. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE. + +THE LUXURY OF STANDING ERECT. + +It will be remembered that in my former expedition into the two boxes of +cloth--while in hopes of finding more biscuits, or something else that +was eatable--I had ascertained the sort of packages that surrounded +them, as well as those that were placed above. It will be remembered, +also, that on that end of the first cloth-case which lay towards the +hatchway I had found a bale of linen; but on the top of the same case +rested another of cloth, apparently similar to itself. Into this one on +the top I had already effected an entrance; and therefore I could now +count upon having made so much way _upward_. By emptying the upper case +of its contents, I should thus have gained one clear stage in the right +direction; and considering the time and trouble it took to hew my way +through the side of one box, and then through the adjacent side of +another, this portion of my work already accomplished was a matter of +congratulation. I say already accomplished, for it only remained to +drag down the pieces of cloth contained in the upper box, and stow them +away to the rear. + +To do this, then, was the first act of my new enterprise, and I +proceeded to its execution without further delay. + +After all, it did not prove a very easy task. I experienced the same +difficulty as before, in detaching the pieces of cloth from one another, +and drawing them forth from their tightly-fitting places. How-ever, I +succeeded in getting them clear; and then taking them, one at a time, I +carried, or rather pushed them before me, until I had got them to the +very farthest corner of my quarters, by the end of the old brandy-cask. +There I arranged them, not in any loose or negligent manner, but with +the greatest precision and care; packing them into the smallest bulk, +and leaving no empty corners, between them and the timbers, big enough +to have given room to a rat. + +Not that I cared about rats sheltering themselves there. I no longer +troubled my head about them; and although I had reason to know that +there were still some of them in the neighbourhood, my late sanguinary +_razzia_ among them had evidently rendered them afraid to come within +reach of me. The terrible screeching which their companions had +uttered, while I was pounding the life out of them, had rung loudly all +through the hold of the ship, and had acted upon those of the survivors, +that had heard it, as a salutary warning. No doubt they were greatly +frightened by what they had heard; and perceiving that I was a dangerous +fellow-passenger, would be likely to give me a "wide berth" during the +remainder of the voyage. + +It was not any thought about the rats, then, that caused me to caulk up +every corner so closely, but simply with the view of economising space; +for, as I have already said, this was the point about which I had the +greatest apprehensions. + +Proceeding, then, in this vigorous but careful manner, I at length +emptied the upper box, and finished by stowing away its contents behind +me. I had managed the latter to my entire satisfaction, and I was under +the belief that I had repacked the pieces of cloth in such a manner as +to lose scarcely the bulk of one of them of my valuable space. + +The result had an encouraging effect upon me, and produced a +cheerfulness of spirits to which I had long been a stranger. In this +pleasant mood I mounted into the upper box--the one which I had just +cleared--and after placing one of the loose boards across the bottom, +which had been partially removed, I sat down upon it, leaving my legs to +hang over into the empty space below. In this attitude, which was +entirely new to me, and in which I had plenty of room to sit upright and +at my ease, I found a new source of gratification. Confined so long +within a chamber whose greatest height was little over three feet, while +my own was four, I had been compelled to stoop in a crouching attitude +whenever I attempted to stand; and I was even obliged to sit with my +legs bent, and my knees on a level with my chin. These inconveniences +are but slight, when one has only to suffer them for a short while; but +under long endurance, they become irksome and even painful. It was, +therefore, not only a release, but a great luxury to me, to find that I +had room enough to sit upright, and with my legs at full stretch. +Better still, I could also _stand_ erect, for the two boxes now +communicated with each other, and it was full six feet from the bottom +of the one to the top of the other. Of course my own height being only +four, left two feet of space between the crown of my head and the +ceiling of my new apartment, which I could not even touch with the tips +of my fingers. + +Perceiving my advantages, I did not remain long seated. I had gone into +the upper box, chiefly for the purpose of making a survey of its +dimensions, and also to ascertain whether I had quite cleared out its +contents; and then I had sat down as described. But I was not long in +this attitude, when it occurred to me that I could enjoy a "stand up" +still better; and with this idea I slipped back again till my feet +rested on the bottom of the lower case, while my head, neck, and +shoulders remained within the compartment of the upper. This gave me an +attitude perfectly erect, and I was not slow in perceiving that this was +for me the true position of rest. Contrary to the usual habit of human +bipeds, standing was to me easier than sitting; but there was nothing +odd about the thing, when it is remembered how many long days and nights +I had spent either seated or on my knees; and I now longed to assume +that proud attitude which distinguishes mankind from the rest of +creation. In truth, I felt it to be a positive luxury to be permitted +once more to stand at full height; and for a long while I remained in +this attitude without moving a limb. + +I was not idle, however. My mind was active as ever; and the subject +with which it was occupied was the direction in which I should next +carry my tunnel--whether still upward, through the lid of the +newly-emptied case, or whether through the end that lay toward the +hatchway? The choice lay between a _horizontal_ and a _vertical_ +direction. There were reasons in favour of each--and reasons also that +influenced me against one and the other--and to weigh these reasons, and +finally determine upon which direction I should take, was a matter of so +much importance that it was a good while before I could bring my plans +to a satisfactory conclusion. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SIX. + +SHIP-SHAPE. + +There was one reason that would have influenced me to cut upward through +the lid. It was, that by taking that direction, I should arrive the +sooner at the top of all the packages; and once there, I might find a +vacant space between them and the timbers of the deck, through which I +could crawl at once to the hatchway. This would give me less tunnelling +to do, since the vertical line would be shorter than that passing +diagonally to the hatch. In fact, every foot gained in a horizontal +direction would appear to be no gain at all, since there would still be +the same height to be reached vertically. + +It was highly probable there was a space between the cargo and the +under-side of the deck timbers; and in the hope that this might be so, I +made up my mind not to proceed in the horizontal direction unless when I +should be forced out of the other by some obstacle that I could not +remove. For all this, I resolved to make my first cut _horizontally_; +and three reasons guided me to this resolve. The first was, that the +end-boards of the case appeared somewhat loose, as if they could be +easily got out of the way. The second was, that in thrusting the blade +of my knife through the slits of the lid, it touched against a soft but +stiff substance, which had all the "feel" of one of those dreaded +packages which had hitherto proved so often an obstacle, and which I had +already most bitterly anathematised. + +I tried the slit in several places, and still touched what appeared to +be a bale of linen. At the end of the case I made trial also, but there +it was wood that resisted the point of my blade. It appeared to be +deal, and the same as the other boxes were made of; but even had it +proved to be timber of the hardest kind, it would be easier to cut a +hole through it than through a bale of linen. + +This reason would have been of itself sufficient to have influenced me +to choose the horizontal direction; but there was still a third that +offered itself to my view. + +This third reason will not be so easily understood by those who are +unacquainted with the interior of the hold of a ship, particularly such +ships as were built in the time of which I am speaking, which you will +remember was a great many years ago. In ships of the proper shape, such +as the Americans have taught us to build, the reason I am about to give +would not have any application. + +But I shall enter into particulars, so that you may comprehend it; and, +at the same time, in this trifling digression from the thread of my +narrative, I hope, young friends, to teach you a lesson of political +wisdom that may benefit both you and your country when you are old +enough to practise it. + +I hold the doctrine, or, I should rather say, I have long been aware of +the fact (for there is no "doctrine" about it), that the study which is +usually styled Political Science, is the most important study that ever +occupied the attention of men. It embraces and influences all other +existences in the social world. Every art, science, or manufacture +hinges upon this, and depends upon it for success or failure. Even +morality itself is but a corollary of the political state, and crime a +consequence of its bad organisation. The political _status_ of a +country is the _main_ cause of its happiness or its misery. In no case +has government reached anything approaching to justice; hence, there is +no people who ever has, as a whole, enjoyed ordinary happiness. +Poverty, misery, crime, degradation, are the lot of the _majority_ in +every land, except one, and in that one there is yet nothing near +perfection in government, only a step in advance. + +As I have said, then, the _laws_ of a country--in other words, its +_political_ condition--influence almost everything: the ship we set sail +in, the carriage we ride in, the implements of our labour, the utensils +we employ in our dwellings, even the comfort of our dwellings +themselves. Nay more, and of still greater importance, they influence +_ourselves_--the shape of our bodies, and the disposition of our souls. +The dash of a despot's pen, or a foolish act passed in Parliament, which +might appear to have no personal application to any one, may exert a +secret and invisible influence, that, in one single generation, will +make a whole people wicked in soul and ignoble in person. + +I could prove what I state with the certainty of a geometric truth, but +I have no time now. Enough if I give you an illustration. Hear it, +then:-- + +Many years ago a law was passed in the British Parliament for the +taxation of ships, for they, like everything else, must pay for their +existence. There was a difficulty how to proportion this tax. It would +scarcely be just to make the owner of a poor little schooner pay the +enormous sum required from him who is the proprietor of a grand ship of +two thousand tons. It would at once eat up the profits of the lesser +craft, and _swamp_ her altogether. How, then, was this difficulty to be +got over? A reasonable solution appeared. Tax each vessel in +proportion to her tonnage. + +The scheme was adopted; but then another difficulty presented itself. +How was this proportion to be obtained? It was by _bulk_ that the ships +were to be taxed; but tonnage is _weight_, not bulk. How, then, was +this new difficulty to be got over? Simply by taking some standard size +as the weight of a ton, and then ascertaining how many of these _sizes_ +the vessel would contain. In fact, after all, it came to _measurement_, +not weight. + +Next came the idea as to how the measurement was to be made, so that it +would exhibit the relative proportions of ships; and that was very +fittingly done by ascertaining in each the length of keel, the breadth +of beam, and the depth of the hold. These three, when multiplied +together, will give relative sizes of ships, _if these skips be properly +constructed_. + +A law was thus obtained sufficiently just for taxation purposes, and you +would think (if you are a superficial thinker) that this law could in no +way exert any bad influence, except on those who had the tax to pay. + +Not so; that simple, unsuspicious-looking law has caused more evil to +the human race, more waste of time and loss of life, more consumption of +human means, than would buy up at the present moment all the slavery +existing in the world! + +How has it done this? You will ask the question with surprise, I have +no doubt. + +Simply, then, by its not only having retarded the progress of +improvement in ship-building--one of the most important arts in the +possession of man--but actually by its having thrown the art _backward_ +by hundreds of years. And thus came the evil to pass: the owner--or he +who was to be the owner--of a new ship, seeing no means of avoiding the +heavy tax, was desirous of reducing it as much as possible, for +dishonesty of this kind is the certain and natural result of +over-taxation. He goes to the ship-builder; he orders him to build a +vessel with such and such measurements of keel, beam and depth of hold-- +in other words, of such tonnage as will be required to pay a certain +amount of tax. But he does not stop there: he desires the builder, if +possible, to make the vessel otherwise of such capacity that she will +actually contain a third more of measured tonnage than that for which +the tax is to be paid. This will lighten his tax upon the whole, and +thus enable him to _cheat the government_ that has put such a grievous +impost upon his enterprise. + +Is it possible to build a ship of the kind he requires? Quite so; and +the ship-builder knows he can accomplish it by swelling out the vessel +at the bows, and bellying her out at the sides, and broadening her at +the stern, and altogether making her of such a ridiculous shape, that +she will move slowly, and become the grave of many a hapless mariner. +The ship-builder not only knows that this can be done; but, complying +with the wishes of the merchant-owner, he does it, and has done it for +so long a period that he has grown to believe that this clumsy structure +is the true shape of a ship, and would not, and could not, build any +other. Nay, still more lamentable to state: this awkward form has so +grown into his thoughts, and become part of his belief, that after the +foolish law is repealed, it will take long, long years to eradicate the +deception from his mind. In fact, a new generation of ship-builders +will have to be waited for, before ships will appear of a proper and +convenient form. Fortunately, that new generation has already sprung up +beyond the Atlantic, and by their aid we shall get out of this hundred +years' dilemma a little sooner. Even they have been half a century in +arriving at what is yet far from perfection in the art; but, unsaddled +by the incubus of the tax, they have been looking at the fishes in the +sea, and drawing a few ideas from the mechanism of nature; and hence +their present superiority. + +Now you will better understand what I mean by the assertion that +_political science is the most important study that can occupy the minds +of men_. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN. + +A VERY GRAND OBSTACLE. + +The good ship _Inca_, then, was like most others built to the merchants' +order. She was "pigeon-breasted," and bulged out along the sides in +such a fashion, that her hold was far wider than her beam; and, looking +up from the bottom of the hold, the sides appeared to curve towards each +other, and converge over you like a roof. I knew that this was the +shape of the _Inca_, for it was then the universal shape of merchant +vessels, and I was somewhat used to noticing ships of all kinds that +came into our bay. + +I have said that, while trying through the slits of the top of the box +with my knife, I felt something soft, which I took to be a bale of +linen; but I had also noticed that it did not extend over the whole lid. +On the contrary, there was about a foot at the end--that end contiguous +to the ship's timbers--where I could feel nothing. There were two +slits, and I had run my blade through each without touching any +substance, either hard or soft. I concluded, therefore, that there was +nothing there, and that about a foot of space behind the bale of linen +was empty. + +This was easily explained. The bale standing on the two large +cloth-cases, was at that height where the side of the ship began to +curve inwards; and as its top would lie in contact with the timbers +higher up, the bottom angle would evidently be thrown out from them to +the distance of a foot or so, thus leaving a three-cornered space quite +empty, being only large enough to hold small packages of goods. + +I reasoned, therefore, that if I were to proceed vertically upward, I +should soon come in contact with the side timbers of the ship, +constantly curving inward as high as the deck itself, and that I should +meet with many obstacles, such as small packages, which I knew would be +more difficult to deal with than large cases and boxes. For this +reason, then, but more for the others already assigned, I came to the +determination to make my next move in a horizontal direction. + +You will perhaps wonder that I should have taken so much pains to +determine this point; but when you reflect upon the time and labour +which it required to cut through the side of a box, and then through the +adjacent side of the next--in short, to make a "stage" in advance--when +you reflect that a _whole day_ might be so occupied, you will then +perceive how important it was not to act rashly, but, if possible, to +proceed in the right direction. + +After all, I was not quite so long in choosing which way to go, as I +have here been in narrating my reflections about it. It only required a +few minutes for me to make up my mind; but I was so pleased at being +once more on my legs, that I remained standing for nearly half an hour. + +When sufficiently rested by this, I placed my arms inside the upper +case; and then, drawing myself up, prepared to go on with my work. + +I experienced a thrill of joy as I found myself in this upper box. I +was now in the _second tier_ of the packages, and more than six feet +from the bottom of the hold. I was full three feet higher than I had +yet been; three feet nearer to the deck and the sky--to my +fellow-creatures--to liberty! + +On minutely examining the end of the case through which I intended to +make an aperture, I was further joyed to find that this part of my work +would not be difficult. One board was already loose--the looseness +having been caused by my tearing out the large piece at the bottom. +Moreover, the blade of my knife told me that the object that was beyond, +did not stand close up to the case, but was several inches from it. In +fact, I could only just reach it with the tip of the blade. This was a +manifest advantage. I should be able, by a strong push or kick, to +start the board outward, and then dispose of it on one side or the other +between the two packages. + +And this I finally succeeded in doing. Booted for the purpose, I laid +myself back, and then commenced beating a tattoo with my heels. + +In a short while the "scranching" sound announced that the hoops and +nails were giving way; and after another kick or two the board flew out, +and slipped down between the boxes quite out of my reach. + +I was not slow in thrusting my hands through the aperture thus made, and +endeavouring to ascertain what sort of an article was to come next; but +though I could feel a broad surface of rough plank, I was unable to make +out what sort of a package it was. + +I knocked out another piece from the end of the cloth-case, and then a +third--which was all there was of it--so that I had now the whole end +open before me. + +This gave me a fine opportunity to explore beyond, and I continued my +examination. To my surprise, I found that the broad surface of rough +deal extended in every direction beyond my reach. It rose vertically, +like a wall, not only covering the whole end of the cloth-case, but +stretching beyond it, upward and on both sides--how far I could not +tell, but so far that, after thrusting my arms up to the elbows, I could +feel neither edge nor corner. + +This, then, was certainly a case of different shape and size from any I +had yet encountered; but what kind of goods it contained, I had not the +slightest idea. Cloth it was not likely to be, else it would have +resembled the other cases; nor yet linen--and there was some +gratification in knowing it could not be this. + +In order to ascertain what it really was, I inserted my blade through +the slits of the rough deal. I felt something like paper; but I could +perceive that this was only an outside covering, for immediately under +it a hard substance resisted the point of my blade, almost as hard and +smooth as marble. By pressing the knife forcibly, however, I could feel +that it was not stone, but wood, some kind that was very hard, and that +appeared to be polished finely on the surface. When I struck suddenly +against it, it gave out an odd echo--a sort of ringing sound, or +"twang," but for all this, I could not imagine what it was. + +There was no help for it but to cut into the case, and then perhaps I +should become better acquainted with the contents. + +I followed a plan I had tried already. I selected one of the boards, of +which the great case was made, and with my knife cut it across the +middle. It was nearly twelve inches in width, and the work occupied me +for many long hours. My knife had become as "dull as a beetle," and +this added to the difficulty of the task. + +The section was completed, at length; and, laying aside the knife, I +contrived to draw one end of the cut plank outwards. The space between +the two cases gave me room to move the board upward and downward, till +at length the nails at the end were twisted out, and the board fell down +along with the others. + +The second half was displaced in a similar manner; and I had now made an +opening in the great case, large enough to enable me to examine its +contents. + +There were sheets of paper spread over the surface of something hard and +smooth. These I dragged outwards, and laid the surface bare; and then I +ran my fingers over it. I perceived that it was some kind of wood, but +polished till it was as slippery as glass. It felt to the touch just +like the surface of a mahogany table; and I might have mistaken it for +one, but on rapping it with my knuckles, it gave forth that same ringing +hollow sound I had already noticed. Striking it with still greater +violence, I could hear a prolonged musical vibration, that reminded me +of an Eolian harp. + +But I had now become aware of the nature of this huge object. It was a +_Pianoforte_. I had seen one like it before. One used to stand in the +corner of our little parlour, upon which my mother often made most +beautiful music. Yes, the object whose broad smooth surface now barred +my way, was neither more nor less than a _Piano_. + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT. + +TURNING THE PIANO. + +It was with unpleasant feelings I arrived at this knowledge. Beyond +doubt, the piano would be a difficult obstacle, if not a complete +barrier, to my further progress in that direction. It was evidently one +of the grandest of "grand pianos," far larger than the one I remembered +to have stood in my mother's cottage parlour. Its upper side, or table, +was towards me, for it had been placed upon its edge; and I could tell +by the echo given back to my blows that this table was a piece of +mahogany of an inch or more in thickness. It appeared, moreover, to +consist of one solid board, for I could feel no crack or joining over +its whole extent; and to get through this board, therefore, a hole would +have to be made by sheer cutting and carving. + +With such a tool as I handled, to make a hole big enough to creep +through, even had it been common deal, would have been a work of no +ordinary magnitude; but through a solid plank of mahogany doubly +hardened by a process of staining and polishing, was a task that +appalled me. + +Besides, even could I succeed in doing so--even could I cut through the +table-top--which, though a severe and tedious labour, would not have +been impossible--what then? There were all the inside works to be got +out. I knew little of the arrangement of the interior. I only +remembered having observed a great many pieces of black and white ivory; +and vast numbers of strong wire strings. There were shelves too, and +pieces that ran lengthwise, and upright pieces, and then the pedals--all +of which would be very difficult to detach from their places. Beyond +these, again, there would be a bottom of hard mahogany, to say nothing +of the case on the other side, and through these another aperture would +have to be made to let me out. + +Still, other difficulties stared me in the face. Even should I succeed +in getting the works loose, and drawing them out, and disposing of them +behind me, would I then find room enough within the shell of the +instrument to enable me to cut through its opposite side and also the +case, and, still more, to make an entrance into whatever case or box lay +beyond? This was a doubtful point, though not very doubtful. It was +rather too certain that I could not do so. + +Still, I might work upwards once I had cleared out the shell; but the +clearing out the shell was of itself the most doubtful point; for that I +feared I should not be able to effect at all. + +On the whole, the difficulty of this enterprise quite dismayed me; and +the more I thought about it, the less inclination I felt to attempt it. +After considering it in all its bearings, I abandoned the idea +altogether; and instead of trying to make a breach through the great +wall of mahogany, I resolved upon "turning" it. + +I was considerably chagrined at being forced into this resolution, the +more so that I had lost half a day's labour in hewing through the +outside case; and all this, as well as the opening of the end of the +cloth-box, now counted for nothing. But it could not be helped. I had +no time to spend in idle regrets; and, like a besieging general, I +commenced a fresh _reconnaissance_ of the ground, in order to discover +what would be my best route to _outflank_ the fortress. + +I was still under the belief that it was a bale of linen that lay on the +top, and this quite hindered me from thinking of going upward. My +attention was turned, therefore, to the right and the left. + +I knew that by tunnelling either way I should gain no advantage. It +would not bring me an inch nearer the desired goal; and even after I +should have made a stage in either direction, I should still be only in +the "second tier." This was discouraging enough--more loss of labour +and time--but I dreaded that horrid bale of linen! + +One advantage I had gained by knocking out the whole end of the +cloth-case. I have already said there was a space of several inches +between it and the great _coffin_ that contained the piano. Into this +space I could insert my arm beyond the elbow, and ascertain something +about the sort of goods that lay right and left of me. + +I did so. I was able to perceive that on each side was a box or case-- +both of which, as near as I could guess, were similar to that in which I +was--that is, both were cloth-cases. This would do well enough. I had +now obtained such practice in breaking open these chests, and rifling +them of their contents, that I considered it a mere bagatelle; and I +should not have desired anything better than that the cargo had +consisted entirely of those goods, for which the West of England has +long been so famous. + +While groping along the sides of these cases, it occurred to me to raise +my hand upward, and just ascertain how far the bale of linen projected +over the empty cloth-case. To my astonishment it did not project at +all! I say to my astonishment, for those bales I had already examined +were as near as possible of the same size as the cases of broadcloth; +and as this one wanted quite a foot of being "flush" with the inner end +of the case, I concluded I should find it that much over at the other +end. But it was not--not an inch over; and therefore, thought I, it +must be a smaller package than the others. + +While making this reflection something suggested that I should +scrutinise the bale more closely. I did so, both with my fingers and +the blade of my knife, and was now agreeably surprised to find that it +was not a _bale_ at all, but a wooden box. It was covered all over with +a soft thick substance--a piece of rush matting--and this it was that +had led to my mistake. + +The possibility of tunnelling in a vertical direction was now apparent. +I could easily hew off the rush matting and then deal with the box as I +had done with the others. + +Of course, I thought no longer of taking the roundabout way by the right +or the left; but at once changed my intention, and determined to travel +upward. + +I need hardly describe how I made my entry into this mat-covered box. +Suffice it to say, that I began by cutting one of the lid boards of the +empty cloth-case, and then drawing it downwards till I pulled it out. +The open space by the side of the ship proved an advantage to me while +making the cross-section, as it allowed me to ply my blade freely +through the planks. + +Having succeeded with one board, I was enabled to detach another without +any more hewing; and this gave me enough space to work on the bottom of +the covered case. + +By dint of cutting and tearing I soon got the rushes out of the way, and +then the wood was revealed to my touch; and by this delicate sense I +perceived that, like the others, it was a case of common deal. + +I only rested a moment before beginning my attack upon it. As it lay +twelve inches from the timbers of the ship, one of its angles was quite +within my reach; and on running my hand along it, I could feel the heads +of the nails, that did not appear to be either numerous or very firmly +driven. This gave me satisfaction, and still more was I rejoiced to +find that there was no hooping upon it. I should, perhaps, be enabled +to prise off one of the boards, and this would save me the long, +wearisome task of cutting it crossways. + +At the moment this appeared a fortunate circumstance, and I +congratulated myself upon it. Alas! it proved the cause of a sad +misfortune, that in five minutes had plunged me once more into the +deepest misery. + +Half-a-dozen words will explain. + +I had inserted the blade of my knife under the board, and was trying if +it felt loose. Not that I believed I could prize it off with this; but +rather to ascertain what resistance there was, in order to look out for +some more proper lever. + +To my sorrow, I leant too heavily upon the piece of steel; for a short, +sharp crack, startling me worse than a shot would have done, announced +that _the blade was broken_! + + + +CHAPTER FIFTY NINE. + +THE BROKEN BLADE. + +Yes, the blade was broken quite through, and remained sticking between +the pieces of wood. The haft came away in my hand; and as I passed my +thumb over the end of it, I could perceive that the blade had snapped +off close to the end of the back-spring, so that not even the tenth of +an inch of it was left in the handle. + +I cannot describe the chagrin which this incident caused me. I at once +recognised it as a misfortune of the very gravest kind, for without the +knife what could I do? + +Without it I was, as might be said, _unarmed and helpless_. I could +make no further progress with my tunnel; I should have to abandon the +enterprise so lately conceived, and upon which I had built such hopes of +success; in other words, I might now renounce my design of proceeding +farther, and resign myself to the miserable fate that once more stared +me in the face. + +There was something awful in this reaction of my spirits. It was +painful in the extreme. The very suddenness of the change rendered the +shock more acute. But the moment before, I was full of confidence, +making fair progress in my enterprise, and cheered with partial success. +This unexpected misfortune had interrupted all, and plunged me back +again into the gloomy gulf of despair. + +For a long while I remained wavering and undecided. I could not make up +my mind to do anything. What could I do? I could not continue my work: +I had no tool to work with! + +My mind seemed to wander. Several times I passed my thumb along the +handle of my knife, till it rested upon the short stump of the broken +blade, or rather upon the neck, for the blade was all gone. I did this +in a sort of mechanical way, to assure myself that it was really broken +off; for so sudden had been the misfortune, that I could yet hardly +believe in its reality. In truth, it had quite bewildered my senses, +and in this state they remained for several minutes. + +When the first shock was over, my self-possession slowly and gradually +returned. Assured at length of the sad reality, and knowing the worst, +I began to reflect whether something might not still be done with the +broken weapon. + +The words of a great poet, which I had heard at school, came into my +mind: "_Men better do their broken weapons use, than their bare hands_;" +and the suggestion that this wise saying afforded, I now took to myself. +It occurred to me, then, to examine the blade. The haft I held in my +hand, but the blade still remained in the angle of the box, where it had +broken off. + +I drew it out, and passed my finger over it. It was still entire, and +as much of a blade as ever; but, alas! without the handle, what use +could I make of it? + +I grasped it round the thick end, and made trial whether I could still +cut with it. It was some satisfaction to find that I could--a little. +The blade was a good long one, and this was a fortunate circumstance. +By wrapping a piece of rag around the thick end, I might yet make it +available; though, of course, any cutting I might hereafter do with it, +would be a slow and painful operation. + +The idea of setting the blade in the haft again was out of the question. +It is true I entertained it at first, but I soon discovered a +difficulty not to be got over; and that was the removal of the +back-spring. + +Could I only have got this out of the way, the haft would still have +served for a handle. I could easily have inserted the broken end of the +blade between the scales; and as I had plenty of good string, I might +have tied it firmly there. But I had nothing to draw the well-riveted +nail, and the back-spring resisted all my efforts to detach it. + +The haft, therefore, was of no more use than an ordinary piece of +stick--indeed, not so much, for just then it occurred to me that a piece +of stick might serve my purpose better. Out of a proper piece, I might +be able to make some sort of a handle that would serve to hold the +blade, so that I might still cut with it. + +The encouragement which this idea gave me, once more roused my mind to +new activity, and I set to thinking how I might make a new haft for the +broken blade. + +Necessity sharpened my ingenuity; and I was not long in conceiving my +design, nor a great while either about the execution of it; for in about +an hour's time I held in my hand a knife with a complete handle. It was +but a rude one at best; but I felt satisfied it would serve my purpose +nearly as well as that which I had lost; and this belief once more +restored me to confidence and cheerfulness. + +The new haft I had made in the following fashion:--Having procured a +piece of wood from one of the thick boards, I first whittled it to the +proper shape and size. This I was enabled to do with the blade, which, +although without a handle, served well enough for light work like that. +I then contrived to make a cleft in the stick, to the depth of two +inches from its end; and into this cleft I inserted the broken end of +the blade. To lap this tightly with a string, was my next idea; but I +perceived at once that this would not do. The string would be stretched +by the action of the blade, and the latter would soon get loose. If the +sharp edge only came against the twine, while the blade was being worked +backwards and forwards, it would instantly sever it, and then the blade +would pull out, perhaps drop down among the boxes, and so get lost. +Such an accident would be fatal to my prospects; and, if possible, I +must not risk it. + +What could I find that would fasten the blade more securely in the +cleft? If I could have obtained a yard or two of wire, it would have +been just the thing; but there was no wire near me. What! thought I, no +wire near me? The piano! the strings! surely _they_ are of wire? + +Once more the piano became the object of my attention; and if I could at +that moment have reached the inside of it, I should certainly have +robbed it of one of its strings. But, then, to get at the string?--that +was a difficulty I had not thought of, but which the next moment came up +before me. Of course, with my knife in its present condition, to cut my +way into the piano would be a sheer impossibility, and I was forced to +abandon the idea. + +But in that instant I thought of another expedient--I thought of the +iron hooping, of which there was plenty within my reach. The very +thing. A piece of this would serve my purpose equally as well as wire. +It was thin and pliable, and one or two turns of it around the haft, by +the neck of the blade, would hold the latter in its place admirably, and +prevent it from budging either backwards or forwards. A string, lapped +tightly over all, would keep the hoop from getting loose, and thus I +should have a complete handle. + +No sooner thought of than done. The piece of hoop was at once searched +for and found. It was neatly wound round the neck of the blade and +haft; and having been firmly tied with strong twine, I found myself once +more in possession of a knife. The blade was of course much shorter +than before, but I believed it would still be long enough for cutting +through the thickest planks I should encounter; and with this belief I +felt satisfied. + +The different operations I have detailed must have occupied me for +twenty hours at least. I was worn and wearied, and should have sought +rest much sooner; but after the breaking of the blade, I could not think +of resting. It would have been of no use attempting to sleep: my misery +would have kept me awake. + +The new knife, however, had restored my confidence; and I could no +longer resist the desire to take that repose which, both in mind and +body, I so much stood in need of. + +I need hardly add that hunger compelled me to resort once more to my +miserable larder; but, strange as it may appear to you--and as it does +now to me--I felt no hardship in the kind of diet; but, on the contrary, +ate my _rat-supper_ with as much relish as I should now do the choicest +of dishes! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY. + +A TRIANGULAR CHAMBER. + +I passed the night--I should rather say the hours of rest--in my old +apartment, behind the water-butt. Whether it was night or day, I no +longer knew nor cared. On this occasion I slept well, and awoke +refreshed and strengthened. My new diet, no doubt, aided in producing +this effect; for, however repugnant it might be to a dainty palate, it +served well enough for a famished stomach. + +I was not loath to make my breakfast upon it, which I did the moment +after awaking; and that finished, I again crawled back through my +"gallery," and entered the empty box, where I had already spent nearly +the whole of a day and night. + +As I climbed into the same place, I could not help thinking how little +way I had made during my last spell of twenty hours; but some secret +thought inspired me with the hope, that on this occasion I should be +more fortunate. + +My intention was to continue the work which had been interrupted by the +breaking of my knife. Before that unlucky accident befell me, I had +noticed that the board was not very firmly nailed on. It could be +started easily enough with a proper tool; I fancied that even a good +piece of stick would do it. + +I was careful not to make any more rash experiments with the blade of my +knife. Now, more than ever, did I value this precious weapon; for I was +fully sensible that my life depended on its endurance. + +"If I only had a piece of some hard wood!" thought I. + +I remembered that in making an entrance into the brandy-cask I had cut +large pieces from the oaken staves. Perhaps one of these would do? + +With the thought, I hurried back to the little chamber where I knew they +were lying. + +After removing some pieces of cloth, I found them; and having groped +among the cuttings, I possessed myself of a piece that appeared as if it +would suit my purpose. + +Getting back to the box, I even shaped out a little crowbar, by giving +the stick a wedge end with my knife; and this thin end I inserted under +the plank, and drove it inward as far as I could, by striking it with a +heavy piece of board. + +It soon took hold; and then grasping it by the end, and jerking it +downwards, I had the gratification to hear the creaking of the nails as +they started outward. My fingers now took the place of the little +lever; and the board came "skreeking" out of the bottom of the box. + +That contiguous to it was more easily detached; and the two left me an +aperture large enough to get out the contents, whatever they might be. + +They were oblong packages, shaped like pieces of cloth or linen, but +they felt lighter and more elastic than either. Better still, they +could be pulled out more easily, and without the necessity of being +taken out of their envelopes. + +I had no curiosity to know what they were, since I could tell they were +nothing eatable, and perhaps I should not have known till this day, but +that in drawing out one more tightly wedged than the rest, its wrapper +was torn off; and as I passed my fingers between the folds of the soft +light fabric, I guessed from their smooth silken surface that I was +dealing with the finest of _velvet_. + +The box was soon emptied, and its contents carefully stowed in the most +convenient space behind me; and then, with a joyous heart, I mounted +into the space I had cleared out. One more stage nearer to liberty! + +I had been less than two hours in accomplishing this great advance. +Such success was ominous of future good fortune. It was a day well +begun; and I resolved not to throw away a minute of time, since the +fates appeared so propitious. + +After going down to refresh myself with a grand draught of water, I +returned to the _ci-devant_ depository of the velvet, and there entered +upon a new series of explorations. As in the case of the cloth-box, I +saw that the end of this, which also abutted against the pianoforte, +could be easily _kicked out_; and without waiting to ascertain farther, +I set my heels against it, and began playing my old _tattoo_. + +This time I did not finish it so soon. I was pinched for want of room, +the velvet-box being much smaller than that which contained the cloth; +but I effected my purpose at length, and out went the end-boards, one +after another, dropping down into the interstices between the cases of +goods. + +Doubling myself over upon my knees, I leant forward to make a new +_reconnaissance_. I expected, or rather dreaded, to find the great +wall-like piano-case shutting up the whole space I had opened. +Certainly, the huge case was there--for I at once laid my hand upon it-- +but I could scarce restrain an exclamation of joy, when I found that it +extended scarce half-way across the opening! What delighted me still +further was, that, in groping around its edge, I observed that opposite +the opening in that part to which the piano-case did not extend, there +was a large space entirely empty--a space almost big enough to have +contained another case of velvet! + +This was a very joyful surprise, and I at once perceived the advantage +thus thrown in my way. It was so much of my tunnel ready made to my +hand. + +On thrusting my arm outside the end of the box and upward, I became +acquainted with a new source of joy. I perceived that the empty space +continued for ten or twelve inches higher than the top of the box--in +fact, to the top of the piano-case itself. It also opened about the +same distance below where my knees rested. There I perceived that it +ended in a sharp angle; for I had already noticed that this little +chamber was not of a _square_ shape, as we say, but of the form of a +triangle, with its apex pointing downwards. This was caused by the +peculiar construction of the piano-case, which resembled a great +parallelopipedon, with one corner sawed off. It was standing upon its +larger end, and it was where this corner should have been that the place +remained empty. + +In all likelihood the triangular shape of this space rendered it +inconvenient for any package which there was among the merchandise, and +hence was it unoccupied. + +So much the better for me, thought I, as I stretched forth my arms, and +leant my body over into it, with the design of giving it a more thorough +exploration. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY ONE. + +A MILLINER'S BOX. + +I was not long about this business. I soon perceived that the back of +the empty space was closed in by a large box, and a similar one blocked +up the right side. The left was the diagonal edge of the case itself, +about twenty inches or two feet in width. + +But I troubled myself very little either about back, left, or right. It +was the ceiling of the little chamber that had the greatest interest for +me; for it was in that direction I intended, _if possible_, to continue +my tunnel. + +I knew that I was now far enough in the horizontal direction; for the +chief advantage I had gained by the discovery of the empty space was, +that it carried me the thickness of the piano-case--about two feet, as I +have said--in this course, besides the distance that was open, upwards. +Neither forward, then, nor to the right or left, did I wish to go, +unless forced to do so by an obstacle. Upward was the echo of my +thoughts. _Excelsior_! _excelsior_! Two or three stages more--perhaps +less, if no obstacle intervened--and I might be free. My heart beat +joyfully as the prospect passed before my mind. + +It was not without a keen anxiety that I raised my hand to the ceiling +of the empty chamber. My fingers trembled as they touched what I well +knew to be canvas, and involuntarily they recoiled from it. O, mercy!-- +once more that hated fabric--a bale of linen! + +I was not so sure of this however. I remembered the mistake I had +already made in this regard. I must examine farther. + +I closed my fist, and gave the bottom of the package a smart rap with my +knuckles. Ha! it was a pleasant sound that answered to the blow. It +was not a bale of linen, then, but a box, covered, like many others, +with several folds of coarse cheap canvas. It could not be cloth, +either; for instead of the dull report which the cloth-boxes give out +when struck, the one in question returned a hollow sound, precisely that +of one that was empty! + +This appeared strange enough. It could not be empty, else why was it +there? and yet if not empty, what did it contain? + +I hammered upon it with the haft of my knife--still the same hollow +sound! + +"Good!" thought I. "If empty, all the better; but if not, surely there +is something in it of a light nature--something that may be easily got +rid of. Good!" + +After making this reflection, I resolved to waste no more time in +conjectures, but to satisfy myself of the contents of this new box, by +making my way into it; and in a trice I had ripped off the canvas that +protected its bottom. + +I found the position in which I stood inconvenient. The triangular +space, narrowing acutely towards the bottom, hindered me from standing +fairly on my feet; but I soon remedied this defect, by filling the angle +with some pieces of cloth and velvet that were near at hand. I then +proceeded more comfortably with my work. + +I need not detail the mode in which I burrowed through the bottom of the +box. It was just as with the others, and succeeded as well. I had to +make one cross-cut, and in this my newly-hafted blade behaved admirably; +after which, I pulled out the divided pieces. + +I was not a little surprised when I arrived at the inside, and +ascertained the contents of the box. It was some time before I could +make them out by the "feel," but when I had succeeded in getting one +separated from its fellows, and ran my fingers over its outline, I at +length recognised what they were. They were _bonnets_! + +Yes, ladies' bonnets, and nothing but that--all apparently full +"trimmed," and garnished with their feathers, flowers, and ribbons. + +Had I at that time possessed a more intimate knowledge of the costumes +of the Peruvians, I should have been more surprised, perhaps, to find +such an odd "item" in the list of their imports. I should have known +that such a thing as a bonnet is never seen upon the beautiful head of a +Peruvian lady. But I knew nothing of this then, and I was only +surprised by the oddity of such an article occurring in the cargo of a +great ship. + +The explanation was given me afterwards, thus:--that there were English +and French ladies living in many of the South American cities--the wives +and sisters of English and French merchants resident there, as well as +of various representative officials--and that these, although so very +far distant from their homes, still obstinately persisted in following +the fashions of London and Paris, notwithstanding (it was added) the +ridicule with which such an absurd headdress was regarded by their fair +sisters of Spanish America. + +For these sojourners, then, the box of bonnets had been intended. + +I am sorry to add that for that season their expectations must have been +disappointed. The bonnets could never have reached them, or, if they +did, it must have been in such a state as to render them unfit for any +purpose of adornment. Mine was an unmerciful hand; for, once inside +that box, it never ceased from wreck and ruin till the whole of those +beautiful "ducks" were crumpled up and stowed away in less than a tenth +part of the valuable space they had hitherto occupied. + +No doubt many an imprecation was afterwards heaped on my devoted head; +and the only apology I can make is to speak the simple truth--that with +me it was a matter of life or death, and the bonnets had to go. It was +not likely that this would be satisfactory in the quarter where the +bonnets were expected. I never heard whether or no. I only know that I +was enabled afterwards--but long afterwards--to satisfy my own +conscience about the matter, by _paying the damage_ claimed by the +Transatlantic milliner. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY TWO. + +HALF SUFFOCATED. + +Having disposed of the bonnets, my next step was to climb up into the +empty box; and, if possible, get the lid, or part of it, removed. But, +first, I endeavoured to ascertain what was on the top of it, and for +this purpose I adopted a plan that had already served me more than +once--of feeling through the slits with the blade of my knife. +Unfortunately, this was now shorter, and not so suitable for such a +service, but it was still long enough to reach through a piece of inch +plank, and two inches beyond, and this would no doubt enable me to +determine whether the next obstacle to be encountered was a hard or a +soft one. + +Once within the bonnet-box, I stuck my blade up through the lid. The +package above was composed of something soft and yielding. I remembered +that there was a canvas cover, but I drove the blade in to its hilt, and +still it encountered nothing like wood--nothing that resembled the +boarding of a box. + +But I was equally certain that it was not linen, for the blade +penetrated as freely as it would have done into a mass of butter, and +this would not have been the case had it been a bale of linen. Knowing +it could not be this, my mind was easy. I would rather have had to deal +with anything else. + +I tried in several places--in fact, all over the top--and at every point +I could bury my blade as far as the haft would let it go, with a very +slight effort used to push it in. Certainly the package consisted of +some substance I had not before encountered, but as to what it was I +could form no idea. + +However, it did not feel as though it would present a serious obstacle +to my progress; and under this pleasant impression, I went to work to +undermine it, by taking a board out of the lid upon which it lay. + +This, of course, required me to go through the tedious and painful +process of making a cross-section with my knife--a kind of work that +absorbed more of my time, and caused me more labour, than all the rest +put together. But it was absolutely necessary, for there was no other +plan by which I could tunnel through the tops of the boxes. On each +rested the heavy weight of the packages above, and to start one of the +planks, with this weight pressing down upon it, was impossible. It was +only by cutting them across that they could be removed. + +The lid of the bonnet-box did not prove so difficult to cut through. It +was of thin deal, and in about a half or three quarters of an hour I had +the middle piece of the three--for there were just three boards in it-- +cut into twain. The sections were easily bent downwards, and removed. + +A patch of the canvas covering was then hacked off, and I could now get +my hand upon the unknown package that was resting on the top. I +recognised the object at once. I had been enough about my uncle's barn +to know the feel of a sack. This, then, was a _sack_. + +It was full of something: of what?--wheat, or barley, or oats? No, it +was not grain--something softer and finer: was it a sack of meal? + +I should soon ascertain that. My blade entered the sack, and a slit was +cut large enough to admit my fist. I had no need to thrust my hand +inside, for as I held it under the vent thus opened, I felt a soft, +powdery substance streaming downward, with which my palm was instantly +filled; and as my fingers closed upon it, I felt satisfied that I had +got hold of a fistful of flour. My hand went straight to my lips, and a +single taste of the precious dust confirmed my conjecture. It was a +sack of flour. + +This was a joyous discovery. Here was food, and enough to last me for +months! No more danger of starvation--no more rat diet. No. On flour +and water I could live like a prince. What matter if it was raw? it was +sweet, and palatable, and wholesome. + +"Heaven be praised! I am no longer in danger!" + +Some such exclamation escaped me, as I arrived at a full appreciation of +the importance of my new discovery. + +I had now been at work for many hours, and once more needed rest. I was +hungry, too, and could not resist the desire to make a grand meal on the +new article of diet; and, filling my pockets with the flour, I prepared +to return to my old lair behind the water-butt. I took the precaution +to stanch the wound I had made in the flour-sack, by sticking a piece of +loose canvas into the vent, and then I commenced my descent. The rats, +bag and all, were chucked into the first convenient corner that offered, +with the hope that no necessity would ever require me to draw them out +again; and, then, having mixed me a large quantity of flour paste, I +made as hearty a meal upon it as if it had been the nicest hasty +_pudding_ that ever was cooked. + +A few hours of good sleep again refreshed me; and, on awaking, I ate +another hasty meal of the paste, and after that commenced ascending my +now greatly-extended gallery. + +As I climbed through the second tier of boxes, I was surprised to feel +on all sides of me a soft, powdery substance, resembling dust scattered +over the boards wherever they lay horizontally; but on passing into the +triangular space by the piano-case, I found the lower half of this +cavity filled with the same dust, so that, as I stepped upon it, I sank +up to the ankles. I perceived, moreover, that a shower of this soft +substance was falling down upon my head and shoulders; and, as I +inadvertently turned my face upwards, it came rushing into my mouth and +eyes, causing me to sneeze and cough in the most violent manner. + +I felt for a moment as if I was in danger of being suffocated, and my +first impulse was to beat a speedy retreat, and get back to the rear of +the water-butt. But I had no need to go quite so far; for on getting +out to the old biscuit-box, I perceived that there the dust no longer +reached me. + +I was not long in arriving at an explanation of this singular +phenomenon. It was the flour that was causing such a "stoor." The +movement of the ship had shaken out the canvas rag with which I had +stopped the vent, and the flour was escaping. No doubt this was the +cause of the wastage. + +The idea that all the flour would be lost rushed into my mind, and, as a +consequence, that I should once more be forced to return to the rat +diet. It would be necessary, therefore, to ascend to the sack, and stop +the wastage at once. + +Notwithstanding some apprehensions I had on the score of suffocation, I +perceived the necessity of action; and closing both mouth and eyes, I +scrambled as fast as I could towards the empty bonnet-box. + +I felt flour lodged on all sides as I went up, but I fancied it was no +longer showering downwards. This was in reality the fact; for on +reaching the bonnet-box, I found that it had ceased to run out of the +sack, and for the best of reasons--it was now all out of it. The sack +was empty! + +Perhaps I should have regarded this as a greater misfortune, but I saw +that the flour was not all lost. A good deal, no doubt, had filtered +through the crevices, and got down to the bottom of the hold; but a +large quantity--as much as I would be likely to need--had lodged upon +the pieces of cloth that I had placed in the bottom of the triangular +cavity, and also in other places where I could get at it whenever I +wanted. + +It mattered little, however; for in another moment I had made a +discovery that drove all thoughts of the flour out of my head, and +rendered any calculation about my future provision--either of food or +water--a subject of the most trifling importance. + +I had stretched up my hand to ascertain if the sack was quite empty. It +appeared so. Why, then, should I not pull it through the aperture, and +get it out of the way? No reason why I should not; and I at once +dragged it down, and flung it behind me. + +I then raised my head through the end of the box into the space where +the sack had lain. + +Merciful heavens! What did I behold? _Light! light! light_! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY THREE. + +LIGHT AND LIFE. + +Yes, my eyes were once more cheered with heavenly light, producing +within my heart a joy sudden and complete. I could not describe the +happiness I felt. Every fear at once forsook me. I had no longer the +slightest apprehension. I was saved! + +The light I saw was but a very slender beam--a mere ray--that appeared +to penetrate through a crack between two planks. It was above me, not +vertically above me, but rather in a diagonal line, and apparently about +eight or ten feet distant. + +I knew it could not be through the deck that the light came. There are +no open spaces between the planks of a ship's deck. It must be through +the hatchway; and very likely the crack I saw was through the boarding +of the hatch, at a place where the tarpaulin might be off or torn. + +While gazing on this tiny beam, shining like a meteor above me, I +thought it the loveliest object I had ever looked upon. No star in the +blue sky had ever appeared to me half so brilliant or beautiful; it was +like the eye of some good angel smiling upon me, and bidding me welcome +again to the world of life. + +I did not remain long in my position within the bonnet-box. I believed +myself near the end of my labour, and the accomplishment of my hopes, +and had no inclination to pause upon the threshold of deliverance. The +nearer to the goal, the more earnest had I become to reach it; and +therefore, without further hesitation, I set about widening the aperture +already made in the lid of the box. + +The fact of my seeing the light had convinced me of one important truth, +and that was that I had reached the top of the cargo. Since it appeared +in a diagonal direction, there could be no boxes or other packages +intervening between it and my eyes, and, therefore, the space was empty. +This emptiness could only be above the cargo. + +But the matter was soon set at rest. It did not take me twenty minutes +to widen a hole big enough to pass my body; and, scarcely waiting to +make this of sufficient size, I squeezed myself through, and wriggled +out on to the top of the box. + +I lifted my arms over my head, and extended them all around me. Only +behind could I perceive anything--and there I could feel boxes, and +bales, and sacks piled up still higher--but in front there was nothing +but empty air. + +I remained for some moments seated on the lid of the box, where I had +climbed out, with my legs hanging down outside of it. I was cautious +not to step off, lest I might fall into some great cavity. I remained +gazing upon the beautiful beacon that was now shining still nearer to my +face. + +Gradually my eyes became accustomed to the light; and, though the chink +admitted only a few slender rays, I began to perceive the forms of +objects that were near. I soon made out that the empty space did not +extend far. It was a little pit, of an irregular, circular form--a sort +of amphitheatre, shut in on all sides by the huge packages of +merchandise that were piled around it. It was, in fact, a space that +had been left under the hatchway, after the cargo had been all stowed; +and a number of loose barrels and bags that were strewed over it +appeared to contain provisions--no doubt stores for the crew--thus +placed so that they could be readily reached when wanted. + +It was on one side of this little amphitheatre I had emerged from my +gallery; and no doubt I was just under the edge of the hatchway. It +only needed to advance a pace or two, knock upon the boards over my +head, and summon the crew to my assistance. + +But although a single blow, and a single cry, were all that were needed +to procure my liberation, it was a long while before I could muster the +resolution to strike that blow, or utter that cry! + +I need not give you the reasons of my reluctance and hesitation. Think +only of what was behind me--of the damage and ruin I had caused to the +cargo--a damage amounting perhaps to hundreds of pounds--think of the +impossibility of my being able to make the slightest restitution or +payment--think of this, and you will comprehend why I paused so long, +seated upon the edge of the bonnet-box. An awful dread was upon me. I +dreaded the _denouement_ of this _dark_ drama; and no wonder I hesitated +to bring it to its ending. + +How could I ever face the stern wrath of the captain?--the brutal anger +of that savage mate? How could I endure their looks--their words, their +oaths, and, likely enough, their blows? Perhaps they would _pitch me +into the sea_? + +A thrill of terror ran through my veins, as I dwelt on the probability +of such a fate. A sudden change had passed over my spirits. But the +moment before that twinkling ray had filled my bosom with joy; and now, +as I sat and gazed upon it, my heart was throbbing with fear and dismay! + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR. + +AN ASTONISHED CREW. + +I tried to think of some way by which I might be enabled to make +reparation for the loss; but my reflections were only foolish, as they +were bitter. I owned nothing in the world that I knew of--nothing but +my old watch--and that--ha! ha! ha!--would scarce have paid for the box +of crackers! + +Yes, there was something else that belonged to me--and does still (for I +have kept it till this hour)--something which I esteemed far more than +the watch--ay, far more than I would a thousand watches; but that +something, although so highly prized by me, would not have been valued +at a single sixpence. You guess of what I am speaking? You guess, and +rightly, that I mean that _dear old knife_! + +Of course, my uncle would do nothing in the matter. He had no interest +in me farther than to give me a home, and that was a thing of choice +rather than responsibility. He was in no way bound to make good my +damages; and, indeed, I did not permit myself for a moment to entertain +the idea. + +There was but one thought that held out to me the slightest hope--one +course that appeared to be tolerably rational. It was this: I could +bind myself to the captain for a long period. I could toil for him as a +boy-sailor--a cabin-boy--a servant--anything that would enable me to +work off my debt. + +If he would only accept me for this purpose (and what else could he now +do, unless, indeed, he really did toss me overboard), then all might yet +be right. + +The thought cheered me; and I resolved, as soon as I should reach the +captain's presence, to make the proposal. + +Just at that moment I heard a loud stamping noise above me. It was a +continued series of thumps, that resembled the heavy footsteps of men +passing backward and forward over the decks. They were on both sides of +the hatchway, and all around it, upon the deck. + +Then I heard voices--human voices. Oh, how pleasant to my ears! First, +I heard shouts and short speeches, and then all of them mingling +together in a chant or chorus. Rude it may have been, but during all my +life never heard I sounds that appeared to me so musical or harmonious +as that work-song of the sailors. + +It inspired me with confidence and boldness. I could endure my +captivity no longer; and the instant the chorus ended, I sprang forward +under the hatch, and with the wooden handle of my knife knocked loudly +upon the planks overhead. + +I listened. My knocking had been heard. There was a parley among the +voices above, and I could distinguish exclamations of surprise; but +although the talking continued, and even a greater number of voices +appeared to take part in it, no attempt was made to take up the hatch. + +I repeated my knocking louder than before; and added to it the summons +of my voice; but I could myself perceive that my voice was tiny and +feeble as that of an infant, and I doubted whether it could have been +heard. + +Again I listened to a volley of loud exclamations that betokened +surprise; and from the multitude of voices I could guess that the whole +crew was around the hatchway. + +I knocked a third time, to make sure; and then I stood a little to one +side, in anxious and silent expectation. + +Presently I heard something rubbing over the hatches. It was the +tarpaulin being removed; and, as soon as this covering was taken off, I +perceived that light shot in through several chinks at the joining of +the planks. + +But the next moment the sky suddenly opened above me; and the flood of +light that poured down upon my face, rendered me quite blind. It did +more--it caused me to faint and fall backward against the boxes. I did +not lose consciousness all at once, but swooned gradually away under a +feeling of strange bewilderment. + +Just as the hatch was lifted upwards, I noticed a ring of rough heads-- +human heads and faces--above the edge, all around the great opening, and +I observed that all of them were drawn suddenly back with an expression +of extreme terror. I heard cries and exclamations that betokened the +same; but the shouts gradually died upon my ears, and the light dimmed +and darkened in my eyes, as I lapsed into a state of unconsciousness, as +complete as if I had been dead. + +Of course, I had only swooned; and was insensible to what was passing +around me. I did not see the rough heads as they reappeared over the +edge of the hatch frame, and again reconnoitre me with looks of alarm. +I did not see that one of them at length took courage, and leaped down +upon the top of the cargo, followed by another and then another, until +several stood bending over me, uttering a volley of conjectures and +exclamatory phrases. I did not feel them as they tenderly raised me in +their arms, and kindly felt my pulse, and placed their huge rough hands +over my heart to see whether it was still beating with life--no more did +I feel the big sailor who lifted me up against his breast and held me +there, and then, after a short ladder had been obtained and placed in +the hatchway, carried me up out of the hold and laid me carefully on the +quarter-deck: I heard nothing, I saw nothing, I felt nothing, till a +shock, as if of cold water dashed in my face, once more aroused me from +my trance, and told me that I still lived. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE. + +THE DENOUEMENT. + +When I came to my senses again, I saw that I was lying upon the deck. A +crowd was gathered around, and look in what direction I might, my eyes +rested upon faces. They were rude faces, but I noticed no unkindly +expression in any one of them. On the contrary, I perceived looks of +pity, and heard words of sympathy. + +They were the sailors--the whole crew was around me. One was bending +over my face, pouring water into my lips, and cooling my temples with a +wet cloth. I knew this man at the first glance. It was Waters--he who +had carried me ashore, and presented me with my precious knife. Little +knowledge could he have at the time of the great service it was to do-- +and had since done--me. + +"Waters," said I, "do you remember me?" + +He started at my words, uttering, as he did so, a sailor's exclamation +of surprise. + +"Shiver my timbers!" was the phrase. "Shiver my timbers! if 'tain't the +little marlin-spike as boarded us a-port!" + +"Him as wanted to go a seelorin?" cried several in a breath. + +"The same, for sartin'." + +"Yes," I answered, "it is; I am the same." + +Another volley of ejaculations followed, and then there was a momentary +silence. + +"Where is the captain?" I asked. "Waters, will you take me to the +captain?" + +"You wish to see the capten? he's here, my lad," answered the big +sailor, in a kind tone; and then, stretching out his arm, he made an +opening in the ring that encircled me. + +I glanced through this opening. I saw the same well-dressed man whom I +had before recognised as the captain. He was only a few yards off, +standing in front of the door of his cabin. I looked in his face. The +expression was stern, but yet it did not awe me. I fancied it was a +look that would relent. + +I hesitated for a moment what course to pursue, and then, summoning all +my energy, I rose to my feet, tottered forward, and knelt down before +him. + +"Oh, sir!" I cried, "you can never forgive me!" + +That, or something like it, I said. They were all the words I could +utter. + +I no longer looked him in the face. With my eyes fixed upon the deck, I +awaited his reply. + +"Come, my lad! rise up!" said a voice, in a tone of kindness; "rise up, +and come with me into the cabin." + +A hand was placed upon mine, I was raised to my feet, and led away. He +who walked by my side, and conducted me as I tottered along, was the +captain himself! This did not look like giving me to the sharks. Was +it possible that the ending should be of this merciful complexion? + +As I passed into the cabin, I beheld my shadow in a mirror. I should +not have known myself. My whole body was as white as if it had been +lime-washed; but I remembered the flour. My face alone was to be seen, +and that was almost as white as the rest--white, and wan, and bony as +that of a skeleton! I saw that suffering and meagre fare had made sad +havoc with my flesh. + +The captain seated me on a sofa, and, having summoned his steward, +ordered him to fill me out a glass of port wine. He uttered not a word +till I had drunk it; and then, turning to me, with a look in which I +could read nothing of sternness, he said-- + +"Now, my lad, tell me all about it!" + +It was a long story, but I told it from first to last. I concealed +nothing--neither of the motives that had led me to run away from my +home, nor yet any item of the vast damage I had done to the cargo. +This, however, was already well-known to him, as half the crew had long +since visited my lair behind the water-butt, and ascertained everything. + +When I had gone through every circumstance, I wound up with the proposal +I had resolved to make to him; and then, with an anxious heart, I +awaited his response. My anxiety was soon at an end. + +"Brave lad!" he exclaimed, rising to his feet, and going towards the +door, "you wish to be a sailor? You _deserve_ to be a sailor; and by +the memory of your noble father, whom I chanced to know, you _shall_ be +a sailor!" + +"Here, Waters!" he continued, calling to the big tar, who was waiting +outside, "take this youngster, have him fresh rigged; and, as soon as he +is strong enough, see that he be properly taught the ropes." + +And Waters did see that I was taught the ropes--every one of them, and +in the proper manner. For many years afterwards he was my shipmate, +under that same kind-hearted captain, until I rose from the condition of +a mere "boy tar," and was rated upon the _Inca's_ books as an "able +seaman." + +But my promotion did not end there. "_Excelsior_" was my motto; and, +assisted by the generous captain, I soon after became a third mate, and +afterwards a second mate, and, still later, a first mate, and, last of +all, a _captain_! + +In course of time, too--still better than all--I became _captain of my +own ship_. + +That was the crowning ambition of my life; for then I was free to go and +come as I pleased, and plough the great ocean in any direction, and +trade with whatever part of the world I might think proper. + +One of my very first and most successful voyages--I mean in my own +ship--was to Peru; and I remember well that I carried out a box of +bonnets for the English and French ladies resident at Callao and Lima. +But these arrived safe, and no doubt disgusted the eyes of the fair +Creoles, who were expected to admire them! + +The crumpled bonnets had been long ago paid for; so, too, the spilt +brandy and the damage done to the cloth and velvet. After all, it did +not amount to such a vast sum; and the owners, who were all generous +men, taking the circumstances into account, dealt leniently with the +captain, who, in his turn, made the terms easy for me. In a few years I +had settled for all, or, as we say in sailor language, "squared the +yards." + +And now, my young friends! I have only to add, that having sailed the +seas for many long years, and by careful mercantile speculations, and a +fair economy, having acquired sufficient means to keep me for the +remainder of my days, I began to grow tired of wave and storm, and to +long for a calmer and quieter life upon land. This feeling grew upon +me, every year becoming stronger and stronger; till at last, unable to +resist it any longer, I resolved to yield to its influence, and anchor +myself somewhere upon shore. + +For this purpose, then, I sold off my ship and sea stores, and returned +once more to this pretty village, where I have already told you I was +born, and where I have also made known to you, that _it is my intention +to die_! + +And now, good-day! and God bless you all! + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Tar, by Mayne Reid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY TAR *** + +***** This file should be named 25666.txt or 25666.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/6/6/25666/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |