277 



power of a burning fun, was to invite aim oft 

 certain difeafe ; and, further, as there were no 

 quarter-boards, nor any other defence at the 

 fides of the floop, I muft have been every mo- 

 ment in danger of being rolled overboard into 

 the fea. 



Under thefe circumftances I was driven 

 to feek fhelter in the cabin, fuch as it might 

 chance to be ; and, to this end, I was con- 

 ducted to a kind of trap- door in the quarter- 

 deck, called a hatch- way ; and, the hatch being 

 lifted off, a dark hole below was pointed out 

 to me as the cabin, and the only place where 

 I could recline my aching head, or hope relief 

 for my fickened ftomach. Subdued by the 

 depreffing languor of naufea, I was too ill to 

 hefitate ; — to lie down was my only care. A 

 death-like ficknefs impelled me on 5 and, un- 

 affifted by flairs or ladder, I dropped myfelf, 

 by means of my trembling arms, down the 

 opening into this murky cell. My feet were 

 quickly arrefted by the old chefts, and other 

 lumber fcattered about this filthy place, which 

 was not of fufficient depth to admit of my 

 Handing upright, without being half out at 

 the hatch- way ; neither was there room to &% 



?3 



