it
was not much after noon when I went to the cask, and it was near sunset
when I awoke, with an intense pain, in my head. It was some time before
I could recollect where I was, or what had passed, but the pannikin full
of liquor by my side first reminded me; and then perceiving how late it
was, and how long I must have slept, I rose up, and taking the pannikin
in my hand, I hastened to return to the cabin.

As I approached, I heard the voice of Jackson, whose hearing, since his
blindness, I had observed, had become peculiarly acute.

"Is that you, Frank?"

"Yes," replied I.

"And what has kept you so long?--how you have frightened me. God
forgive me, but I thought that I was to be left and abandoned to
starvation."

"Why should you have thought that?" replied I.

"Because I thought that some way or another you must have been killed,
and then I must have died, of course. I never was so frightened in my
life, the idea of dying here all alone--it was terrible."

It occurred to me at the time, that the alarm was all for himself, for
he did not say a word about how sorry he should have been at any
accident happening to me, but I made no remark, simply stating what had
occurred, and my conviction that the contents of the cask were not
drinkable.

"Have you brought any with you?" inquired he, sharply.

"Yes, here it is," said I, giving him the pannikin. He smelt it, and
raised it to his lips--took about a wine-glass full of it, and then draw
his breath.

"This is delightful," said he; "the best of old rum, I never tasted so
good. How big did you say that the cask was?"

I described it as well as I could.

"Indeed, then it must be a whole puncheon--that will last a long while."

"But do you mean to say that you really like to drink that stuff?"
inquired I.

"Do I like to drink it? Yes, it is good for men, but it's death to
little boys. It will kill you. Don't you get fond of it. Now promise
me that you will never drink a drop of it. You must not get fond of it,
or some sad accident will happen to you."

"I don't think you need fear my drinking it," replied I. "I have had
one taste, as I told you, and it nearly burnt my mouth. I shan't touch
it again."

"That's right," replied Jackson, taking another quantity into his mouth.
"You are not old enough for it; by-and-bye, when you are as old as I
am, you may drink it, then it will do you good. Now, I'll go to bed,
it's time for bed. Bring the pan