space I knew that I should have a
better chance of falling in with food, but how to get out was the
question.

I crept back for the handspike, and tried to move some of the bales, but
all my efforts were unavailing. I then, carrying the handspike with me,
went to the bulkhead at the other end of my prison, and endeavoured by
repeated blows to knock in a plank. They were all too stout to give way
to my apparently feeble efforts.

I fancied that the blows must resound through the ship, and that the
crew would come below to ascertain what produced the noise, but I waited
and waited in vain.

At last I went back to my couch, and sat down to consider what was to be
done. I knew that as I grew weaker both my strength and wits would
decrease, and that I should be less capable of exerting myself.

After sitting quiet for some time, I heard the rats again running about.
Frequently they passed close to me, but when I darted out my hands they
slipped by them. Once I caught a fellow by the tail, but he wriggled it
out of my fingers, and another whose nose I must have touched gave me a
sharp nip and then bounded away.

At last I thought I would form a trap with my knife. Near me was a
square case close to which I heard the rats frequently passing. I felt
and discovered that there was a small opening between it and the large
package. I had some string in my pocket, and my plan was to hang up my
knife by the string, the lower end of which I hung close to the hole,
while I passed the upper end over my finger. I thus hoped that when a
rat should be running in or out of the hole it might be stopped long
enough by the string to allow the knife to descend.

My first attempt was not successful. Down fell the knife, but when I
felt about for the rat which I had expected to have been transfixed, it
had gone. I tried again, but once more the rat escaped me.

I began to fear that the creatures would discover my device, and take
some other route when they wished to emerge from their hiding-places.
Still I knew that perseverance conquers all difficulties. I was
convinced that my plan might succeed. Why it had before failed I could
not tell. Perhaps I held the knife too high up, and the rat had got
away before it had time to descend.

I now held the knife rather lower down. Several times I replaced the
knife, but always found it exactly before the spot. Again it fell, when
I heard a loud squeak, and sprang down on my hands