degrees, however, I remembered all. Striking a light, I
looked at the watch; but it was run down, and there were, consequently,
no means of determining how long I slept. My limbs were greatly cramped,
and I was forced to relieve them by standing between the crates.
Presently feeling an almost ravenous appetite, I bethought myself of the
cold mutton, some of which I had eaten just before going to sleep, and
found excellent. What was my astonishment in discovering it to be in a
state of absolute putrefaction! This circumstance occasioned me great
disquietude; for, connecting it with the disorder of mind I experienced
upon awakening, I began to suppose that I must have slept for an
inordinately long period of time. The close atmosphere of the hold might
have had something to do with this, and might, in the end, be productive
of the most serious results. My head ached excessively; I fancied that I
drew every breath with difficulty; and, in short, I was oppressed with
a multitude of gloomy feelings. Still I could not venture to make any
disturbance by opening the trap or otherwise, and, having wound up the
watch, contented myself as well as possible.

Throughout the whole of the next tedious twenty-four hours no person
came to my relief, and I could not help accusing Augustus of the
grossest inattention. What alarmed me chiefly was, that the water in
my jug was reduced to about half a pint, and I was suffering much from
thirst, having eaten freely of the Bologna sausages after the loss of my
mutton. I became very uneasy, and could no longer take any interest in
my books. I was overpowered, too, with a desire to sleep, yet trembled
at the thought of indulging it, lest there might exist some pernicious
influence, like that of burning charcoal, in the confined air of the
hold. In the meantime the roll of the brig told me that we were far in
the main ocean, and a dull humming sound, which reached my ears as if
from an immense distance, convinced me no ordinary gale was blowing. I
could not imagine a reason for the absence of Augustus. We were surely
far enough advanced on our voyage to allow of my going up. Some accident
might have happened to him--but I could think of none which would
account for his suffering me to remain so long a prisoner, except,
indeed, his having suddenly died or fallen overboard, and upon this idea
I could not dwell with any degree of patience. It was possible that we
had been baffled by head winds, and w