n out with fatigue, and quite bewildered. I then
tried to find my way back, and was equally unsuccessful, and I sat down
with anything but pleasant thoughts in my mind. I calculated that I had
been two hours in making this attempt, and was now, quite puzzled how to
proceed. I bitterly lamented my rashness, now that it was too late.

Having reposed a little, I resumed my toil, and was again, after an
hour's exertion, compelled, from fatigues to sit down in the deep black
mud. Another respite from toil, and another hour or more of exertion,
and I gave myself up for lost. The day was evidently fast closing in--
the light overhead was not near so bright as it had been; and I knew
that a night passed in the miasma of the cane was death. At last it
became darker and darker. There could not be an hour of daylight
remaining. I determined upon one more struggle, and, reeking as I was
with perspiration and faint with fatigue, I rose again, and was forcing
my way through the thickest of the canes, when I heard a deep growl, and
perceived a large panther not twenty yards from me. It was on the move
as well as I was, attempting to force his way through the canes, so as
to come to me. I retreated from him as fast as I could, but he gained
slowly on me, and my strength was fast exhausting. I thought I heard
sounds at a distance, and they became more and more distinct, but what
they were my fear and my struggles probably prevented me from making
out. My eyes were fixed upon the fierce animal which was in pursuit of
me, and I now thanked God that the canes were so thick and impassable;
still the animal evidently gained ground--until it was not more than
five yards from me, dashing and springing at the canes, and tearing them
aside with his teeth.

The sounds were now nearer, and I made them out to be the howling of
other animals. A moment's pause, and I thought it was the baying of
dogs; and I then thought that I must have arrived close to where the
schooner was, and that I heard the baying of the bloodhounds. At last I
could do no more, and I dropped, exhausted and almost senseless, in the
mud. I recollect hearing the crushing of the canes, and then a savage
roar, and then yells, and growls, and struggles, and fierce
contentions--but I had fainted.

I must now inform the reader that about an hour after I had left the
boat the captain of the slaver was pulling up the river, and was hailed
by our men in our long-boat. P