FEARS OF THE CREW. 49

but he began to look very ill, and became every day
more anxious about himself. The captain tried to
arouse him, telling him that we should be at sea
enjoying the fresh breeze in a few days, and that
he must hold out till then. ‘Still it is of no use
Harry,’ he said to me, as I was walking the deck
with him one evening, trying to get a few mouth-
fulls of air, ‘I know I shall never leave this
horrible place alive unless the captain would give the
order at once to trip the anchor, then perhaps the
thought of being free of it would set me up again.’

I told the captain when I went into the cabin
what the poor mate had said, for I really thought
our going away might be the means of saving his
life, as well as that of others aboard. He took what
I said in very good part, but was as obstinately
bent in remaining as before. ‘Those are all fancies,
Harry,’ he answered. ‘He has taken it into his
head that he is to die, and that is as likely to kill
him as the fever itself.’

‘But then he fancies that he would get well if
we were at sea,’ I replied. ‘Perhaps that really
would set him up again.’

‘Well, well, just tell him that you heard me

say I hoped to get away in two or three days,
4