SUN-STROKE 45 



blind are we mortals to our destiny ! Who could tell 

 that an unseen, unlooked-for agent was at work to baffle 

 all the fond anticipations in which my boyish fancy 

 indulged ? 



Thoucrh the vovao^e had been lono^ and both officers 

 and men had suffered those privations consequent upon 

 it, the ship was generally healthy. On the morning we 

 dropped anchor at Kedgeree, a port on the 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 forecastle, and, in con- 

 junction with the boatswain, seeing the men properly 

 stowing the jib and foretop-mast staysail. The forecastle- 

 men had laid in, the topmen had come down from furling 

 sails, the yards were squared, the ropes were coiled, and 

 preparations were being made to moor the ship, when a 

 sudden fatality befell me. 



Some little time after noon I found myself lying on 

 the armourer's chest in the gun-room, 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 something 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 purser's cabin, and laid me in 

 his cot. 



It appeared to all that I had been struck down by a 

 coKj) de soleil, or sunstroke, which when I was carried 

 below was thought to be fatal, and my resuscitation did 

 not a little surprise all hands. Without the aid of 



