bserved the visits of old Growles
and the boatswain to the hold, and shrewdly guessed that I had been a
prisoner. I could not understand, however, how the captain didn't make
some fuss about it, unless he also was cognisant of the fact; but of
that I was left in uncertainty. I had expected from the way he had
first treated me that some change for the better would take place in my
condition, but in this I was mistaken. I was at the beck and call of
every one, having to do all the dirty work in the cabin, and being
knocked about and bullied by the men just as much as before.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

My position does not improve--Another attempt at escape frustrated--
Becalmed off Japan--Macao--A fresh cargo--Extension of the voyage--Not
dead yet--I gain some important information as to the future fate
awaiting me, and I determine to quit the ship--A carouse--My escape,
and how I accomplished it--Alone on the ocean--I sight land--The rock
and my landing-place--My search for food--I meet with an accident--I
lose my boat.

I must pass rapidly over the voyage across the Pacific. Whatever better
feelings the captain had at one time displayed towards me completely
disappeared. I was treated by him and the officers and men as badly as
ever. My spirit was not broken, and perhaps I may at times have shown
too refractory a disposition to please them. I was compelled, however,
to submit to and obey their orders, annoying and vexatious as they often
were. I did not show my feelings so much by what I said as by my looks,
and I often stopped to consider whether or no I would do as I was told.

We fell in with a few ships--most of them whalers--the captains of which
sometimes came on board, and I had hoped that I might be able to get off
in one of them. I fancied that it would be impossible to change for the
worse, but I in vain watched for an opportunity.

One evening we were becalmed to the southward of Japan, not far off a
South Sea whaler. The commander, who was an old acquaintance of Captain
Longfleet, came aboard, and spent the evening with him in the cabin. I
waited eagerly till it had become dark. The lights of the other ship
could be seen in the distance, and I expected every instant that the
captain would come on deck ready to take his departure. The boat's crew
had come aboard, and were being entertained by our men. I thought if I
could manage to slip down I might stow myself away under the fore