r a booby, or a lump of rancid grease, had contributed to
keep body and soul together. But neither booby nor flying-fish could I
possibly obtain. I tried to think of all the various articles with
which the ship was likely to be freighted. During my numerous visits to
the quay alongside which she had been moored, I had had the curiosity to
try and ascertain the contents of the packages about being hoisted on
board. I had in some places observed large packages of raisins, dried
figs, and hams, and kegs of butter, and dried fish, but they were being
landed. I had, however, seen no things of the same description
alongside the "Emu."

Still, unless I searched I was sure not to find; so, again crawling
through the opening I had made, I once more began to feel my way about,
and to try every package I could reach.

The cases I felt were all rough and strong. The packages were covered
with a stout material, showing the nature of the goods within. Again I
tried to move some of them so that I might make my way onwards, but I
found as before that they were all firmly jammed in their proper
positions. It was difficult to divine how the space I had got into had
been left vacant.

I might have spent two or three hours in the search, for of course I was
obliged to move slowly and with the greatest caution to avoid knocking
my head against any object, or falling down again and injuring myself.
I no longer felt any pain from my sprained ankle. The enforced rest I
had given it had contributed to restore it to use.

How little those on deck supposed that a human being was creeping about
so far down beneath their feet.

Before I gave in I tried another case, which seemed more promising than
any of those I had hitherto discovered. I got out my knife. I carved
and cut, feeling each little chip as I got it off; the case was of soft
deal, so that I had no great difficulty in cutting it, but I did so
without much hope of reaching food after all, and began to feel that I
should have to fall back on raw rat for supper. That was if I could
manage to catch the said rat. As before, I was disappointed. I got
into the case, but could only feel a mass of hay serving to pack china
or crockeryware of some sort. I had had hopes of success, and I could
not help feeling much disappointed.

The desire of sleep, which I had for some time thrown off, returned, and
I crept back to the spot which I had selected for my couch. I wrapt
myself