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amongwhichInowfoundmyself.Bydegrees,however,myeyes
becameaccustomedtothegloom,andIproceededwithlesstrouble,
holdingontotheskirtsofmyfriend’scoat.Hebroughtme,atlength,
aftercreepingandwindingthroughinnumerablenarrowpassages,
toaniron-boundbox,suchasisusedsometimesforpackingfine
earthenware.Itwasnearlyfourfeethigh,andfullsixlong,butvery
narrow.Twolargeemptyoil-caskslayonthetopofit,andabove
these,again,avastquantityofstrawmatting,piledupashighasthe
floorofthecabin.Ineveryotherdirectionaroundwaswedged
ascloselyaspossible,evenuptotheceiling,acompletechaos
ofalmosteveryspeciesofship-furniture,togetherwithaheterogeneous
medleyofcrates,hampers,barrels,andbales,sothatitseemed
amatternolessthanmiraculousthatwehaddiscoveredanypassage
atalltothebox.IafterwardfoundthatAugustushadpurposely
arrangedthestowageinthisholdwithaviewtoaffording
meathoroughconcealment,havinghadonlyoneassistantinthe
labour,amannotgoingoutinthebrig.
Mycompanionnowshowedmethatoneoftheendsofthebox
couldberemovedatpleasure.Heslippeditasideanddisplayedthe
interior,atwhichIwasexcessivelyamused.Amattressfromone
ofthecabinberthscoveredthewholeofitsbottom,anditcontained
almosteveryarticleofmerecomfortwhichcouldbecrowdedinto
sosmallaspace,allowingme,atthesametime,sufficientroomfor
myaccommodation,eitherinasittingpositionorlyingatfulllength.
Amongotherthings,thereweresomebooks,pen,ink,andpaper,three
blankets,alargejugfullofwater,akegofsea-biscuit,threeorfour
immenseBolognasausages,anenormousham,acoldlegofroast
mutton,andhalfadozenbottlesofcordialsandliqueurs.Iproceeded
immediatelytotakepossessionofmylittleapartment,andthiswith
feelingsofhighersatisfaction,Iamsure,thananymonarchever
experienceduponenteringanewpalace.Augustusnowpointedout
tomethemethodoffasteningtheopenendofthebox,andthen,
holdingthetaperclosetothedeck,showedmeapieceofdark
whipcordlyingalongit.This,hesaid,extendedfrommyhiding-place
throughoutallthenecessarywindingsamongthelumber,toanail
whichwasdrivenintothedeckofthehold,immediatelybeneaththe
trap-doorleadingintohisstateroom.BymeansofthiscordIshould
beenabledreadilytotracemywayoutwithouthisguidance,provided
anyunlooked-foraccidentshouldrendersuchastepnecessary.Henow
