not have presence of mind or
resolution to come out of the cask?

Perhaps I might labour away for awhile without getting into the same
state, and if I felt it coming on me I could hasten out? Perhaps! But
should it be otherwise? If the intoxication should come suddenly upon
me, how then? How long had it been before I felt it on the former
occasion? I tried to remember, but could not.

I remembered how this strange influence had stolen over me--how
soothingly and sweetly it came, wrapping my senses as if in a delightful
dream. How it had made me reckless of consequences, forgetful even of
my appalling situation!

Supposing that all was to be repeated--the same scene to be enacted over
again--and only one incident to be left out: that is, the thirst which
brought me forth from the cask--supposing all this? And why might it
not be just what would take place? I could not answer the question one
way or the other; but so strong were my apprehensions of the probability
that it might, that I hesitated _to re-enter the cask_!

There was no help for it, however. I must either do so, or die where I
lay. If death in the end was to be my fate, better far, thought I, to
die by this apparently easy mode; for I felt convinced, from the
experience I had had, that such death would be without a pang.

The reflection emboldened me, as well as the knowledge that I had no
alternative, no choice of plan; and again pronouncing a prayer, I
crawled back into the brandy-cask.

CHAPTER FIFTY.

WHERE WAS MY KNIFE?

On entering, I groped about for my knife. I had quite forgotten how or
where I had laid it down. I had already searched for it outside, but
without success; and I concluded that I must have left it behind me in
the cask. I was surprised at not laying my hand upon it at once, for
although I ran my fingers all around the under-side of the vessel,
nothing like a knife did I touch.

I was beginning to feel alarmed about it. It might be lost, and if so,
all hopes of deliverance would be at an end. Without the knife, I could
proceed no farther in any direction, but might lie down inactive to
abide my fate. Where could the knife be? Was it likely that the rats
had carried it off?

I again backed out of the cask, and made a new search outside; but not
finding what I was looking for, I once more crept into the barrel, and
once more felt it all over--that is, every part of it where a knife
could lie.

I was ver