It was into the cloth-case which I had entered--that one which lay
contiguous to the box that had contained the biscuits. It was from it I
determined to start with my new tunnel; and I had two reasons for making
it my terminus: first, because I believed that it was situated almost in
a direct line with the main-hatchway. For that matter, so too was the
biscuit-box; but the latter was smaller than the cloth-case, and
therefore would not afford me so much room to carry on my work.
The second reason, however, which influenced my choice, was of more
importance. I had already ascertained that another cloth-case stood on
the top of this one, whereas the biscuit-box had bales of linen--both on
the top, and at that end through which I should have to make way. Now,
I was convinced that I could much more easily remove the pieces of cloth
than the hard rolls of linen--indeed I was not certain that these could
be stirred at all--and therefore it was that I made choice of the
cloth-case.
Once inside it, you will suppose that I went immediately to work; but
no. I remained for a considerable time without moving either hand or
arm. I was not idle, however, for all that, but busy with all the
faculties of my mind in full action.
In fact, the plan I had just conceived, had awakened in me a sort of new
energy; and the hopes of safety that now presented themselves were as
strong, and stronger, than any I had entertained since the first hour of
my captivity. The prospect, too, was far brighter. Even after my
discovery of the butt of water and box of biscuits--even when I believed
there would be a sufficient quantity of both to last out the voyage,
there was still the long imprisonment before me--months of silent and
wretched solitude to be endured.
Now it was different. In a few days, if fortune favoured me, I should
once more gaze upon the bright sky--once more breathe the free air of
heaven--once more look upon the faces of men, and listen to the sweetest
of all sounds--the voices of my fellow-creatures.
I felt like one long lost in the desert, who beholds afar off upon the
horizon some signs of the habitation of civilised men. Perhaps the dark
outlines of trees--perhaps the blue smoke rising over some distant
fire--but something that produces within him a hope that he will soon be
restored to the association of his fellow-men.
Just such a hope had sprung up within me, every moment becoming
stronger, till it amounted almost to a feeling of certainty.
It was perhaps this very confidence that kept me from rushing too
hastily towards the execution of my plan. It was a matter of too much
importance to be trifled with--an enterprise too grand either to be
commenced or carried through in a reckless or hurried manner. Some
unforeseen object might become an obstacle--some accident might arise,
which would lead to failure and ruin.
To avoid all chances of this, therefore, I resolved to proceed with as
much caution as I could command; and before making any commencement of
the work designed, to consider it in all its bearings. For this
purpose, I sat down within the cloth-case, and yielded up my whole power
of thought to an examination of my intended task.
One thing appeared very clear to me--that the task would be one of very
considerable magnitude. As already stated, I knew that I was near the
bottom of the hold; and I was not ignorant of the great depth of the
hold of a large ship. I remembered that in slipping down the
rope-tackle, it was as much as I could do to hold on till I had reached
the bottom; and a glance upward after I had reached it, showed the
hatchway a vast height above me. I reasoned, then, that if all that
space was filled with merchandise quite up to the hatch--and no doubt it
was--then I should have a long tunnel to make.
Besides, I should not only have to cut upwards, but also in a direction
leading towards the hatchway--that is, nearly half across the breadth of
the ship. This last did not trouble me so much; for I was pretty sure I
would not be able to go in a direct line, on account of the nature of
the packages I should encounter. A bale of linen, for instance, or some
like unwieldy substance, would have to be got round; and, at each stage,
I should have a choice either to proceed upward or in a horizontal
direction--whichever might appear the easiest.
In this way I should rise by steps, as it were, obliquing always in the
direction of the hatchway.
Neither the number of the packages I might have to burrow through, nor
the distance, troubled me so much as the materials which they might
contain. It was this thought which gave me the most concern; for the
difficulty would be greater or less according to the materials I should
have to remove out of my way. Should many of the articles prove to be
of that kind, that, when taken out of the cases, would become more
bulky, and could not be compressed again, then I should have to dread
the "back-water;" and in reality this was one of the worst of my
apprehensions. I had experienced already what a misfortune it would be,
since, but for the lucky circumstance of the brandy-cask, the plan I was
now about to attempt would have been altogether impracticable.
Linen I dreaded more than any other material. It would be more
difficult to get through, and when removed from its close-pressed bales,
could not possibly be repacked in so small a space. I could only hope,
therefore, that the cargo contained a very small quantity of this
beautiful and useful fabric.
I thought over many things which might be comprised in that great wooden
chamber. I even tried to remember what sort of a country Peru was, and
what articles of commerce would be most likely to be carried there from
England. But I could make very little of this train of reasoning, so
ignorant was I of commercial geography. One thing was certain: it was
what is called an "assorted cargo," for such are the cargoes usually
sent to the seaports of the Pacific. I might, therefore, expect to
encounter a little of this, and a little of that--in short, everything
produced in our great manufacturing cities.
After I had spent nearly half an hour in this sort of conjecturing. I
began to perceive that it could serve no purpose. It would be only
guesswork, at best, and it was evident I could not tell what quality of
metal the mine contained, until I had first sunk my shaft.
The moment to commence that labour had arrived; and, throwing reflection
for the time behind me, I betook myself to the task.