home. When about three parts across the Atlantic, the weather
for some time before having been very bad, a ship was reported right
ahead. As the frigate approached her, she was seen to have her ensign
downwards, as a signal of distress. She appeared to be a large
merchantman. Her topmasts were gone, and she had, in other ways,
evidently suffered from the heavy weather. As soon as the frigate drew
near enough, she was hove to, and a boat being lowered, she was sent on
board the stranger. As the officer in command of the boat stepped on
board the ship, he was struck by the fearful appearance it presented. A
few of the crew, pale and emaciated, were dragging themselves about the
deck, scarcely able to stand upright, while on mattresses placed close
to the bulwarks were numerous human beings, some apparently dead, others
dying, moaning fearfully and in plaintive voices, petitioning for water.

It was a long time before the lieutenant could get any one to explain
what had happened. The captain, it appeared, had died, and so had most
of the officers and the passengers. Their bodies had been thrown
overboard. Great was his horror when he at length ascertained that they
were suffering from the yellow fever. The weather was very hot, and it
was but too likely even that this short visit to the pest-infested ship
might cause him to convey it to the crew of the frigate. What, however,
was to be done? He could not leave the unfortunate people on board the
merchantman to perish by themselves, without help; while, should he
remain, he and those with him might catch the same complaint. He found
on inquiry that several persons were down below who had hitherto escaped
the pestilence. At length, uncertain how to act, he returned on board
the _Isabel_, to receive instructions from his captain. The surgeon of
the frigate was of opinion that the only safe plan was thoroughly to
fumigate the vessel, and put a prize crew on board, to navigate her to
an English port, as it would be unsafe to take any of the people out of
her. This plan was followed, and an officer with twelve men went on
board to carry the ship to Bristol.

It was hoped that from the short time the lieutenant and his men were on
board no infection could have been conveyed from her to the frigate.
Before two days, however, had passed these hopes were found to be
fallacious. Two of the men who had been on board the merchantman were
seized with the fearful compla