one of the men caught hold of my hands and
prevented me from accomplishing my object. I, however, clutched hold of
my clothes with the other, unwilling to give them up; but they quickly
mastered me, leaving me only my shirt and trousers. I now began to fear
that they intended some serious violence. In vain I struggled; I felt
myself lifted up by the shoulders and feet, and placed on a rough board.
As I now had my hands free, I immediately tore off the bandage. A
gleam of light, which came from one side, showed me that I was in what
appeared to be a large chest, placed on its side; but before I could
turn myself round the lid was shut down, and I heard the men securing
it. I was thus imprisoned in, so far as I could tell, a living tomb. I
shouted and shrieked, and tried to force open the lid. My captors were
holding it on the outside, and it seemed to me were driving in screws.
I could hear them talking outside, but what they said I could not make
out. Could it be possible that they intended to leave me here to perish
by hunger? The act would be too diabolical for the worst of wretches to
think of, and yet what other reason could they have for shutting me up
in such a place? Finding that I could not release myself, I thought I
would try to move their feelings.

"I am very sorry if I have brought you or any others into trouble," I
said. "If you'll ask Roger Riddle, he'll tell you that I have no
ill-feeling towards smugglers. I was the means of getting his son Mark
out of prison. If you keep me here you'll make my father and mother
very miserable, for they won't know what has become of me. You can't be
so cruel, surely."

The men went talking on. I was sure they heard me, though they made no
answer. It then occurred to me that perhaps they had shut me up in the
chest for the purpose of carrying me on board a vessel, and that I
should then be set free and enjoy the light of heaven and the warmth of
the sun. Then I recollected having read how cruelly boys are treated on
board ship, and that if I were sent under such circumstances I should
have to lead a dog's life at the best. Well, it was some consolation to
have reason to hope that I was not to be murdered as I at first feared,
or to be kept shut up in this horrible vault for an indefinite period,
when I might be forgotten, and possibly be allowed to die of starvation.

These thoughts passed rapidly through my mind. As soon as I grew calm,
I listened