1837-38. A PIG OVERBOARD. 159 



as it thought ; or possessed a devil, like the sacred swine of 

 old ; or purposed (' awful thought') to commit the crime of 

 sowicide, I cannot say ; but so fervent was its love for the 

 ' deep, deep sea/ that it sprang from the embrace of the loving 

 mate into the wave, and was only secured after a gallant 

 struggle. 



" While the boat was setting off, I saw the other curious thing 

 I referred to, the phosphorescence of the sea, which I have so 

 long wished to behold. Nothing could be more beautiful. In 

 the wake of the boat was a line of the most delicate pale green 

 light, speckled with stars of a darker green, while each dip of 

 the oar broke the wave into the most beautiful scintillations. I 

 walked the deck till five A.M., and having no fancy for being 

 ' laid on the shelf again, I wrapped myself in my cloak and 

 greatcoat, and laid me down on two chairs, where I brooded till 

 seven, when I washed and redressed, and was among the first to 

 gain the quarter-deck. 'Twas a most queer sight the cabin at 

 rising time, here a cowl was popped up, and there a long thin 

 shank came delicately over the shelf s edge ; and such unbuck- 

 ling of boxes, and bags, and portmanteaus, and hauling out of 

 razors and soap-brushes, and combs, and the like ; for my part, 

 thinking it right to ' rough it out' at sea, I kept my beard on ; 

 and thanks to the goodness of an excellent old man, who gave 

 me, unasked, a hair-brush, when he saw me stroking my head 

 with my fingers, T was able to make myself comfortable. 'Twas a 

 sorrily kept Sunday yesterday. I saw only the old gentleman who 

 gave me the brush take out a small Testament, when he got up, 

 and read a chapter to himself. He then offered it to a tall, old, 

 military-like man, whom I suspect to be an East Indian general 

 or the like. Nothing could equal the wonder, and fierceness, 

 and politeness of the refusal. He seemed amazed that he should 

 offer that to him (doubtless an Episcopalian, for he was after- 

 wards hoping he'd be in Hull in time for evening prayers) ; 

 angry, because it was an implication on his impiety ; and polite, 

 because it was kindly and simply offered. When I heard the 

 repeated refusals of the old gentleman, it quite overcame me, 

 and I laughed long and loud. It was without comparison the 

 most lovely day I have seen this summer : the sun shone out 



