I found much consolation, and I became, to a certain
degree, resigned. I thought of my former life with disgust, and this
second reading of the Bible, for the reader may recollect that the first
took place when I was first confined in the Tower, was certainly of
great advantage to me. I had more time to dwell upon it--more time for
reflection and self-examination--and every day I reaped more advantage
and became more worthy of the name of Christian. I now prayed
fervently, and I think my prayers were heard, as you, my dear Madam,
will also think as I continue my narrative. About three months after I
had been appointed an inspector, Ingram was taken ill. At first he
complained of disordered bowels, but in a few days inflammation came on,
which ended in mortification. He was in great agony until the
mortification took place, when he obtained comparative relief.

"My dear Mr Musgrave," he said, as I was at his bedside, "in a few
hours I shall have escaped from the mines, and be no more in bondage. I
shall follow the poor old Englishman, who left you his executor. I am
about to do the same. I shall now make my will verbally, as we have no
writing materials here, and leave you all I possess."

"Why are you not more serious, Ingram," I said; "at such a moment as
this?"

"I am most serious," he replied. "I know that in a few hours I shall be
no more, and I trust in the mercy of Him who died for kings and for
slaves; but, Musgrave, I have a secret to tell you. Do you recollect
the story in the fairy tales of the little white cat whose head was
obliged to be cut off, and who then turned into the most beautiful
princess in the world? Well, my secret is something like hers."

I thought, by his continuing in this strain, that his head was
wandering. I was about to speak to him, when he continued:

"Do you know what has occasioned my death? I will tell you the secret.
I was washing for diamonds, when I found one of a size which astonished
me. I knew it was of great value, and I did not choose that the King of
Portugal should receive such a benefit from my hands. I put it into my
mouth to secrete it, hardly knowing what I should do afterwards, but I
was thinking how I should act, when one of the superintendents passing
(that crabbed old Portuguese belonging to the next gang), and seeing me
idle and in deep thought, he struck me with his cane such a smart rap on
the shoulders, that he not only made me jump out of