I passed the night--I should rather say the hours of rest--in my old
apartment, behind the water-butt. Whether it was night or day, I no
longer knew nor cared. On this occasion I slept well, and awoke
refreshed and strengthened. My new diet, no doubt, aided in producing
this effect; for, however repugnant it might be to a dainty palate, it
served well enough for a famished stomach.
I was not loath to make my breakfast upon it, which I did the moment
after awaking; and that finished, I again crawled back through my
"gallery," and entered the empty box, where I had already spent nearly
the whole of a day and night.
As I climbed into the same place, I could not help thinking how little
way I had made during my last spell of twenty hours; but some secret
thought inspired me with the hope, that on this occasion I should be
more fortunate.
My intention was to continue the work which had been interrupted by the
breaking of my knife. Before that unlucky accident befell me, I had
noticed that the board was not very firmly nailed on. It could be
started easily enough with a proper tool; I fancied that even a good
piece of stick would do it.
I was careful not to make any more rash experiments with the blade of my
knife. Now, more than ever, did I value this precious weapon; for I was
fully sensible that my life depended on its endurance.
"If I only had a piece of some hard wood!" thought I.
I remembered that in making an entrance into the brandy-cask I had cut
large pieces from the oaken staves. Perhaps one of these would do?
With the thought, I hurried back to the little chamber where I knew they
were lying.
After removing some pieces of cloth, I found them; and having groped
among the cuttings, I possessed myself of a piece that appeared as if it
would suit my purpose.
Getting back to the box, I even shaped out a little crowbar, by giving
the stick a wedge end with my knife; and this thin end I inserted under
the plank, and drove it inward as far as I could, by striking it with a
heavy piece of board.
It soon took hold; and then grasping it by the end, and jerking it
downwards, I had the gratification to hear the creaking of the nails as
they started outward. My fingers now took the place of the little
lever; and the board came "skreeking" out of the bottom of the box.
That contiguous to it was more easily detached; and the two left me an
aperture large enough to get out the contents, whatever they might be.
They were oblong packages, shaped like pieces of cloth or linen, but
they felt lighter and more elastic than either. Better still, they
could be pulled out more easily, and without the necessity of being
taken out of their envelopes.
I had no curiosity to know what they were, since I could tell they were
nothing eatable, and perhaps I should not have known till this day, but
that in drawing out one more tightly wedged than the rest, its wrapper
was torn off; and as I passed my fingers between the folds of the soft
light fabric, I guessed from their smooth silken surface that I was
dealing with the finest of _velvet_.
The box was soon emptied, and its contents carefully stowed in the most
convenient space behind me; and then, with a joyous heart, I mounted
into the space I had cleared out. One more stage nearer to liberty!
I had been less than two hours in accomplishing this great advance.
Such success was ominous of future good fortune. It was a day well
begun; and I resolved not to throw away a minute of time, since the
fates appeared so propitious.
After going down to refresh myself with a grand draught of water, I
returned to the _ci-devant_ depository of the velvet, and there entered
upon a new series of explorations. As in the case of the cloth-box, I
saw that the end of this, which also abutted against the pianoforte,
could be easily _kicked out_; and without waiting to ascertain farther,
I set my heels against it, and began playing my old _tattoo_.
This time I did not finish it so soon. I was pinched for want of room,
the velvet-box being much smaller than that which contained the cloth;
but I effected my purpose at length, and out went the end-boards, one
after another, dropping down into the interstices between the cases of
goods.
Doubling myself over upon my knees, I leant forward to make a new
_reconnaissance_. I expected, or rather dreaded, to find the great
wall-like piano-case shutting up the whole space I had opened.
Certainly, the huge case was there--for I at once laid my hand upon it--
but I could scarce restrain an exclamation of joy, when I found that it
extended scarce half-way across the opening! What delighted me still
further was, that, in groping around its edge, I observed that opposite
the opening in that part to which the piano-case did not extend, there
was a large space entirely empty--a space almost big enough to have
contained another case of velvet!
This was a very joyful surprise, and I at once perceived the advantage
thus thrown in my way. It was so much of my tunnel ready made to my
hand.
On thrusting my arm outside the end of the box and upward, I became
acquainted with a new source of joy. I perceived that the empty space
continued for ten or twelve inches higher than the top of the box--in
fact, to the top of the piano-case itself. It also opened about the
same distance below where my knees rested. There I perceived that it
ended in a sharp angle; for I had already noticed that this little
chamber was not of a _square_ shape, as we say, but of the form of a
triangle, with its apex pointing downwards. This was caused by the
peculiar construction of the piano-case, which resembled a great
parallelopipedon, with one corner sawed off. It was standing upon its
larger end, and it was where this corner should have been that the place
remained empty.
In all likelihood the triangular shape of this space rendered it
inconvenient for any package which there was among the merchandise, and
hence was it unoccupied.
So much the better for me, thought I, as I stretched forth my arms, and
leant my body over into it, with the design of giving it a more thorough
exploration.