324 DEATH OF A SAILOR. [CHAP.V. 



bore S. 85° W., distant by estimation twenty- 

 three miles. Mount Minto was once seen, and 

 by admeasurement was forty miles away. To- 

 wards evening the breeze became steady from 

 south-east, and gradually freshened as night drew 

 in. A small bird, supposed to be a snow bird, 

 flew near the ship. In the early part of the 26th 

 the wind increased to a gale from the southward, 

 and placed us in latitude 63° 57' 02" N. ; but the 

 horizon being rather misty no land was seen, 

 and the sun was not clear enough to get sights. 

 This day terminated the life of Alexander Young 

 (marine), who had been long slowly sinking under 

 his fatal malady. There had been occasional 

 fluctuations which afforded a ray of hope ; but, 

 at length, after lingering on the verge of disso- 

 lution during a wearisome period, in which he 

 displayed no want of mental energy or proper 

 resignation, he yielded to the overmastering 

 disease, and with some appearance of suffering 

 closed his mortal career. At his own request the 

 body was opened by Messrs. Donovan and Mould, 

 who found the liver affected and very much en- 

 larged. The blood was poor and extremely 

 serous, almost indeed separated into two parts ; 

 and some water was lodged in the region of the 

 heart. The following day, April 27th, the last 

 sad offices were paid by the officers and crew, and 

 a third poor shipmate was committed to the deep. 



