AN AUCTION. 215 



generosity on the part of the surviving shipmates, 

 who bid in the various articles at much more than 

 their real value, and thus contribute '.heir mite to 

 the support of the bereaved family. 



Thu men found in the forecastle of a whaleship 

 are, however, generally castaways in the world- 

 young fellows who have run away from the pater- 

 nal home, and have no one depending upon them 

 for support. The proceeds, if the deceased is out of 

 debt at the time of his death, are of course reserved 

 for the relatives; but these do not often know 

 of the circumstances, and it is only by accident in 

 many cases that they ever learn of the decease of 

 the wanderer. 



Of the death of these men, I speak reluctantly, 

 and with pain. Both were delirious during the 

 greater part of their short illness, and senseless 

 for some time before death, so that the grim 

 monster did not come with many terrors. But 

 ^o those who looked on, vainly wishing for powei 

 to help, the spectacle was distressing. The sick 

 men's minds were but little prepared for the great 

 change; and although the captain endeavored to 

 Ihe best of his ability to administer to them m 

 their sane moments the consolations of reLgion, 

 it is iruch A .o be feared' that they died " as the 

 beasts tnat perish." 



The gloom which nangs over a forecastle, when 

 some of its members have been suddenly taken 

 away, lasted here a shorter time, and was less 



