. I intended
it to be the last time I would turn into my bunk. I had not been long
in the cabin before I observed that the captain and mates had been
drinking, and seemed disposed to continue their debauch. The devilled
biscuits which I had placed before them still farther incited their
thirst, and the captain ordered another bottle of rum. I noticed that
the steward, when I told him, got out two bottles, one of which he kept
in the pantry while he took the other into the cabin.

"You'll do to attend on the officers, Dick," he said to me; "I'm going
to enjoy myself."

I stood ready to obey any orders I should receive. The conversation I
heard was far from edifying, but I was too much engaged in thinking of
my own project to attend to it.

As I was standing at the far end of the cabin I heard a crash. One of
the mates had knocked over a couple of tumblers, and I was sent into the
pantry to obtain others. I found the steward fast verging into a state
of unconsciousness. He had been pulling away at the rum-bottle at a
great rate, for fear he should not have time to finish it.

As I got the tumblers I cast my eyes round the pantry to see what
articles of food I could most readily carry off. I saw the best part of
a cold ham, an ample supply of biscuits and some pots of Chinese
preserves, with several other things of less consequence.

Returning to the cabin I placed the tumblers on the table, and retired
beyond the reach of the officers, having been taught by experience that
they might at any moment think fit to give me a box on the ear or to
knock me down. I watched them with intense interest, lest they should
knock off before they were completely drunk. The third mate came into
the cabin apparently to report something to the captain, but, seeing the
state his commander was in, uttering a loud whew! He turned on his
heel, and went out again, seeing the importance of keeping sober
himself. I confess that I wished he had sat down with the others, and
left the ship to take care of herself.

Soon afterwards, as I knew I should not be missed, I stole out of the
cabin, and went into the pantry, where I quickly did up the provisions I
intended to take with me. There was a jar of water, evidently quite
full, which the steward kept ready for use.

I now went on deck to ascertain what chance I had of carrying out my
design. I could discover no one excepting the man at the helm, and the
third mate had, I conclu