‘BLACK JACK.’ 45

 

Hitherto the officers had escaped; but one
morning the second mate reported that the first
mate was unable to leave his berth, though he
believed that it was nothing particular; but Dick
Radford, who was considered to be the strongest
man on board, when he had tried to get up that
morning, had been unable to rise. The captain
sent me forward to see him.

Some hours must have passed since he was
attacked. He was fearfully changed, but still
conscious. :

‘Black Jack has got hold of me at last, Harry,
but T’ll grapple with him pretty tightly before I let
him get the victory, do you see,’ he observed, when
I told him that the captain had sent me to see him.
‘I’m obliged to him, but if he wishes to give me a
longer spell of life, and to save the others on board,
he will put to sea without loss of time, while the
land breeze lasts. A few mouthfuls of sea air
would set me up inatrice. If we don’t get that
there will be more of us down with fever before
night.’

The boatswain had scarcely said this when he
began to rave and tumble and toss about in his
berth, and I had to call two of the men to assist