have been suddenly redeemed from the jaws of the tomb, or who have known
the insufferable torments of thirst under circumstances as aggravated as
those which encompassed me in my dreary prison, can form any idea of the
unutterable transports which that one long draught of the richest of all
physical luxuries afforded.

When I had in some degree satisfied my thirst, Augustus produced from
his pocket three or four boiled potatoes, which I devoured with the
greatest avidity. He had brought with him a light in a dark lantern, and
the grateful rays afforded me scarcely less comfort than the food and
drink. But I was impatient to learn the cause of his protracted absence,
and he proceeded to recount what had happened on board during my
incarceration.

CHAPTER 4

THE brig put to sea, as I had supposed, in about an hour after he had
left the watch. This was on the twentieth of June. It will be remembered
that I had then been in the hold for three days; and, during this
period, there was so constant a bustle on board, and so much running
to and fro, especially in the cabin and staterooms, that he had had no
chance of visiting me without the risk of having the secret of the trap
discovered. When at length he did come, I had assured him that I was
doing as well as possible; and, therefore, for the two next days he
felt but little uneasiness on my account--still, however, watching an
opportunity of going down. It was not until the fourth day that he found
one. Several times during this interval he had made up his mind to let
his father know of the adventure, and have me come up at once; but we
were still within reaching distance of Nantucket, and it was doubtful,
from some expressions which had escaped Captain Barnard, whether he
would not immediately put back if he discovered me to be on board.
Besides, upon thinking the matter over, Augustus, so he told me, could
not imagine that I was in immediate want, or that I would hesitate,
in such case, to make myself heard at the trap. When, therefore, he
considered everything he concluded to let me stay until he could meet
with an opportunity of visiting me unobserved. This, as I said before,
did not occur until the fourth day after his bringing me the watch,
and the seventh since I had first entered the hold. He then went down
without taking with him any water or provisions, intending in the first
place merely to call my attention, and get me to come from the box to
the trap,-