‘“WHERE AM 1?” 85

over the side of a ship, but that, on the contrary, they slid
me down. Was it to let me go—to drown me, so as to
rid themselves of a troublesome witness? That idea
crossed my mind, and an agonized shudder passed over
me from head to foot, Instinctively I took a long breath,
and my chest expanded with air that was soon to fail
me.

No! They lowered me carefully to a solid flooring,
which gave me a sensation of metallic cold. I was
stretched at full length, and to my extreme surprise, I
found that my bonds had been loosed. The movement
of feet about me ceased, and a moment later I heard the
noise of a door shutting.

Here lam! Where ?—and first, am I alone? I tear
the gag from my mouth and the bandage from my
eyes.

All was dark, profoundly dark. Not the smallest ray
of light, not even that faint impression which the pupil of
the eye preserves in hermetically closed chambers.

I call—I call several times. No answer. My voice is
muffled, as though it passed through a medium unsuited
to the transmission of sound. ;

In addition, the air I-breathe is hot, heavy, thick, and
the action of my lungs will soon become difficult, impos-
sible, if that air be not renewed.

I stretch out my hands and make some discoveries by
my sense of touch.

I occupy a chamber with fale of sheet iron. When I
pass my hand along the plates, I ascertain that they are