intention, stabbed me
with it four times. I jumped up to punish him, but the moment I got on
my legs, was so stiff, that I fell back into the arms of my mess-mates.

The surgeon examined the wounds, which were serious; two of them nearly
touched an artery. I was put to bed sick, and was three weeks confined
to my berth. The midshipman who had committed this outrage, was very
penitent when sober, and implored my pardon and forgiveness. Naturally
good-natured, I freely forgave, because I was disarmed by submission. I
never trampled on a prostrate foe. The surgeon reported me ill of a
fever, which was true; for had the captain known the real fact, the
midshipman, whose commission was signed, and in the ship, ready to be
delivered to him on his arrival at Bermuda, would certainly have lost
his promotion. My kindness to him, I believe, wounded him more than my
resentment; he became exceedingly melancholy and thoughtful, gave up
drinking, and was ever after greatly attached to me. I reckon this
among the few good actions of my life, and own I have great pleasure in
reflecting upon it.

We arrived at Bermuda soon after, having left the convoy in the latitude
of ten degrees north. The supernumeraries were all discharged into
their respective ships; and before we separated, we had the pleasure to
see the first lieutenant take his passage in a ship bound to England.
Most sincerely did we congratulate ourselves on the success of our
intrigue.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

Where the remote Bermudas ride,
In th' ocean's bosom.
ANDREW MARVELL.

There is a peculiar kind of beauty among these islands, which we might
really believe to be the abode of fairies. They consist of a cluster of
rocks, formed by the zoophyte, or coral worm. The number of the islands
is said to be equal to the days of the year. They are covered with a
short green sward, dark cedar trees, and low white houses, which have a
pretty and pleasing effect; the harbours are numerous, but shallow; and
though there are many channels into them, there is but one for large
ships into the principal anchorage.

Numerous caverns, whose roofs sparkle with the spars and stalactites
formed by the dripping water, are found in every part of the islands.
They contain springs of delicious coolness, to quench the thirst, or to
bathe in. The sailors have a notion that these, islands float, and that
the crust which composes them is so thin as to be broken with littl