efore my angry
persecutor, looking hate and defiance.

"To the mast-head, sir, immediately."

"I will not. I consider myself a prisoner."

"You refuse to go?"

"I do."

"Quarter-master, the signal halyards. Sling Mr Rattlin." Mr Rattlin
was slung. "Now run the mutinous rascal up to the truck."

In a moment I was attached to a thin white line, waving to and fro in
mid air, and soon triced up to the very top of the royal pole, and
jammed hard to the truck. Is this believed? Perhaps not; yet no
statement was ever more true. At the time when this atrocity was
perpetrating not an officer interfered. My sufferings were intense.
The sun was still hot, my hat had fallen off in my involuntary ascent,
and, as the ship was running before the wind under her topsails, the
motion at that high point of elevation was tremendous. I felt horribly
sea-sick. The ligature across my chest became every moment more
oppressive to my lungs, and more excruciating in torture; my breathing
at each respiration more difficult, and, before I had suffered ten
times, I had fainted. So soon as the captain had seen me run up he went
below, leaving strict orders that I should not be lowered down.

Directly the captain was in his cabin, the first-lieutenant, the doctor,
purser, and the officers of the watch, held a hurried consultation on my
situation. But the good-natured doctor did not stop for the result, but
immediately went below, and told Reud if I remained where I was I should
die. Those who knew the navy at that time will anticipate the answer--
no others can--"Let him die and be damned!" The good doctor came on
deck, desponding. Mr Farmer then hailed me once, and again and again.
Of course he received no answer: I heard him, but, at that moment, my
senses were fast leaving me. The sea, with its vast horizon, appearing
so illimitable from the great height where I was swaying, rocked, to my
failing sight, awfully to and fro: the heavens partook of the dizzying
motion. I only, of all the creation, seemed standing still: I was sick
unto death; and as far as sensation was concerned, then and there I
died.

Upon receiving no reply, Mr Farmer sent one of the top-men up to look
at me. No sooner had he reached the topgallant rigging than he reported
me dead. A cry of horror escaped from all the deck. The captain rushed
up: he needed no report. He was frantic with grief. He wept like a
child, and assisted with his own hands to