This Language Of The Captain Had A Very Good Effect Upon The Crew,
And They Returned Quietly To Their Duty.
For two days more the wind blew from the southward and eastward;
or in the short intervals when it was fair, the ice was too thick
to run; yet the weather was not so dreadfully bad, and the crew had
watch and watch. I still remained in my berth, fast recovering,
yet still not well enough to go safely on deck. And I should
have been perfectly useless; for, from having eaten nothing for
nearly a week, except a little rice, which I forced into my mouth
the last day or two, I was as weak as an infant. To be sick in a
forecastle is miserable indeed. It is the worst part of a dog's
life; especially in bad weather. The forecastle, shut up tight
to keep out the water and cold air; - the watch either on deck,
or asleep in their berths; - no one to speak to; - the pale light of
the single lamp, swinging to and fro from the beam, so dim that
one can scarcely see, much less read by it; - the water dropping
from the beams and carlines, and running down the sides; and the
forecastle so wet, and dark, and cheerless, and so lumbered up
with chests and wet clothes, that sitting up is worse than lying
in the berth! These are some of the evils. Fortunately, I needed
no help from any one, and no medicine; and if I had needed help,
I don't know where I should have found it.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 467 of 618
Words from 128223 to 128490
of 170236
