214 WHALING AND FISHING. 



health, aud felt not the slightest ill effects from 

 their night's exposure. 



" I will give you your clothing if you will sbay 

 DE shore." 



But they had no desire to be left behind, hav 

 ing learned how little chance there was to get 

 away from the place, ancl harboring no wish to 

 starve on shore. So they were permitted to come 

 aboard, and turned to their work as though 

 nothing had happened. 



" They'll die before three days are over," saia 

 the captain to me, who had just then taken charge 

 of the helm, the ship being now under weigh. 



They were living and in apparently good health 

 all day. But in the course of the following night 

 both were taken sick, their first symptoms being 

 a violent diarrhea, with cold sweats ; and before 

 forty-eight hours both were dead. Two others 

 were meantime laid low with the same disease, 

 and only recovered by the most faithful attend- 

 ance, and the strictest care as to diet. This was 

 our first burying of the dead, and as may be sup- 

 posed from the suddenness of the affliction, it was 

 a solemn occasion. 



A few days after the burial, in accordance with 

 universal custom on ship board, the effects of the 

 deceased were disposed of at auction. In the 

 merchant service, where the proceeds of such a 

 gale go with the wages of the deceased to his 

 heirs, perhaps a widow and family of children, an 

 auction is often made the occasion of a display of 



