NARRATIVE. 177 



dich had agreed with me, that the malmsey at least would be 

 wasted, if broached at sea : reserving it, therefore, for better times, 

 we left the cask untouched; but, tired with the disagreeables 

 attending the voyage, our resolution gave way, and we had 

 recourse to our treasure. To our great dismay, however, not 

 a single di-op of malmsey, or any other sort, was left us. This 

 disappointment entailed upon us suspicion in its fullest extent, 

 and we feared for every part of our property which might be 

 deemed valuable to another. My imagination carried me to a 

 considerable length, to the no small entertainment of Mr. Bowdich 

 and myself also, after I recovered from my fright. On a former 

 occasion, I had been five days in the same ship with a murderer, 

 who was going home to take his trial, and his appearance, added 

 to his own description of liis barbarity, so strongly excited my 

 terror, that although it was a near approach to suflPocation, from 

 the warmth of the climate, I could only rest while my child was 

 shut up wdtli me in our little state room. By a remarkable 

 coincidence, the first mate of the American, with red hair, and 

 redder eyes, resembled this criminal, (whose features I had never 

 forgotten) and Mr. Bowdich having taxed him very warmly with 

 the theft of our wine, and he becoming very sidky, I could not 

 divest myself of the idea that he would be revenged. After 

 I had passed two sleepless nights in secretly watching him, on the 

 third, he approached Mr. Bowdich's birth, with great caution and 

 hesitation, his hand resting upon a large knife he always wore in 

 his bosom ; I started from my mattress, and he retreated. I then 

 waked Mr. Bowdich, and, fearful of being understood by others, 

 related my fears to him in Italian ; he ridiculed me of course, but 

 at my earnest entreaty, promised to be upon his guard, and 

 agreed to feign sleep, should the man re-enter the cabin, which he 

 did in about an hour. Carefully looking around him, he went 

 first to the birth where my maid and child ^vere sleeping, and 



2 A 



