casks, I should now be
treated in the same manner.

I could not but mentally acknowledge the justice of my punishment, and
resigned myself to my fate; all that I wished was to be thrown over at
once and released from my misery. The momentary anticipation of death
appeared to be so much worse than the reality. But it was ordered
otherwise: a gale of wind blew up with such force, that the captain and
crew had enough to do to look after the vessel, and either I was
forgotten, or my doom was postponed until a more seasonable opportunity.

On the third day I heard the sailors observe that, with such a wretch as
I was remaining on board, the vessel must inevitably be lost. The
hatches were then opened; I was hoisted up and cast into the raging sea.
The bung of the cask was out, but by stuffing my handkerchief in, when
the hole was under water, I prevented the cask from filling; and when it
was uppermost, I removed it for a moment to obtain fresh air. I was
dreadfully bruised by the constant rolling, in a heavy sea, and
completely worn out with fatigue and pain; I had made up my mind to let
the water in and be rid of my life, when I was tossed over and over with
such dreadful rapidity as prevented my taking the precaution of keeping
out the water. After three successive rolls of the same kind, I found
that the cask, which had been in the surf, had struck on the beach. In
a moment after, I heard voices, and people came up to the cask and
rolled me along. I would not speak, lest they should be frightened and
allow me to remain on the beach, where I might again be tossed about by
the waves; but as soon as they stopped, I called in a faint voice from
the bung-hole, begging them for mercy's sake to let me out.

At first they appeared alarmed; but, on my repeating my request, and
stating that I was the owner of the ship which was off the land, and the
captain and crew had mutinied and tossed me overboard, they brought some
tools and set me at liberty.

The first sight that met my eyes after I was released, was my vessel
lying a wreck; each wave that hurled her further on the beach, breaking
her more and more to pieces. She was already divided amid-ships, and
the white foaming surf was covered with pipes of wine, which, as fast as
they were cast on shore, were rolled up by the same people who had
released me. I was so worn out, that I fainted where I lay. When I
came to, I found myself in a cave upon a bundle of capotes