But I believe it was this peculiar word, "Excelsior," that guided me in my after proceedings, for by its most literal sense was I directed. _Upward_, thought I; I might search upward. Why did it not occur to me before? There might be food in this direction, as likely as in any other, and certainly I had no choice, as every other direction had been tried. I resolved, then, to search _upward_. In another minute I was upon my back, knife in hand. I propped myself with pieces of cloth, so that I might work more conveniently, and after groping out one of the divisions of the lid, I commenced notching it crossways. The board at length gave way to my exertions. I dragged it downwards. Oh, heavens! were my hopes again destined to suffer defeat and mockery? Alas! it was even so. The coarse, hard-grained canvas, with the dull sodden mass behind it, answered me with a sad affirmative. There yet remained the upper side of the other case, and then that of the biscuit-box. Both should be tried as a last effort, and that before I could again sleep. And both _were_ tried, with like evil fortune. Upon the former rested a case of the cloth, while another bale of linen completely covered the top of the latter. "Merciful God! am I forsaken?" Such was my exclamation as I sank back into an attitude of complete exhaustion. CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT. A TORRENT OF BRANDY. Sleep followed, brought on by weariness and long exertion; and when I awoke, I felt my strength greatly restored. Singular enough, my spirits were a good deal lighter, and I was far less despairing than I had been before. It seemed as if some supernatural influence sustained me-- perhaps an inspiration given by the great Creator himself, to enable me to persevere. Notwithstanding that my disappointments had been many and oft-repeated, I bore up under the infliction as meekly as I could, and never yet had I felt in my heart a rebellious feeling against God. I still continued to offer up prayers for my success, and to place reliance upon the hope that His mercy would yet be extended to me. This feeling it was--I am sure it was--that upheld me, and kept me from falling into utter despondency. On awaking again, as I have said, my spirits felt lighter, though I know not why, unless it was that I was cheered by some influence from above. I can only account for it in this way, since there was no change in the circumstances that surrounded me--at least none for the better--nor had I conceived any new hope or plan. It was certain that I could penetrate no further through the boxes of cloth and bales of linen, as I had no place to stow their contents behind me. That side, therefore, was now no longer the object of my attention. There were still two other directions in which I might search--the one directly in front, and that toward the left, which last I knew to be in the direction of the bows of the ship.