e darkness, suddenly coming into the light, and
then disappearing. Some were people I knew, and others were strangers.
Aunt Deb and Mr Butterfield came by, tripping it lightly, holding each
other's hands, he in a bob wig with a sword by his side, she in
high-heeled red shoes and a cap decked with flowers and ribbons. She
smiled and ogled, as if about to dance a minuet. I almost laughed as I
saw them, they appeared so vivid and real. Then Captain Longfleet came
upon the scene as I fancied him, dressed in a cocked-hat and feathers, a
long sword buckled to his side, high boots, a red coat, and a waistcoat
braided with gold.

I fancy that I must have seen some picture of the sort of a pirate
captain to cause him thus to be presented to my imagination. He walked
about flourishing his sword till he met Aunt Deb, to whom, instead of
cutting her head off, as I thought he was about to do, he made a
profound bow, and then vanished. Many other figures quite as bizarre
and unnatural appeared before me. I mention these trivial circumstances
to show the state of my mind. I had been so long by myself that I must
be pardoned if I appear egotistical. Again all was quiet. I lay for
some time, if not unconscious, with very little power of thought. I was
afraid that another night would come on, and that I should have to
endure my sufferings for some hours longer, if death did not put an end
to them. I could still hear the tread of the men's feet, and even the
voices of the officers, shouting their orders. How I wished that I
could shout also, for then I knew I should be heard. I tried once more
to move, and managed to drag myself on till I got directly under the
hatchway. Although I could not shout, to my surprise I heard myself
groaning.

There being light sufficient to enable me to observe objects, my eye
fell upon a loose piece of wood. I grasped it with all my remaining
strength, and began beating away on the top of a cask, which proved to
be empty from the sound which emanated from it. I beat on and on, but
no notice appeared to be taken of the noise I was making. I was too ill
and weak to reason on the subject, but I remembered hearing a loud voice
shouting out some orders. Presently there came a tramp of feet
overhead, backwards and forwards and from side to side they seemed to
run. The crew were evidently engaged in shortening or making sail,
which it was I was unable to tell. I had sense enough remaining to k