78 SUN-STBOKE. 



Hooghley, where men-of-war generally refit, 

 but which had not been visited by a two- 

 decked ship for nearly half a century, 

 I was doing duty as usual in the fore- 

 castle, and, in conjunction with the boat- 

 swain, seeing the men properly stowing the 

 jib and foretop-mast staysail. The fore- 

 castleinen had laid in, the topmen had come 

 down from furling sails, the yards were 

 squared, the ropes were coiled, and prepa- 

 rations were being made to moor the ship, 

 when a sudden fatality befell me. 



Some little time after noon I found my- 

 self laying on the armourer's chest in the 

 gunroom, and the first person that met my 

 eyes was a marine, who acted as the purser's 

 servant, and through whose kindness had 

 done me the same offices. I felt as if some- 

 thing had happened to me, but could not 

 tell what. I complained of thirst, when the 

 man gave me an orange to suck. The doctor 

 soon after came, took hold of my hand, but 

 said nothing. He assisted me into the 



