by Mayne Reid
CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.
CONJECTURES.
It was into the cloth-case which I had entered--that one which laycontiguous to the box that had contained the biscuits. It was from it Idetermined to start with my new tunnel; and I had two reasons for makingit my terminus: first, because I believed that it was situated almost ina direct line with the main-hatchway. For that matter, so too was thebiscuit-box; but the latter was smaller than the cloth-case, andtherefore would not afford me so much room to carry on my work.
The second reason, however, which influenced my choice, was of moreimportance. I had already ascertained that another cloth-case stood onthe top of this one, whereas the biscuit-box had bales of linen--both onthe 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 cloththan the hard rolls of linen--indeed I was not certain that these couldbe stirred at all--and therefore it was that I made choice of thecloth-case.
Once inside it, you will suppose that I went immediately to work; butno. I remained for a considerable time without moving either hand orarm. I was not idle, however, for all that, but busy with all thefaculties of my mind in full action.
In fact, the plan I had just conceived, had awakened in me a sort of newenergy; and the hopes of safety that now presented themselves were asstrong, and stronger, than any I had entertained since the first hour ofmy captivity. The prospect, too, was far brighter. Even after mydiscovery of the butt of water and box of biscuits--even when I believedthere would be a sufficient quantity of both to last out the voyage,there was still the long imprisonment before me--months of silent andwretched solitude to be endured.
Now it was different. In a few days, if fortune favoured me, I shouldonce more gaze upon the bright sky--once more breathe the free air ofheaven--once more look upon the faces of men, and listen to the sweetestof all sounds--the voices of my fellow-creatures.
I felt like one long lost in the desert, who beholds afar off upon thehorizon some signs of the habitation of civilised men. Perhaps the darkoutlines of trees--perhaps the blue smoke rising over some distantfire--but something that produces within him a hope that he will soon berestored to the association of his fellow-men.
Just such a hope had sprung up within me, every moment becomingstronger, till it amounted almost to a feeling of certainty.
It was perhaps this very confidence that kept me from rushing toohastily towards the execution of my plan. It was a matter of too muchimportance to be trifled with--an enterprise too grand either to becommenced or carried through in a reckless or hurried manner. Someunforeseen 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 asmuch caution as I could command; and before making any commencement ofthe work designed, to consider it in all its bearings. For thispurpose, I sat down within the cloth-case, and yielded up my whole powerof thought to an examination of my intended task.
One thing appeared very clear to me--that the task would be one of veryconsiderable magnitude. As already stated, I knew that I was near thebottom of the hold; and I was not ignorant of the great depth of thehold of a large ship. I remembered that in slipping down therope-tackle, it was as much as I could do to hold on till I had reachedthe bottom; and a glance upward after I had reached it, showed thehatchway a vast height above me. I reasoned, then, that if all thatspace was filled with merchandise quite up to the hatch--and no doubt itwas--then I should have a long tunnel to make.
Besides, I should not only have to cut upwards, but also in a directionleading towards the hatchway--that is, nearly half across the breadth ofthe ship. This last did not trouble me so much; for I was pretty sure Iwould not be able to go in a direct line, on account of the nature ofthe packages I should encounter. A bale of linen, for instance, or somelike unwieldy substance, would have to be got round; and, at each stage,I should have a choice either to proceed upward or in a horizontaldirection--whichever might appear the easiest.
In this way I should rise by steps, as it were, obliquing always in thedirection of the hatchway.
Neither the number of the packages I might have to burrow through, northe distance, troubled me so much as the materials which they mightcontain. It was this thought which gave me the most concern; for thedifficulty would be greater or less according to the materials I shouldhave to remove out of my way. Should many of the articles prove to beof that kind, that, when taken out of the cases, would become morebulky, and could not be compressed again, then I should have to dreadthe "back-water;" and in reality this was one of the worst of myapprehensions. I had experienced already what a misfortune it would be,since, but for the lucky circumstance of the brandy-cask, the plan I wasnow about to attempt would have been altogether impracticable.
Linen I dreaded more than any other material. It would be moredifficult 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 thisbeautiful and useful fabric.
I thought over many things which might be comprised in that great woodenchamber. I even tried to remember what sort of a country Peru was, andwhat articles of commerce would be most likely to be carried there fromEngland. But I could make very little of this train of reasoning, soignorant was I of commercial geography. One thing was certain: it waswhat is called an "assorted cargo," for such are the cargoes usuallysent to the seaports of the Pacific. I might, therefore, expect toencounter a little of this, and a little of that--in short, everythingproduced in our great manufacturing cities.
After I had spent nearly half an hour in this sort of conjecturing. Ibegan to perceive that it could serve no purpose. It would be onlyguesswork, at best, and it was evident I could not tell what quality ofmetal the mine contained, until I had first sunk my shaft.
The moment to commence that labour had arrived; and, throwing reflectionfor the time behind me, I betook myself to the task.