issel the carpenter,
his master, and in hopes of improving him by a somewhat different
treatment to what he had been accustomed. The good effect of
considerate kindness was already apparent; and the poor lad seemed most
grateful for any encouraging word spoken to him. The best of our men
had been sent on board the brig, and we remained only with eight and the
_Helen's_ crew--a very fair complement, had we not always required two
to stand sentry over the prisoners. We had another and a more insidious
enemy on board, of whom we wot not, and whom no sentry could control--
the plague--that fell scourge of Asiatic cities. How it came on board
we could not discover. It might have been in some of the pirates'
clothes, or some of our men might have caught it while they were on
shore for a short time; or it might have been concealed in the schooner
long before, and only brought forth by a congenial state of the
atmosphere. There it was, however. It made its appearance on the fifth
day, and in two days carried off three of our people and one of the
_Helen's_ crew. The pirates escaped unscathed. It seemed, indeed, in
no way to alarm them. They laughed and talked, and blasphemed more than
ever. We hailed the brig, which had hitherto kept us company, and found
that she was free from the affliction; so that, of course, except at a
distance, we could hold no communication with her. I will not attempt
to describe the appearance of that dreadful disease. It was sad to see
the poor fellows attacked, with so little prospect of their recovery;
while no one could tell who would be the next victim. As they died they
were sewn up in their hammocks, with a shot at their feet, and at once
consigned to the deep. Mr Vernon read the funeral service appointed by
the Church of England for such an occasion.

After the first man was buried--a fine, active young fellow two days
before, apparently full of life and strength--he addressed the crew:--

"Do not suppose the prayers I have read can do any good to him who has
just gone for ever from our sight. For your benefit they were offered
up. A like fate to his may be that of any one of us before another day
has passed; and I would earnestly urge you, for the short time which yet
may remain for you, to turn your hearts to God--to prepare for
eternity."

Something more he said to the same effect. It was good advice at the
proper time. I am sorry to say that it was very little heeded,