remembered how I had fed myself on the musty flour in the old mill. I
kept up my spirits, in the hopes of finding something to eat among the
cargo. I was aware that few edibles were exported from England, our
teeming population consuming the whole produce of the country, and as
much more as they can get.

I could not tell all this time whether it was night or day, as I had no
means of calculating how long I had been in the ship's hold. Had I been
told that a week or more had passed, I should not have been surprised,
the time appeared to me so long. I now began to feel excessively
sleepy, and creeping about until I discovered where the planks, if not
soft, were less rough than in other parts, I lay down, and in a few
seconds was fast asleep.

CHAPTER TEN.

Dreamland--A vision of home--Strange proceedings of my brother Ned--
Roughish weather--I make a slight progress--A ray of light--The
cargo--The wooden case--A disappointment--In darkness again--A welcome
draught--My bed--My slumbers interrupted by ugly visitors--I determine
to catch some rats--My further efforts at escape--My ill-success--My
conscience troubles me, but I succeed in quieting it--My visions--
Tantalising Aunt Deb and Mr Butterfield--The conference of the rats--
Their opinion of mankind--Their grievances and proposed remedies--A
sneeze and its effects.

My slumbers were far from tranquil. I think, indeed, that sometimes I
must have been half awake, for I was convinced that creatures were
running over me; but when I put my hand out they escaped. Then I began
to dream, and I fancied I was at home again in my own room. How I got
there I could not tell.

Suddenly my brother jumped out of bed, and began scrambling about the
room, overturning the chairs and table, and then got behind the chest of
drawers, and sent them down with a loud crash to the ground, laughing
heartily as he did so. It was very unlike his mode of proceeding, as he
was the quietest and best conducted member of the family. When he got
tired of this sort of amusement he began pulling the bed about, and
lifting it from side to side.

Naturally I expected to be tumbled out. I begged him to let me alone,
as I had gone through a great deal of fatigue, and wished to be quiet.
But he would not listen to me, and only shook the bed more violently
than before. Losing patience, I was going to jump up and seize him,
when I awoke.

I found that the movement was r