the top of it, and above these, again, a
vast quantity of straw matting, piled up as high as the floor of
the cabin. In every other direction around was wedged as closely as
possible, even up to the ceiling, a complete chaos of almost every
species of ship-furniture, together with a heterogeneous medley of
crates, hampers, barrels, and bales, so that it seemed a matter no less
than miraculous that we had discovered any passage at all to the box. I
afterward found that Augustus had purposely arranged the stowage in this
hold with a view to affording me a thorough concealment, having had only
one assistant in the labour, a man not going out in the brig.

My companion now showed me that one of the ends of the box could be
removed at pleasure. He slipped it aside and displayed the interior, at
which I was excessively amused. A mattress from one of the cabin berths
covered the whole of its bottom, and it contained almost every article
of mere comfort which could be crowded into so small a space, allowing
me, at the same time, sufficient room for my accommodation, either in a
sitting position or lying at full length. Among other things, there were
some books, pen, ink, and paper, three blankets, a large jug full of
water, a keg of sea-biscuit, three or four immense Bologna sausages, an
enormous ham, a cold leg of roast mutton, and half a dozen bottles of
cordials and liqueurs. I proceeded immediately to take possession of my
little apartment, and this with feelings of higher satisfaction, I am
sure, than any monarch ever experienced upon entering a new palace.
Augustus now pointed out to me the method of fastening the open end
of the box, and then, holding the taper close to the deck, showed me a
piece of dark whipcord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my
hiding-place throughout an the necessary windings among the lumber, to a
nail which was driven into the deck of the hold, immediately beneath the
trap-door leading into his stateroom. By means of this cord I should be
enabled readily to trace my way out without his guidance, provided any
unlooked-for accident should render such a step necessary. He now took
his departure, leaving with me the lantern, together with a copious
supply of tapers and phosphorous, and promising to pay me a visit as
often as he could contrive to do so without observation. This was on the
seventeenth of June.

I remained three days and nights (as nearly as I could guess) in my
hiding-pla