After he and his wife and
children were crowded into their den, I heard the two mates
contending furiously about me in suppressed voices, the one
maintaining the probability that I was the murderer, and the other
proving the impossibility of it. The husband, however, said as
much as let me understand that he had locked me up on purpose
to bring the military, or officers of justice, to seize me. I was in
the utmost perplexity, yet for all that, and the imminent danger I
was in, I fell asleep, and a more troubled and tormenting sleep
never enchained a mortal frame. I had such dreams that they will
not bear repetition, and early in the morning I awaked, feverish,
and parched with thirst.
I went to call mine host, that he might let me out to the open air,
but, before doing so, I thought it necessary to put on some
clothes. In attempting to do this, a circumstance arrested my
attention (for which I could in nowise account, which to this day I
cannot unriddle, nor shall I ever be able to comprehend it while I
live): the frock and turban, which had furnished my disguise on
the preceding day, were both removed, and my own black coat
and cocked hat laid down in their place.
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