shouldbepermittedtoexchangetheboxforthemoreroomy，althoughhardlymorecomfortable，accommodationsofthecabin。Myfirstcarewastogetthewatch。Leavingthetaperburning，Igropedalonginthedark，followingthecordthroughwindingsinnumerable，insomeofwhichIdiscoveredthat，aftertoilingalongdistance，Iwasbroughtbackwithinafootortwoofaformerposition。AtlengthIreachedthenail，andsecuringtheobjectofmyjourney，returnedwithitinsafety。Inowlookedoverthebookswhichhadbeensothoughtfullyprovided，andselectedtheexpeditionofLewisandClarketothemouthoftheColumbia。WiththisIamusedmyselfforsometime，when，growingsleepy，Iextinguishedthelightwithgreatcare，andsoonfellintoasoundslumber。
UponawakeningIfeltstrangelyconfusedinmind，andsometimeelapsedbeforeIcouldbringtorecollectionallthevariouscircumstancesofmysituation。Bydegrees，however，Irememberedall。
Strikingalight，Ilookedatthewatch；butitwasrundown，andtherewere，consequently，nomeansofdetermininghowlongIslept。
Mylimbsweregreatlycramped，andIwasforcedtorelievethembystandingbetweenthecrates。Presentlyfeelinganalmostravenousappetite，Ibethoughtmyselfofthecoldmutton，someofwhichIhadeatenjustbeforegoingtosleep，andfoundexcellent。Whatwasmyastonishmentindiscoveringittobeinastateofabsoluteputrefaction！Thiscircumstanceoccasionedmegreatdisquietude；for，connectingitwiththedisorderofmindIexperienceduponawakening，IbegantosupposethatImusthavesleptforaninordinatelylongperiodoftime。Thecloseatmosphereoftheholdmighthavehadsomethingtodowiththis，andmight，intheend，beproductiveofthemostseriousresults。Myheadachedexcessively；IfanciedthatI
dreweverybreathwithdifficulty；and，inshort，Iwasoppressedwithamultitudeofgloomyfeelings。StillIcouldnotventuretomakeanydisturbancebyopeningthetraporotherwise，and，havingwoundupthewatch，contentedmyselfaswellaspossible。