274 NIMBOD OF THE SEA; OR, 



Feb. 12. 



" Shadows to-night 



Have struck more terror to the soul of Kichard 

 Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers 

 Armed in proof." 



It fell to me to watch the bed of our sick man. He was 

 stowed on a narrow shelf in the pantry, scarcely wider than 

 his body, with a rough board ledge to prevent him from 

 rolling off. So narrow were the quarters, indeed, that his 

 dying face and mine were only separated by a few hand- 

 breadths. It could not have been known that he was so ill, 

 for he has been unattended, until unable to help himself. I 

 was sent, with my utter want of experience, to smooth the 

 way for the poor fellow. He was delirious seemingly, but 

 unable to speak, and his parched, swollen tongue protruded 

 from his mouth. His emaciated face presented a sad spec- 

 tacle. At a guess I mixed a lime-juice drink, and moistened 

 his tongue and mouth, and bathed his head with vinegar and 

 water. This seemed so grateful to him that I also bathed 

 his body and limbs : presently he drank, and seemed refresh- 

 ed, and became easier. I thought of calling the captain, but 

 remembering from experience the scope of our medicine- 

 chest and treatment, I considered poor Beers past such bru- 

 tality. After a time he recognized my face, so near his own, 

 and gasped, " O God ! Bill, you don't know how hard it is to 

 die, as I am dying, so far from home and kindness." The 

 little I could say, I said, and I ventured words of hope of a 

 home and kindness nearer, than he thought. Soon he went 

 off in a delirious dream, and kept repeating the words, 

 " How lonely ! how lonely !" And the thought of being cast 

 overboard in the unfrequented sea pressed on his mind con- 

 tinually. Reviving a little, he murmured, " How lonely to 

 go down into this sea where no man has been buried ! And 

 if, as the sailors say, the sea has no bottom, I'll sink, and sink 



