y
wretch to allege his utter incapacity; the boatswain's driver was
commanded to whip him up with the cat-and-nine-tails; the smart of this
application made him exert himself so much, that he actually arrived
at the puttock shrouds; but when the enormous weight of his body had
nothing else to support than his weakened arms, either out of spite or
necessity, he quitted his hold, and plunged into the sea, where he must
have been drowned, had not a sailor, who was in a boat alongside,
saved his life, by keeping him afloat till he was hoisted on board by a
tackle.

It would be tedious and disagreeable to describe the fate of every
miserable object that suffered by the inhumanity and ignorance of the
captain and surgeon, who so wantonly sacrificed the lives of their
fellow-creatures. Many were brought up in the height of fevers, and
rendered delirious by the injuries they received in the way. Some gave
up the ghost in the presence of their inspectors; and others, who were
ordered to their duties, languished a few days at work among their
fellows, and then departed without any ceremony. On the whole, the
number of the sick was reduced to less than a dozen; and the authors of
this reduction were applauding themselves for the services they had
done to their king and country, when the boatswain's mate informed his
honour, that there was a man below lashed to his hammock, by direction
of the doctor's mate, and that he begged hard to be released; affirming,
he had been so maltreated only for a grudge Mr. Morgan bore him, and
that he was as much in his senses as any man aboard. The captain hearing
this, darted a severe look at the Welshman, and ordered the man to
be brought up immediately; upon which, Morgan protested with great
fervency, that the person in question was as mad as a March hare; and
begged for the love of Cot, they would at least keep his arms pinioned
during his examination, to prevent him from doing mischief. This request
the commander granted for his own sake, and the patient was produced,
who insisted upon his being in his right wits with such calmness and
strength of argument, that everybody present was inclined to believe
him, except Morgan, who affirmed there was no trusting to appearances;
for he himself had been so much imposed upon by his behaviour two days
before, that he had actually unbound him with his own hands, and
had well nigh been murdered for his pains: this was confirmed by the
evidence of one o