I was awakened from wild slumbers of my own, and strongly partook of his sensations; but endeavoured however to rouze him to speech, and recollection. Again and again I asked 'What have you heard? What ails you?' It was long before he could utter an articulate sound. At last, shaking more violently as he spoke, and with inexpressible horror in his voice, he gasping said--'A dead hand!'-- 'Where?'-- 'I felt it!--I had hold of it!--It is now at my neck.' For a moment I paused: not daring to stretch out my arm, and examine. I trembled in sympathy with him. At length I ventured. Never shall I forget the sensation I experienced, when, to my full conviction, I actually felt a cold, dead, hand, between my fingers! I was suffocated with horror! I struggled to overcome it: again it seized me; and I sunk half entranced! At this very instant, the shrill sound of the whistle rung, piercing, through the dismal place in which we were imprisoned. It was answered. The same hoarse voices once more were heard: but in tones fifty fold more dire. One terror combated the other, and we were recalled to some sense of distinguishing and understanding. We lay silent, not daring to breathe, when we heard the door unlock. Our feelings will not readily be conceived, while the following dialogue passed. 'What a damned while you have kept us waiting, such a night as this!' 'What ails the night? It is a special good night, for our trade.' 'What the devil have you been about?' 'About? Doing our business, to be sure: and doing it to some purpose, I tell you. Is not the night as bad for us as for you? Who had the best of it, do you think? What had you to do, but to keep on the scout?' 'How came you to leave the door open, and be d--mn'd to you?' 'Who left the door open, Jack Dingyface? We left the key in it, indeed; for such lubbers as you to pass in and out: while we had all the work to do, and all the danger to boot.' 'Who do you call lubber, Bull-calf? We have had as much to do as yourselves. There has been an alarm given; for we have heard noises and hallooing all night. For my part, I don't much like it. We shall be smoked: nay it is my belief we are already; and I have a great mind to decamp, and leave the country.' 'You are always in a panic. Who is to smoke us?' 'Well, mark my words, it will come upon us when we least think of it.' 'Think of ----! Hold up the lanthorn. Come, heave in the sack--We were d--mn'd fools, for taking such a hen-hearted fellow among us. Lift the sack an end. Why don't you lend a hand, and keep it steady, while I untie it? Do you think a dead man can stand on his legs? D--mn my body, the fool is afraid he should bite.' 'You are a hardened dog, Randal, bl--st me!' 'Come, tumble the body out. Lay hold! Here! Heave this way. So: that will do. We may leave him. He will not run away. His journey is over. He will travel no farther, to-night. He can't say however but we have provided him with a lodging.'