floating ice. I rubbed my burning forehead with the snow, and
felt relief. For some time I assisted Tom to heave it overboard, but
the fever pressed upon me, and in less than half-an-hour I could no
longer stand the exertion. I sat down on the water cask, and pressed my
hands to my throbbing temples.

"You are not well, Jacob?" inquired Tom, coming up to me with the shovel
in his hand, and glowing with health and exercise.

"I am not, indeed, Tom," replied I; "feel how hot I am."

Tom went to his father, who was in the cabin, padding, with extra
flannel, his stumps, to defend them from the cold, which always made him
suffer much, and then led me into the cabin. It was with much
difficulty I could walk; my knees trembled, and my eyesight was
defective. Old Tom took my hand as I sank on the locker.

"Do you think that it was taking too much last night?" inquired Tom of
his father.

"There's more here than a gallon of liquor would have brought about,"
replied old Tom. "No, no--I see it all. Go to bed again, Jacob."

They put me into bed, and I was soon in a state of stupor, in which I
remained until the lighter had arrived at the Brentford Wharf, and for
many days afterwards.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

ON A SICK BED--FEVER, FIRMNESS, AND FOLLY--"BOUND 'PRENTICE TO A
WATERMAN"--I TAKE MY FIRST LESSON IN LOVE, AND GIVE MY FIRST LESSON IN
LATIN--THE LOVE LESSON MAKES AN IMPRESSION ON MY AURICULAR ORGAN--
VERILY, NONE ARE SO DEAF AS THOSE WHO WON'T HEAR.

When I recovered my senses, I found myself in bed, and Captain Turnbull
sitting by my side. I had been removed to his house when the lighter
had arrived at the wharf. Captain Turnbull was then talking with Mr
Tomkins, the former head clerk, now in charge. Old Tom came on shore
and stated the condition I was in, and Mr Tomkins having no spare bed
in his house, Captain Turnbull immediately ordered me to be taken to his
residence, and sent for medical advice. During the time I had remained
in this state old Tom had informed Captain Turnbull, the Dominie, and
Mr Tomkins of the circumstances which had occurred, and how much I had
been misrepresented to Mr Drummond; and not saying a word about the
affair of Wimbledon Common, or my subsequent intemperance, had given it
as his opinion that ill-treatment had produced the fever. In this, I
believe, he was nearly correct, although my disease might certainly have
been aggravated and hastened by those two unmentioned