CXiv AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



all his money in gold sewed up in a belt around 

 his body, — - a thing common in these countries ; 

 and to this might be attributed his untimely 

 end, for I heard one of the Monjibello sailors 

 say, that he had got hold of the captain's hand 

 after he had fallen into the sea, but that the 

 weight was too much for him ; and so the poor 

 captain sank to the bottom and perished there. 



Mr. Frederick Massey, first engineer on board 

 of the Pollux, performed an act of courage which 

 ought to be made known to the public. He had 

 effected his escape from the sinking vessel into 

 the Monjibello, but reflecting that the boiler of 

 the former might explode and cause additional 

 horrors, he went back to her, and eased the 

 safety-valve, at the time when the engine-room 

 was filling fast with water. Having performed 

 this eminent service, the gallant fellow got safely 

 back again on board the Monjibello. 



The two steamers were now at a short dis- 

 tance from each other. I kept a steadfast eye 

 on the shattered Pollux, knowing that her final 

 catastrophe must be close at hand. She went 

 down stern foremost, but she hesitated a while 

 in the act of sinking, as though unwilling to 

 disappear for ever. This momentary and unex- 



