I found that I could bear it. I descended the little
ladder of three steps, and called "Mother!" but there was no answer.
The lamp fixed against the after bulk-head, with a glass before it, was
still alight, and I could see plainly to every corner of the cabin.
Nothing was burning--not even the curtains to my mother's bed appeared
to be singed. I was astonished--breathless with fear, with a trembling
voice, I again called out "Mother!" I remained more than a minute
panting for breath, and then ventured to draw back the curtains of the
bed--my mother was not there! but there appeared to be a black mass in
the centre of the bed. I put my hand fearfully upon it--it was a sort
of unctuous, pitchy cinder. I screamed with horror--my little senses
reeled--I staggered from the cabin and fell down on the deck in a state
amounting almost to insanity: it was followed by a sort of stupor, which
lasted for many hours.

As the reader may be in some doubt as to the occasion of my mother's
death, I must inform him that she perished in that very peculiar and
dreadful manner, which does sometimes, although rarely, occur, to those
who indulge in an immoderate use of spirituous liquors. Cases of this
kind do, indeed, present themselves but once in a century, but the
occurrence of them is too well authenticated. She perished from what is
termed _spontaneous combustion_, an inflammation of the gases generated
from the spirits absorbed into the system. It is to be presumed that
the flames issuing from my mother's body completely frightened out of
his senses my father, who had been drinking freely; and thus did I lose
both my parents, one by fire and the other by water, at one and the same
time.

CHAPTER TWO.

I FULFIL THE LAST INJUNCTIONS OF MY FATHER, AND I AM EMBARKED UPON A NEW
ELEMENT--FIRST BARGAIN IN MY LIFE VERY PROFITABLE--FIRST PARTING WITH
OLD FRIENDS VERY PAINFUL--FIRST INTRODUCTION INTO CIVILISED LIFE VERY
UNSATISFACTORY TO ALL PARTIES.

It was broad daylight when I awoke from my state of bodily and mental
imbecility. For some time I could not recall to my mind all that had
happened: the weight which pressed upon my feelings told me that it was
something dreadful. At length, the cabin hatch, still open, caught my
eye; I recalled all the horrors of the preceding evening, and
recollected that I was left alone in the lighter. I got up and stood on
my feet in mute despair. I looked around me--the mist of the mornin