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 triflmg 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 
