k on the end of it
and had thrust it into my pocket. There it was. I might, by boring a
hole in the cask, reach the water. How anxiously I clutched the gimlet.
How fearful I was that in attempting to bore a hole I might break it.
Feeling as far as I could judge for the centre of the cask, I began
boring a hole, using the greatest care. At length the gimlet went right
through. As I drew it forth I put it to my mouth. It was wet. How
deliciously cool it felt. I then applied my mouth to the hole, but
bitter was my disappointment when no water came out. I sucked and
sucked at the hole, and then I blew into it, but with no satisfactory
result.

I was again almost driven to despair. I tried the hole with the gimlet.
It passed through it, and the iron was again wet. "What a fool!" I
exclaimed, just then recollecting that to get liquor out of a cask two
holes are necessary, the one to serve as a vent-hole to let in the air
and the other to let out the liquid. I accordingly set to work and
began boring a hole as high as I could reach above the former one. I
soon accomplished my task, and as the air rushed in the water from the
lower hole rushed out. I eagerly applied my mouth to it and sucked and
sucked away until I was almost choked. Still I didn't feel as if I had
had enough.

How delicious was the sensation as it wetted my lips, moistened my
mouth, and flowed down my parched throat. I felt very much like a
pitcher being filled at a fountain. The hole was small, so that only a
thin stream came out. It was fortunate for me that it was no larger, or
I believe that I should have killed myself by over-drinking. Not until
I had withdrawn my mouth did I recollect that I must find some means of
stopping the flow of water. Feeling in my pocket, I found some pieces
of wood, one of which I thought I could form into a plug. In doing so I
nearly cut my fingers.

After a time I succeeded, and shutting up my knife, I knocked the plug I
had made in with the handle. The vent-hole was not so important to
stop, so I let it alone. I was now able to eat my remaining bun, though
I recollected that it was the last article of food I possessed. I
afterwards took another pull at the water-cask. I had no longer any
fear of suffering from thirst, which was some comfort, but I had serious
apprehensions about the means of obtaining food, should I fail to make
my escape from my prison. I was, however, wonderfully hopeful. I