The woman muttered
her thanks, and her {leech} reseated himself in silence, to await the
operation of the dose. In less than half an hour the breathing of
Esther became so profound, and, as the Doctor himself might have
termed it, so very abstracted, that had he not known how easy it was
to ascribe this new instance of somnolency to the powerful dose of
opium with which he had garnished the brandy, he might have seen
reason to distrust his own prescription. With the sleep of the
restless woman, the stillness became profound and general.
Then Dr. Battius saw fit to arise, with the silence and caution of the
midnight robber, and to steal out of his own cabin, or rather kennel,
for it deserved no better name, towards the adjoining dormitories.
Here he took time to assure himself that all his neighbours were
buried in deep sleep. Once advised of this important fact, he
hesitated no longer, but commenced the difficult ascent which led to
the upper pinnacle of the rock. His advance, though abundantly
guarded, was not entirely noiseless; but while he was felicitating
himself on having successfully effected his object, and he was in the
very act of placing his foot on the highest ledge a hand was laid upon
the skirts of his coat, which as effectually put an end to his
advance, as if the gigantic strength of Ishmael himself had pinned him
to the earth.
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