I tell you honestly, Tom, that you seem as bad as the two poor fellows who died last week, said Humphry.
Oh, you are croaking, groaned Tom, though his voice faltered as he spoke.
After talking for some time longer without being able to move him, Humphry was compelled to go forward to attend to some of the other men.
In the first hammock he came to lay Ned Hadow, one of the oldest, and apparently one of the most ruffianly of the crew. He seemed, however, to be grateful to Humphry for his kindness; and he acknowledged that if it had not been for him, he should have been fathoms down in the deep before then.
I hope, however, that you are getting better now, said Humphry.
Thanks to you, sir, I think I am, answered Ned. I dont want to die, though I cannot say I have much to live for, nor has any one else aboard this ship, except to be abused and knocked about without any chance of gaining any good by the cruise.
Perhaps we may do better by and by, observed Humphry.
I have no hopes of that while such men as the captain and his mates have charge of the ship. Take my advice, Mr Gurton, if you have a chance, get out of her as fast as you can. You will thank me for warning you it is the only way I have to show that I am grateful to you for your kindness.
Hadows remarks made no deep impression upon Humphry, but he could not help occasionally recollecting them.
After visiting the other sick men, he went on deck to keep his proper watch; then, weary with his exertions, he turned into his berth to obtain the rest he so much needed.
He was awakened by hearing the cry of All hands shorten sail! He quickly sprang on deck.
A gale had suddenly sprung up. The ship was heeling over, and ploughing her way through the seething waters. The crew flew aloft. The loftier sails were taken in, and the top-sails were being closely reefed, when another blast, more furious than the former, struck the ship, and two poor fellows were hurled from the lee-yard-arm into the foaming waters. There was a cry from the crew, and several rushed to lower a boat Humphry among them.
Hold fast! cried the captain; let the fellows drown; you will only lose your lives if you attempt to save them.
Still the men persisted, showing more humanity than they had exhibited in attending to their sick shipmates, when the captain swore that he would shoot any one who disobeyed him.
Though spare spars and everything that could float had been hove overboard, the poor fellows in the water could no longer be seen.
The crew, with gloomy looks, assembled forward, muttering threats which did not reach the officers ears.
The change of weather had the effect of restoring some of the sick men to health, though several died. Among the first to appear on deck was Ned Hadow. He still looked weak and ill the shadow of his former self. He was changed in other respects, and Humphry observed that he was quiet in his behaviour, and no longer swore in the way he had been accustomed to do.
Matcham remained in his berth. He seemed a little better, though he still refused to listen to Humphry when he offered to read the Bible to him, and when asked the reason, replied, Because I am not going to let those fellows suppose that I am afraid to die. They would be sneering at me, and calling me a Methodist; and I dont intend to die either, so I dont see why I should bother myself by having religion thrust down my throat.
If you are not going to die, I suppose the case is different, answered Humphry. Still, I know that if you were, the Bible is the best book to read. I wish that I had read it oftener myself.
If I can get hold of it, I will take care that neither you nor I am troubled with it in future, answered Matcham. You have teased me too much about it already. I wish you would just try what the captain or mates would say to you if you were to bother them.
Humphry put his little Testament into his pocket, determining that his messmate should not get hold of it. Still, much as he valued the book as a gift from his old friend, he looked upon it, as many other people do, as a book to be reverenced, and to be read in times of sickness or trouble; but he had little notion of the value of an open Bible, to be studied with prayer every day in the week, to serve as a light to his feet and a lamp to his path, and to guide him in the everyday affairs of life.
Humphry, wishing Matcham good evening, went on deck.
As he looked ahead, he saw in the distance a small island rising like a rock out of the blue ocean. The ship was standing towards it. The sun, however, was just then setting, and in a short time it was concealed from sight by the mists of night. As he was to keep the first watch with the third mate, he went down and took some supper. When he returned on deck, he found that the sky was overcast with clouds, and that the night was excessively dark. He could scarcely distinguish the man at the helm or the officer of the watch.
Is that you, Gurton? asked the third mate. The orders are to heave to in an hour, so as not to run past the island we saw at sunset, as the captain wishes to examine it to-morrow morning. Go forward, and see that the look-outs are keeping their eyes open; the reefs may run further off the land than we think for.