mall piece at a time. Then I felt with my
left hand to ascertain how I had got on. The case was very thick, and
it must have taken me a couple of hours or more before I could make a
hole an inch square. Even then I was not through it. I cut and cut
away, till to my satisfaction my knife went through. I now made fast
progress, and before long, as I ran in the blade it struck against a
hard substance. Still I went on, and at last found to my bitter regret
that the case contained iron goods of some sort. In spite of all the
care I had taken I had much blunted my knife, and I was afraid I might
not be able to make a hole in any other case I might find. I was ready
to cry with vexation, but it would be of no use to do that, so I shut up
my knife until I could discover some promising package to attack. I
felt about in vain for another case. By this time the faint light I had
observed had faded away, and I thus knew that evening had come on. I
had had only two buns all this time. Unless I could get some food I
fancied that I must die. Though I had nothing to eat I had plenty to
drink, and to refresh myself I returned to the part of the ship out of
which I had clambered. I soon discovered the water-cask, to which,
pulling out the plug, I eagerly applied my mouth. The huge draught of
water I swallowed greatly refreshed me, and prevented me feeling the
pangs of hunger. I now went back once more to that part of the hold to
which I had just gained access.

Feeling about, I came upon a piece of canvas, and I thought to myself
that it would somewhat add to my comfort could I make use of it to sleep
on. I dragged it out, and found that it was of sufficient size for my
purpose.

The exertions I had made had greatly exhausted my strength. I should
have lain down on the packages, but when I felt about I found that they
would not form an easy couch. There was no room to stretch myself, and
they were secured by hard ropes. Besides this I thought it possible
that from the working of the ship some of them might slip out of their
places, and come down upon me. I therefore dragged the piece of canvas
into the lower part of the hold, and, stretching it under one of the
water-casks, lay down to rest, intending before long to be up again and
at work.

I quickly dropped off to sleep, but was soon awakened by feeling some
creatures crawling over me. That they were rats I could have no doubt,
from their weight and the loud t