eception by the people
of the ship--in truth, I felt serious apprehension upon that score. I
remembered the harsh brutal mate, and the reckless indifferent crew.
They would be indignant at the deception I had practised upon them--
perhaps treat me with cruelty--flog me, or commit some other outrage. I
was far from being easy in my mind about how they would use me, and I
would fain have avoided the encounter.

But that was clearly impossible. I could not keep concealed for the
whole voyage, for long weeks, ay, months; I had no provisions, no water,
and sooner or later I must go on deck, and take my chances.

While speculating upon these chances, I began to feel very miserable,
not with mental anguish alone, but with bodily pain. Worse than thirst
it was, or the soreness of my bones. A new misery was fast growing upon
me. My head swam with dizziness, the sweat started from my brow, and I
felt sick both at the heart and in the stomach. I experienced a
suffocating sensation in my breast and throat, as if my ribs were being
compressed inwardly, and my lungs had not room enough to expand and let
me breathe. My nostrils were filled with a nauseating smell--the smell
of "bilge-water"--for being at the bottom of the hold, I was close to
the latter, and could hear it "jabbling" about under the timbers, where
no doubt it had lain for a long time. In all these symptoms I had no
difficulty in telling what ailed me: _sea-sickness_--nothing more.
Knowing this, I was not alarmed; but yet I experienced horrid
sensations, as every one must who is under the infliction of this
peculiar malady. Of course I felt ten times worse, situated as I was,
choking with thirst, and no water near; for I fancied that a glass of
pure water would to some extent have relieved me. It might remove the
nausea, and give me freer breath. I would have given anything for one
mouthful.

In dread of that terrible pilot, I bore my sufferings as long as I
could. But the rocking of the ship every moment became more violent,
and the smell of the bilge-water more nauseous. In like proportion rose
the revolt in my stomach, until the sickness and retching became quite
unendurable.

"Surely the pilot must have gone back? Whether or not, I can stand it
no longer; I must get upon deck, or I shall die--oh!"

I rose from my recumbent position, and began to grope my way along the
side of the great butt. I reached the end of it, and felt for the
aperture by