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.
"Is there sickness in the tent," whispered a soft voice in his very ear, "that Dr.Battius is called to visit it at such an hour ?" So soon as the heart of the naturalist had returned from its hasty expedition into his throat, as one less skilled than Dr.Battius in the formation of the animal would have been apt to have accounted for the extraordinary sensation with which he received this unlooked-for interruption, he found resolution to reply; using, as much in terror as in prudence, the same precaution in the indulgence of his voice.
"My worthy Nelly! I am greatly rejoiced to find it is no other than thee.