68 TERRA DEL FUEGO TO OTAHITE CHAP, iv 



scarcely twenty-one years of age, remarkably quiet and 

 industrious, and, to make his exit more melancholy, was 

 driven to the rash resolution by an accident so trifling that 

 it must appear incredible to everybody who is not well 

 acquainted with the powerful effects that shame can work 

 upon young minds. 



This day at noon he was sentry at the cabin door, and 

 while he was on that duty, one of the captain's servants, 

 being called away in a hurry, left a piece of sealskin in his 

 charge, which it seems he was going to cut up to make 

 tobacco pouches, some of which he had promised to several 

 of the men. The poor young fellow had several times asked 

 him for one, and when refused had told him that since he 

 refused him so trifling a thing, he would, if he could, steal 

 one from him. This he put into practice as soon as the 

 skin was given into his charge, and was of course found 

 out immediately, as the other returned and took the piece 

 he had cut off from him, but declared that he would not 

 complain to the officers for so trifling a cause. In the 

 meantime the fact came to the ears of his fellow-soldiers, 

 thirteen in number, who stood up for the honour of their 

 corps so highly that before night they drove the young 

 fellow almost mad by representing his crime in the blackest 

 colours as a breach of trust of the worst description. A 

 theft committed by a sentry on duty they made him think 

 a most inexcusable crime, especially when the thing stolen 

 had been given into his charge. The sergeant particularly 

 declared that if the person aggrieved would not complain, 

 he would himself do so, for people should not suffer scandal 

 from the ill-behaviour of one. This affected the young man 

 much, and he went to his hammock ; soon after the sergeant 

 called him on deck ; he got up, and slipping past the 

 sergeant, went forward ; it was dusk, and the people were 

 not convinced that he had gone overboard till half an hour 

 after the event. 



31st. Myself not quite so well; a little inflammation in 

 my throat, and swelling of the glands. 



1st April. Somewhat better to-day. As my complaint 



