ed him still more
severely,--especially if he had chanced to be one of the weaker and less
popular of the crew. As it was, they took no steps in the matter, and
no one was punished for the expressions of remonstrance that had been
used. But both captain and mate had noted the disaffection; and that
was the reason why I was afterwards treated with more humanity, or
rather with less cruelty--for insults and indignity were still
occasionally offered me by one or the other.

I was from this time permitted to practise with the sailors, and had
less of the dirty work to do. A sort of simple fellow, the Dutchman
already mentioned--who was also much played upon,--shared with me the
meaner drudgery, and had more than half of the spleen which the captain
and mate must needs spend upon somebody. Indeed, the poor Dutchman,
who, although a harmless creature, was a wretched specimen of humanity,
came well-nigh being killed by their cruelty; and I have no doubt but
that the injuries inflicted upon him, while on board the _Pandora_,
would have brought him to an earlier grave than Nature designed for him,
had it not been his sad fate to meet death at a still earlier period,--
as I shall have occasion to relate.

The cruelties committed upon this man by the captain and mate of the
_Pandora_ would be incredible if told,--incredible, because it would
scarce be believed that the human heart is capable of such want of
feeling. But it seems to be a law of wicked natures, that where cruelty
has once commenced its career and meets with no resistance on the part
of its victim, the vile passion, instead of being satisfied, only grows
stronger and fiercer, just like it is with savage beasts after they have
tasted blood. So seemed it with the officers of the _Pandora_, for if
they even had cause for revenge against this poor sailor, they certainly
took ample satisfaction; but it was just because they had no reason for
revenge,--just because there was no resistance on the part of their
victim that they delighted to torture him.

I remember many of their modes of torture. One was to tie him up by the
thumbs, so that his toes just touched the deck, and there keep him for
hours together. This position may appear easy enough to one who has
never experienced it. It is far otherwise,--it is a torture worthy of
the Inquisition. It soon elicits groans from its victim. Another mode
of punishment--or rather of amusing themselves--practised by the