to your mother, which
she certainly deserved; I seldom approached her; she had taken a decided
dislike to me, arising, I presume, from my behaviour towards her
husband; for now that I was again on a footing with the others, I was as
insolent to him as I dared to be, without incurring the penalty attached
to insubordination, and I opposed him as much as I could in every
proposal that he brought forward--but your father kept his temper,
although I lost mine but too often. The first incident which occurred
of any consequence, was the loss of two of the men, who had, with your
father's permission, taken a week's provisions, with the intention of
making a tour round the island, and ascertaining whether any valuable
information could be brought back: they were the carpenter and one of
the seamen. It appears, that during their return, as they were crossing
the highest ridge, they, feeling very thirsty, and not finding water,
attempted to refresh themselves by eating some berries which they found
on a plant. These berries proved to be strong poison, and they returned
very ill. After languishing a few days, they both died.

"This was an event which roused us up, and broke the monotony of our
life; but it was one which was not very agreeable to dwell upon, and
yet, at the same time, I felt rather pleasure than annoyance at it--I
felt that I was of more consequence, and many other thoughts entered my
mind which I shall not now dwell upon. We buried them in the guano,
under the first high rock, where, indeed, the others were all
subsequently buried. Three more months passed away, when the other
seaman was missing. After a search, his trousers were found at the edge
of the rock. He had evidently been bathing in the sea, for the day on
which he was missed, the water was as smooth as glass. Whether he had
seen something floating, which he wished to bring to land, or whether he
had ventured for his own amusement, for he was an excellent swimmer,
could never be ascertained--any more than whether he had sunk with the
cramp,--or had been taken down by a shark. He never appeared again, and
his real fate is a mystery to this day, and must ever remain so. Thus
were we reduced to four men--your father, the captain, the mate, and me.
But you must be tired--I will stop now, and tell you the remainder some
other time."

Although I was not tired, yet, as Jackson appeared to be so, I made no
objections to his proposal, and we both wen