Part 13 (1/2)

Still none would believe that Sa his jacket and hat were found in the head, and when the shi+p's company was mustered at divisions, Sam didn't answer to his name He was searched for everywhere, but could not be discovered, and at length it became very evident to all that Sam must have put his threat into execution and thrown hiht Whether any of the men recollected that it was their cruelty that had driven him to this act of desperation I can't say, but probably it didn't much trouble their consciences; they only considered he was a fool for his pains

Two or three days passed ahen Saht, however, one of the carpenter's creas going along the lower-deck, when he saw a figure in white gliding past hiure for a ht of the lantern fell on it, he recognised the face of Sam Smitch It was more than his nerves could stand, and he bolted like a shot up the ladder Night after night some one of the crew had a similar occurrence to relate, till one and all were convinced that the shi+p was haunted by Saallant fellows as they were, were afraid to go below even when sent on duty Many of them swore that even when in their ha noiselessly about the deck The whole creere in a very nervous state, and many were actually placed on the sick list by the doctor At last the circumstance reached the ear of the purser, who happened not to be a believer in ghosts

”Whew!” he exclaimed, when he heard it; ”that accounts for the mysterious disappearance of some of my stores”

He inforhbourhood where the ghost had appeared The next night, in bodily forhost of Sam Smitch was captured, dirtier than ever, but yet fat and sleek, though rather pallid Not, however, till he was brought on deck, to be well scrubbed under the superintendence of the host was no ghost at all, but that dirty Sa them effectually, while he enjoyed his ease and plenty to eat beloith nothing to do

It is curious that this yarn should have occurred tosomewhat similar to that of Sam Smitch, only he had voluntarily stowed hiainst my ithout a particle of food, except the buns I had in my pockets It served also to draw hts ofincreased the thirst I had already begun to feel I was at the saain tried to eat a piece of et down the mouthful I became rapidly more and more thirsty The sea-sickness had worn off, but I felt hly uncomfortable in my inside than I had ever before done in my life If any of my readers have at any time suffered from thirst, they will understand my sensations better than I can describe theue like the end of a burnt stick I moved my mouth about in every possible way to try and produce some saliva, but so dry were my lips that they only cracked in the attempt

I had scarcely hitherto believed that I should die, but now so terrible were my sensations that I didn't expect to live ht over s I had done caood deed of any sort occurred to ht of how often I had vexed my father and mother, how impudent I had been to Aunt Deb, how frequently unkind and disagreeable to my brothers and sisters I tried to be very sorry for everything, but all the tiht to have been

Exhausted by er and thirst, I lay stretched upon the kelson till I had, I suppose, somewhat recovered

Once ive in; out of this Iabout in all directions As I was doing so e cask I was certain of it I could make out the hoops which went round the cask, and the intervening spaces Suddenly it occurred to me that it was one of the water-casks of the shi+p stowed in the lower tier I put my ear to it, and as the shi+p rolled I could hear the water move about I felt, however, very much like the fellow I had read about at school, as placed when dying of thirst in the midst of water which reet his mouth Here was the water, but hoas to reach it was the question

I felt about in the hope that soh; even a few drops would help to cool allon without stopping, but the cask was strong and perfectly dry outside I considered whether it would be possible to knock a hole in the cask, but I had no instruth to use it even if I had found it It was indeed tantalising to hear the water washi+ng to and fro, and yet not be able to obtain a drop By chance I happened to put my hands in , and all sorts of things Suddenly I recollected that I had beena stand for imlet to bore holes in the wood To my joy I found that I had fixed a cork on the end of it and had thrust it intoa hole in the cask, reach the water How anxiously I clutched the gi to bore a hole I e for the centre of the cask, I began boring a hole, using the greatest care At length the gih As I drew it forth I put it to my mouth It et How deliciously cool it felt I then applied my mouth to the hole, but bitter was my disappointment when no water came out I sucked and sucked at the hole, and then I blew into it, but with no satisfactory result

I was again aliain wet ”What a fool!” I exclaiet liquor out of a cask two holes are necessary, the one to serve as a vent-hole to let in the air and the other to let out the liquid I accordingly set to work and began boring a hole as high as I could reach above the former one I soon accomplished my task, and as the air rushed in the water froerly applied my mouth to it and sucked and sucked away until I was alh

How delicious was the sensation as it wetted my lips, moistened my mouth, and flowed downfilled at a fountain The hole was small, so that only a thin streaer, or I believe that I should have killedNot until I had withdrawn mythe floater Feeling in ht I could forers

After a ti I had made in with the handle The vent-hole was not so important to stop, so I let it alone I was now able to eat h I recollected that it was the last article of food I possessed I afterwards took another pull at the water-cask I had no longer any fear of suffering from thirst, which was some comfort, but I had serious apprehensions about thefood, should I fail to make my escape from my prison I was, however, wonderfully hopeful I remembered how I had fed myself on the musty flour in the oldto eat ao I are that few edibles were exported fro the whole produce of the country, and as et

I could not tell all this tiht or day, as I had noI had been in the shi+p's hold Had I been told that a week or more had passed, I should not have been surprised, the tian 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

Dreas of ress--A ray of light--The cargo--The wooden case--A disappointht--My bed--My sluly visitors--I determine to catch some rats--My further efforts at escape--My ill-success--My conscience troublesAunt Deb and Mr butterfield--The conference of the rats-- Their opinion of rievances 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 an to dreaot there I could not tell

Suddenlyabout the rooot behind the chest of drawers, and sent the heartily as he did so It was very unlike his , as he was the quietest and best conducted ot tired of this sort of a it from side to side

Naturally I expected to be tuh a great deal of fatigue, and wished to be quiet

But he would not listen topatience, I was going to jump up and seize him, when I awoke

I found that themore heavily than she had before done, and I could hear the bulkheads creaking, and the ti, and the dull sound of the water dashi+ng against the sides of the shi+p There was still less chance than ever of being heard should I again shout out, so I refrained froth by the exercise of my voice So much did the stout shi+p tu expedition I therefore lay still, waiting till the shi+p would again be quiet I didn't know then that a storht be starved to death before it was over Though the bun and draught of cold water had sory, though not so hungry as Ito eat, I went off again to sleep

When I once an to think of the astonishment and alarm my disappearance would cause to Aunt Deb and Mr butterfield