it; but I think, Sir, if you
would take a little gruel, and then go to sleep again, it would be
better."

"Well, I fear I am not very strong, and talking so much has done me no
good. I think I could take a little gruel."

"Then, Sir, I'll go and get some made, and be back very soon."

"Do, Ingram, and tell Mr. Olivarez, the second mate, that I would
speak to him."

"Yes, I will," replied the man, and he left the state-room.

I waited some time listening for the arrival of the second mate, and
then I thought that I heard odd noises in the hold before the
bulk-head of the state-room in which I was lying, but I was still very
weak, and my head swam. After a time Ingram came down with the gruel,
into which he put some sugar and a spoonful of rum, to flavour it, as
he said. He offered it to me, and I drank it all, for I had an
appetite; but whether it was that I was very weak, or the rum he put
in was more than he said, it is certain that I had hardly given him
back the basin than I felt so drowsy that I turned away from him, and
was soon again in forgetfulness.

This Ingram was a young man who had been apprenticed to an apothecary,
and had taken to the sea. He was well educated, and a very merry
fellow, and I had chosen him as one who could attend upon me in the
cabin, and at the same time be otherwise useful if required, as he was
a very good seaman, and very active. When I awoke again I felt
convinced that I must have slept through the night, as it was broad
daylight, as before, but Ingram was not by my bed-side. There was no
bell in the state-room, and I was obliged to await his coming. I felt
much stronger than the day before, and now proposed getting out of bed
as soon as Ingram should come down into the cabin. I now remembered
that the second mate had not come down to me, and heard noises and
murmurings in the hold as I had the day previous, which surprised me,
and I became more anxious for the return of Ingram. At last he came,
and I told him that I had been awake more than an hour.

"How do you feel yourself, Sir?" said he.

"Quite strong. I should like to get up and dress. Perhaps I may be
able to get on deck for a quarter of an hour."

"I think," replied he, "that you had better wait, and hear what I have
to tell you, Sir. I would not tell you yesterday, because I thought it
would be too much for you; but as I see you are really better to-day,
I must say that I have strange things to tell you."

"Inde