the anxiety my
disappearance must have caused them. An intensely selfish feeling--for
such I knew that it was--possessed me. My only thought was how I could
get out of my prison, and if I could not succeed, how I might provide
myself with food. I had no longer any fear of the rats. I had become
their master. I looked upon them as the owner of an estate does on his
hares and rabbits. The hold was my preserve, and I considered that I
had a right to as many as I could catch.

I must proceed faster in my narrative than I have hitherto been going,
and must omit some of my wakings and sleepings and hunts for rats and
searches for more palatable food. The rats, after I had killed four or
five, had become cautious. They are at all times cunning fellows, and
must have discovered my mode of trapping them. The ship all this time
was gliding on with tolerable smoothness, and on some occasions, by
putting my ear down to the planks, I could hear the rippling of the
water. At other times, I guessed by the dashing of the sea against the
sides, that there was a strong breeze. I knew also, by the steadiness
of the movement, that the ocean was tolerably calm. I should have liked
to have known where we had got to. I could only guess that we were
bound for South America, and that we were holding a southerly course.

I had made several exploring expeditions in search of food, when I
discovered close to the bulkhead what seemed to me like a strong crate.
By some chance or other I had not before put my hands upon it. I now
moved them all over it, and at one place came to a space into which I
could thrust my fingers. The board seemed loose. I tugged and tugged
away till off it came with a crackling sound, and down I came. I picked
myself up, happily not the worse for my tumble, and eagerly inserted my
hand into the crate. There appeared to be several articles within, but
what they were I could not make out. I had to take off another board
before I could get hold of them. This I did, fixing my foot firmly so
as not to fall back again, and after exerting myself for some time, the
board gave way.

The first thing I laid hold of was a small keg. It seemed too heavy to
contain biscuits, but I was nearly sure that there was something eatable
within. I tried to open it with my knife, but nearly broke the blade in
the attempt. That would have been an irreparable misfortune. My hands
next came in contact with a thick glass bot