, when, as the light
of the lantern fell on it, he recognised the face of Sam Smitch. It was
more than his nerves could stand, and he bolted like a shot up the
ladder. Night after night some one of the crew had a similar occurrence
to relate, till one and all were convinced that the ship was haunted by
Sam Smitch's ghost. At last the men, gallant fellows as they were, were
afraid to go below even when sent on duty. Many of them swore that even
when in their hammocks they had seen Sam Smitch's ghost gliding
noiselessly about the deck. The whole crew were in a very nervous
state, and many were actually placed on the sick list by the doctor. At
last the circumstance reached the ear of the purser, who happened not to
be a believer in ghosts.

"Whew!" he exclaimed, when he heard it; "that accounts for the
mysterious disappearance of some of my stores."

He informed the first lieutenant, who placed a watch in the
neighbourhood where the ghost had appeared. The next night, in bodily
form, the ghost of Sam Smitch was captured, dirtier than ever, but yet
fat and sleek, though rather pallid. Not, however, till he was brought
on deck, to be well scrubbed under the superintendence of the master at
arms, were the crew convinced that the ghost was no ghost at all, but
that dirty Sam, fool as he was, had been bamboozling them effectually,
while he enjoyed his ease and plenty to eat below with nothing to do.

It is curious that this yarn should have occurred to me, but I suppose
it did so from my case being somewhat similar to that of Sam Smitch,
only he had voluntarily stowed himself away and had plenty to eat, while
I was shut up against my will without a particle of food, except the
buns I had in my pockets. It served also to draw me for a few minutes
from the thoughts of my own misfortunes. The exertion of shouting
increased the thirst I had already begun to feel. I was at the same
time very hungry, but when I again tried to eat a piece of my remaining
bun I could not get down the mouthful. I became rapidly more and more
thirsty. The sea-sickness had worn off, but I felt more thoroughly
uncomfortable in my inside than I had ever before done in my life. If
any of my readers have at any time suffered from thirst, they will
understand my sensations better than I can describe them. My mouth and
throat felt like a dust-bin, and my tongue like the end of a burnt
stick. I moved my mouth about in every possible way to try