d
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