onward. After
some time the Turks, seeing that they could not overtake us, gave up the
chase, and we agreed that we had better not enter into their village
till they had forgotten all about the circumstance. When we got on
board, we were told that we were very fortunate to have escaped with our
lives, as many Englishmen had been killed by the Turks for a similar act
of folly.

Two days after this, one of the _Ellen's_ men came on board, complaining
of being very ill. In a short time another said he felt very queer, and
both of them lay down on their chests and could eat no food or keep
their heads up. Before long, Captain Mathews came below, and finding
that they both had something seriously the matter with them, sent on
shore for an English doctor who resided at the place. After some time
the doctor came, and told the men to turn up their shirt-sleeves and to
show him their arms.

"I thought so," said he, turning to the captain; "it is my unpleasant
duty to tell you that you have got the plague on board. We have it bad
enough on shore."

I thought the captain would have fallen when he heard the news. "The
plague!" he gasped out. "What is to be done, doctor?"

"Send the men on shore; purify your ship, and get to sea as soon as you
can," was the answer.

But the plague is a conqueror not easily put down. Before night two
more men were seized, and the two first were corpses. The captain of
the _Fate_ heard of what had happened, and sent his boats alongside to
inquire how we were doing, but with strict orders that no one should
come on board. No boat came the next day; the plague had paid her a
visit, and three of the crew were corpses. The moans and shrieks of the
poor fellows were very dreadful when the fever got to its height. One
moment they might have been seen walking the deck in high health and
spirits, and the next they were down with the malady and utterly unable
to move. Sometimes three or four hours finished their sufferings, and
the instant the breath was out of their bodies we were obliged to heave
them overboard. One after the other, the greater part of the crews of
the two brigs sickened and died. We three apprentices had escaped, and
so had our captain and Mr Cole. The mate said he was not afraid of the
plague or any other complaint, as he had got something which would
always keep it away. Charley Iffley and I frequently asked him what it
was. It was a stuff in a bottle which he us