406 A TRAGICAL TALE OF THE SEA. 
to be committed to our charge with the passengers ; and to 
avoid even the possibility of danger from the crew, I desired 
him to use any means he thought best to induce them to re- 
main ashore that night, in order that we might convey the 
property on board, and stow it safely away, without their 
knowing any thing of the circumstances. He immediately 
assented, and accordingly got rid of the men. I reposed en- 
tire confidence in him, and he appeared to deserve it ; the 
men, however, were kept ashore all night, while we, with per- 
fect secrecy and safety, as we thought, had the property con- 
veyed to the ship, and securely stowed away. In the morn- 
ing the men came on board, and every thing being taken in, 
we got under weigh with a fair wind in the evening. 
The first night, and the succeeding day and night, passed 
without any remarkable occurrence, and the wind continuing 
fair, we were at the close of the second day two hundred 
miles from land. My crew Avere most of them Irishmen, not 
such men, certainly, as I should have chosen, but I was ob- 
liged to take them as I found them. Indeed, one of the Irish- 
men, to whom I shall again refer more particularly, was not 
a seaman. 
Every thing had proceeded in an even and regular course, 
until the close of the third evening, if I except an undue fa- 
miliarity between the mate and the crew ; which, although I 
observed, I had not even mentioned. On this evening, how- 
ever, I was oppressed with a kind of uneasiness I cannot de- 
scribe, but fearing it might be a prelude to sickness, I left the 
mate in charge, and retired to my berth much earlier than 
usual. I tried to sleep, but in vain. I rose, took some grog, 
and lay down again. I tried to compose myself, but found it 
impossible. I several times dozed a little, but almost instant- 
ly started under gloomy impressions, or from frightful dreams. 
As this was quite unusual with me, having scarcely known a 
solitary instance of my rest being disturbed, I spent my hours 
under great despondency, and anxiously wished for the dawn 
of the day ; I continued thus until nearly two o'clock ; even 
my dozing might have been interrupted by the slightest move- 
ment, so far was I from enjoying any thing like repose. 
About two I heard a footstep cautiously approaching. I 
listened — and a man came close to my berth and muttered, 
"Captain!" I called out, "Who's there?" No answer being 
returned, I jumped out, and was instantly accosted by the Irish- 
man above referred to, in the most abrupt and callous man- 
ner, with " By J s it's all over with you — the mate has 
