n board of the
Sparrow-Hawk. The fever had come on me, and it was not till three
weeks afterwards that I recovered my senses, when I learnt what I have
now told the reader, and much more, with which I am about to make him
acquainted.

When I recovered my senses, I found myself in the cabin of the
Sparrow-Hawk. For some hours I was confused and wandering, but I
rallied from time to time, till I could at last recognize the beams
and carlines over my head. I was too weak to move, and I continued to
lie on my back till I again fell asleep; how long I do not know, but
it must have been for many hours, and then when I awoke I found myself
much stronger.

I could now turn on my bed, and doing so I perceived a young man of
the name of Ingram by my side in a doze, with his eyes shut. I called
him in a faint voice, and he started up.

"I have been very ill," said I, "have I not?"

"Yes, Sir, indeed you have."

"I have been trying to recollect all about it, but I cannot as yet."

"It's not worth remembering, Sir," replied he. "Do you wish any thing
to drink?"

"No," replied I.

"Then you had better go to sleep again."

"I cannot do that. I feel as if I should like to get up. Where is Mr.
Thompson? I must see him."

"Mr. Thompson, Sir," replied he; "don't you recollect?"

"What?"

"Why, Sir, he was bitten in two by a shark."

"Shark!" this was the key-note required, and my memory returned.
"Yes, yes, I recollect now all, all. I recollect the panther and the
cane-brakes. How was I preserved?"

"The bloodhounds killed the panther, and you were brought on board
insensible, and have been in a raging fever ever since."

"It must be so," replied I, collecting my senses after a few moments
of thought. "It must be so. How long have I been ill?"

"This is the twenty-first day."

"The twenty-first day!" cried I. "Is it possible? Are none of the men
ill?"

"No, Sir, they are all well."

"But I hear the water against the bends. Are we not still at anchor?"

"No, Sir, the second mate got the schooner under weigh as he found you
were so ill."

"And I have been ill twenty-one days. Why we must be near home?"

"We expect to make the land in a few days, Sir," replied Ingram.

"Thank Heaven for all its mercies," said I. "I never expected to see
old England again. But what a bad smell there is. What can it be?"

"I suppose it is the bilge-water, Sir," replied Ingram. "People who
are ill and weak always are annoyed by