I dare not move from
my present uncomfortable position, for should I be discovered the men
would not scruple to do away with me. I was thankful that the men at
last got up and began to walk about the deck. I was fearful, however,
that they might come by the windlass, when I must have been discovered.

At last I heard the second mate, who was the officer of the watch, give
the order to shorten sail, and they had to run to their stations; and as
they did so, I crawled out and succeeded in reaching my bunk, into which
I tumbled unperceived. I was far from comfortable, however, fearing
that that very night they might smother me--the mode I fancied they
would take to put me out of existence.

I was not missed, I suppose, as no one called me, and when my watch on
deck came round I turned out with the rest. My head ached, and I had a
big lump on my forehead. In the morning, when the third mate saw me, he
asked how I got that. I replied that it was the way I had got many
another, that it was only what I expected, and had made up my mind to
bear it.

"You're a rum chap, and a bold one--more than I'd do," answered the
mate, not troubling himself more about the matter.

When I went aft to the cabin at breakfast, I heard one of the mates
observe that we should make the coast of Australia that day. Then I
thought to myself, "If I can get off I will." I had no intention of
going without provisions. I knew that a good store was kept in the
pantry, to which I had access. My intention was to tumble everything I
could find into a cloth, to tie it up, and to carry it off, if I could,
unperceived to the dinghy.

How to lower that without being heard or seen by the watch on deck was
the difficulty. The falls were so fitted that a single person might
lower her, but then she would make a splash in the water.

We made the land about four o'clock in the afternoon, but after standing
on for some time till it was nearly dark, the captain ordered the ship's
head to be put about, as he was not well acquainted with the coast, and
there were dangerous reefs which ran off for a considerable distance.

Night came on, and a very dark night it was, but the darkness would
favour my design. Instead of being allowed to turn in when it was my
watch below, I was sent aft by the cook with a dish of devilled biscuits
to the cabin, where the captain and the first and second mates were
taking supper, while the third mate had the watch on deck