So wearied had I become with fears and long waking, that my cheek had
scarce touched my pillow, before I was off into the land of dreams. And
not the _land_ of dreams either, for it was the _sea_ of which I dreamt;
and, just as before, that I was at its bottom, and surrounded by horrid
crab-like monsters who threatened to eat me up.
Now and then, however, these crab-like creatures assumed the form of
rats; and then my dream more resembled reality. I dreamt that they were
in vast numbers around me, and menaced me from every side; that I had
only my jacket to keep them off, and that I was sweeping it from side to
side for that purpose. I thought they grew bolder and bolder as they
saw how little damage I was able to do them with such a weapon; and that
a very large rat, much bigger than any of the others, was encouraging
them on to the attack. This was not a real rat, but the ghost of one--
of that one I had killed! He was leading the swarm of my assailants,
and counselling them to avenge his murder! Such was the fancy of my
dream.
I thought that, for a long time, I was successful in keeping them at
bay; but my strength was fast failing me, and unless succour arrived, I
would be overpowered. I looked around and called loudly for help, but
no one appeared to be near me.
My assailants at length perceived that my strength was gone; and, at a
signal given by their ghost leader, made a simultaneous rush upon me.
They came from the front, from behind, from both sides, and although I
struck around me in a last despairing effort, it was to no purpose.
Dozens of them I had flung backward, tumbling upon their backs and over
one another, but their places were instantly filled up again by others
that came from behind.
I could struggle no longer. Resistance was idle. I felt them crawling
up my legs, my thighs, my back. They clung to me all over, their bodies
covering mine like a swarm of bees upon a branch; and before they had
time to inflict a wound upon my flesh, their very weight caused me to
stagger, and fall heavily to the earth!
The fall appeared to save me; for as soon as I touched ground, the rats
let go their hold and ran scampering off, as if frightened at the effect
they had produced!
I was pleasantly surprised at this _denouement_, and for some moments
was unable to explain it; but my senses soon became clearer; and I was
rejoiced to find that the horror I had been experiencing was only the
illusion of a dream; and the fall which I had suffered, was the breaking
up of the vision that had awakened me!
In the next instant, however, I changed my mind; and my new-sprung joy
departed as suddenly as it had arisen. It was not all a dream. _Rats
had been upon me, and rats were at that moment in my chamber_! I heard
them scampering about. I heard their ugly screeches; and before I could
raise myself, one of them ran over my face!
This was a new source of terror. How had they got in? The very mystery
of their being inside was of itself enough to give me a shock. How had
they got there? Had they pushed out the jacket? Mechanically, I felt
for it. No. It was there in its place, just as I had left it! I drew
it out for the purpose of striking around me, to drive the vermin off.
I struck with it and shouted as I had done before, and succeeded in
clearing them off; but I was now in greater terror than ever, for I
could not explain how they were able thus to reach me, notwithstanding
all my precautions.
For a time, I was sorely perplexed, but I found the explanation at
length. It was not through the crevice, I had stopped with the jacket,
they had sought entrance; but by another aperture, which I had caulked
with a piece of cloth. The cloth was too small--it had been loose, and
the rats had actually torn it out with their teeth!
This accounted for their gaining an entrance; but, at the same time, it
by no means removed my alarm. On the contrary, it furnished me cause
for increased anxiety. Why were those creatures thus pertinacious,
returning again and again? What wanted they in my hiding-place, more
than in any other part of the ship? What could they want, but _to kill
and eat me_?
Verily, I could think of no other reason why I was thus assailed.
The fear of such a consequence now aroused all my energies. I had not
been asleep more than an hour, as I knew by my watch; but I could not go
to sleep again, until I had fully secured myself; and for this purpose,
I set about putting my fortress in a more proper state of defence. I
removed the former stuffings from the apertures, one by one, and
replaced them more firmly. I even went through the labour of taking all
the biscuits out of the box, and drawing forth two or three fresh pieces
of cloth to help me in my "caulking." I then restored the biscuits to
their places, and closed up every aperture that existed. I had the
greatest difficulty upon that side where the box stood, for around it
there were many ill-shaped crevices; but I got over the difficulty, by
means of a large web of cloth, which, when placed upon its end, exactly
fitted the open space--through which I had squeezed my own carcass on
that occasion, when I was so unfortunate as to set my foot aboard the
ship. On this side, the piece of cloth left no more caulking to be
done, as it fitted just tight enough to prevent any living creature from
passing beside it. The only disadvantage it offered was, that it
hindered me from getting conveniently at my store of biscuits, for it
covered the opening in the box; but I thought of this before pushing it
into its place, and carried a supply of the biscuits inside--enough to
last me for a week or two. When these should be eaten, I could remove
the web; and, before any rats could come in to trouble me, provide
myself for another week.
It occupied me full two hours, in completing all these arrangements, for
I worked with great care to make my fortress walls secure. It was no
play I was performing. It was a matter that possessed the serious
interest of my life's safety.
When I had made all tight to my perfect satisfaction, I lay down to
sleep again--this time _quite certain_ that I should get something more
than a mere "cat-nap."