sharpeneditmyself；ithasanedgelikeaskean。’
Heplacedinmyhandthesteelheadofahalberd。Graspingitfirmly，Ifoundthatitmadebynomeansabadweaponinpointofconvenience；foritfeltinthehandlikeaheavydagger，theportionwhichformedthebladeorpointbeingcrossednearlyatthelowerextremitybyasmallbarofmetal，atonesideshapedintotheformofanaxe，andattheotherintothatofahook。Thesetwotransverseappendagesbeingmuffledbythefoldsofmycravat，whichIremovedforthepurpose，formedaperfectguardorhilt，andthelowerextremityformedlikeatube，inwhichthepike-handlehadbeeninserted，affordedamplespaceforthegraspofmyhand；thepointhadbeenmadeassharpasaneedle，andthemetalheassuredmewasgood。
Thusequippedheleftme，havingobserved，’Thecaptainsentmetobringyoutoyoursenses，andgiveyousomewaterthathemightfindyouproperforhisvisit。Hereisthepitcher；IthinkIhaverevivedyousufficientlyforthecaptain’spurpose。’
Withalowsavagelaughheleftmetomyreflections。
Havingexaminedandadjustedtheweapon，Icarefullyboundtheendsofthecravat，withwhichIhadsecuredthecrosspartofthespear-head，firmlyroundmywrist，sothatincaseofastruggleitmightnoteasilybeforcedfrommyhand；andhavingmadetheseprecautionarydispositions，Isatdownuponthegroundwithmybackagainstthewall，andmyhandstogetherundermycoat，awaitingmyvisitor。