ather and I met again, and what occurred, up to this present
time."

But I was too much bewildered and confused with what he had told me, to
allow him to proceed, as he proposed.

"No, no," replied I. "I now recollect all you have said, although I do
not understand. You must first answer my questions, as to the meaning
of words I never heard of before. I cannot understand what money is,
what gaming is, and a great many more things you have talked about, but
I recollect, and can repeat every word that you have said. To-morrow, I
will recall it all over, and you shall tell me what I cannot make out;
after that you can go on again."

"Very well," replied he, "I don't care how long it takes me to answer
your questions, for I am not very anxious to tell all about your father
and myself."

CHAPTER SIX.

I can hardly describe to the reader the effect which these conversations
with Jackson had upon me at first. If a prisoner were removed from a
dark cell, and all at once introduced into a garden full of fruit and
flowers, which he never before had an idea were in existence, he could
not have been more filled with wonder, surprise, and pleasure. All was
novelty and excitement, but at the same time, to a great degree, above
my comprehension. I had neither language nor ideas to meet it, and yet
I did, to a certain degree, comprehend. I saw not clearly, but
sometimes as through a mist, at others through a dark fog, and I could
discern little. Every day, however, my increased knowledge of language
and terms gave me an increased knowledge of ideas. I gained more by
context than I did by any other means, and as I was by degrees
enlightened, so my thirst for information and knowledge became every day
more insatiable.

That much that I considered I understood was erroneous, is certain, for
mine was a knowledge, as yet, of theory only. I could imagine to
myself, as far as the explanation I received, what such an object might
be, and, having made up my ideas on the matter, I was content; further
knowledge would, however, incline me to think, and occasionally to
decide, that the idea I had formed was incorrect, and I would alter it.
Thus did I flounder about in a sea of uncertainty, but still of exciting
interest.

If any one who has been educated, and has used his eyes in a civilised
country, reads an account of people and things hitherto unknown to him,
he can, from the description and from his own general knowled