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head and raving for twenty…four hours before he died。 He died
babbling for water； and yet he did not die for need of water。 I
resisted as much as possible the temptation to suck ice； contenting
myself with a shred of tobacco in my cheek； and made out with fair
comfort。
We stripped all clothing from our dead。 Stark they came into the
world； and stark they passed out over the side of the longboat and
down into the dark freezing ocean。 Lots were cast for the clothes。
This was by Captain Nicholl's command； in order to prevent
quarrelling。
It was no time for the follies of sentiment。 There was not one of
us who did not know secret satisfaction at the occurrence of each
death。 Luckiest of all was Israel Stickney in casting lots； so that
in the end； when he passed； he was a veritable treasure trove of
clothing。 It gave a new lease of life to the survivors。
We continued to run to the north…east before the fresh westerlies；
but our quest for warmer weather seemed vain。 Ever the spray froze
in the bottom of the boat； and I still chipped beer and drinking
water with Northrup's knife。 My own knife I reserved。 It was of
good steel； with a keen edge and stoutly fashioned； and I did not
care to peril it in such manner。
By the time half our company was overboard； the boat had a
reasonably high freeboard and was less ticklish to handle in the
gusts。 Likewise there was more room for a man to stretch out
comfortably。
A source of continual grumbling was the food。 The captain； the
mate； the surgeon； and myself； talking it over； resolved not to
increase the daily whack of half a pound of meat。 The six sailors；
for whom Tobias Snow made himself spokesman； contended that the
death of half of us was equivalent to a doubling of our
provisioning； and that therefore the ration should be increased to a
pound。 In reply； we of the afterguard pointed out that it was our
chance for life that was doubled did we but bear with the half…pound
ration。
It is true that eight ounces of salt meat did not go far in enabling
us to live and to resist the severe cold。 We were quite weak； and；
because of our weakness； we frosted easily。 Noses and cheeks were
all black with frost…bite。 It was impossible to be warm； although
we now had double the garments we had started with。
Five weeks after the loss of the Negociator the trouble over the
food came to a head。 I was asleep at the timeit was nightwhen
Captain Nicholl caught Jud Hetchkins stealing from the pork barrel。
That he was abetted by the other five men was proved by their
actions。 Immediately Jud Hetchkins was discovered； the whole six
threw themselves upon us with their knives。 It was close； sharp
work in the dim light of the stars； and it was a mercy the boat was
not overturned。 I had reason to be thankful for my many shirts and
coats which served me as an armour。 The knife…thrusts scarcely more
than drew blood through the so great thickness of cloth； although I
was scratched to bleeding in a round dozen of places。
The others were similarly protected； and the fight would have ended
in no more than a mauling all around； had not the mate； Walter
Dakon； a very powerful man； hit upon the idea of ending the matter
by tossing the mutineers overboard。 This was joined in by Captain
Nicholl； the surgeon； and myself； and in a trice five of the six
were in the water and clinging to the gunwale。 Captain Nicholl and
the surgeon were busy amidships with the sixth； Jeremy Nalor； and
were in the act of throwing him overboard； while the mate was
occupied with rapping the fingers along the gunwale with a boat…
stretcher。 For the moment I had nothing to do； and so was able to
observe the tragic end of the mate。 As he lifted the stretcher to
rap Seth Richards' fingers； the latter； sinking down low in the
water and then jerking himself up by both hands； sprang half into
the boat； locked his arms about the mate and； falling backward and
outboard； dragged the mate with him。 Doubtlessly he never relaxed
his grip； and both drowned together。
Thus left alive of the entire ship's company were three of us：
Captain Nicholl； Arnold Bentham （the surgeon）； and myself。 Seven
had gone in the twinkling of an eye； consequent on Jud Hetchkins'
attempt to steal provisions。 And to me it seemed a pity that so
much good warm clothing had been wasted there in the sea。 There was
not one of us who could not have managed gratefully with more。
Captain Nicholl and the surgeon were good men and honest。 Often
enough； when two of us slept； the one awake and steering could have
stolen from the meat。 But this never happened。 We trusted one
another fully； and we would have died rather than betray that trust。
We continued to content ourselves with half a pound of meat each per
day； and we took advantage of every favouring breeze to work to the
north'ard。 Not until January fourteenth； seven weeks since the
wreck； did we come up with a warmer latitude。 Even then it was not
really warm。 It was merely not so bitterly cold。
Here the fresh westerlies forsook us and we bobbed and blobbed about
in doldrummy weather for many days。 Mostly it was calm； or light
contrary winds； though sometimes a burst of breeze； as like as not
from dead ahead； would last for a few hours。 In our weakened
condition； with so large a boat； it was out of the question to row。
We could merely hoard our food and wait for God to show a more
kindly face。 The three of us were faithful Christians； and we made
a practice of prayer each day before the apportionment of food。
Yes； and each of us prayed privately； often and long。
By the end of January our food was near its end。 The pork was
entirely gone； and we used the barrel for catching and storing
rainwater。 Not many pounds of beef remained。 And in all the nine
weeks in the open boat we had raised no sail and glimpsed no land。
Captain Nicholl frankly admitted that after sixty…three days of dead
reckoning he did not know where we were。
The twentieth of February saw the last morsel of food eaten。 I
prefer to skip the details of much that happened in the next eight
days。 I shall touch only on the incidents that serve to show what
manner of men were my companions。 We had starved so long； that we
had no reserves of strength on which to draw when the food utterly
ceased； and we grew weaker with great rapidity。
On February twenty…fourth we calmly talked the situation over。 We
were three stout…spirited men； full of life and toughness； and we
did not want to die。 No one of us would volunteer to sacrifice
himself for the other two。 But we agreed on three things： we must
have food； we must decide the matter by casting lots； and we would
cast the lots next morning if there were no wind。
Next morning there was wind； not much of it； but fair； so that we
were able to log a sluggish two knots on our northerly course。 The
mornings of the twent