orld
believing that they were going to recover and enjoy once more the base
pursuits and unholy pleasures in which their souls' delighted. Alas, I
have often though what a fearful waking up there must have been of those
I had thus seen taking their departure from this world, yet the rest of
us remained as hardened, and in most cases as fearless, of consequences
as before.

The death of the first mate, which very soon occurred, made the second
mate, I perceived, somewhat more anxious than before about himself. The
first mate had been a strong healthy man, and had often before been out
on the coast, while the second mate was always rather sickly, and this
was his first visit to the shores of Africa. Whether or not his fears
had an effect upon him, I cannot say, but he began to look very ill, and
became every day more anxious about himself. The captain tried to
arouse him, telling him that we should be at sea enjoying the fresh
breeze in a few days, and that he must hold out till then. "Still it is
of no use, Harry," he said to me, as I was walking the deck with him one
evening, trying to get a few mouthfuls of air. "I know I shall never
leave this horrible place alive unless the captain would give the order
at once to trip the anchor, then perhaps the thought of being free of it
would set me up again."

I told the captain when I went into the cabin what the poor mate had
said, for I really thought our going away might be the means of saving
his life, as well as that of others aboard. He took what I said in very
good part, but was as obstinately bent in remaining as before. "Those
are all fancies, Harry," he answered. "He has taken it into his head
that he is to die, and that is as likely to kill him as the fever
itself."

"But then he fancies that he would get well if we were at sea," I
replied. "Perhaps that really would set him up again."

"Well, well, just tell him that you heard me ay I hoped to get away in
two or three days, perhaps that will put him to rights," answered the
captain, laughing. "Now, Harry, don't let me hear any more of this sort
of thing; I have bother enough with these black traders without having
to listen to the fancies of my own people."

I told the mate what the captain had said. "If the vessel does get away
at the time he mentioned, I hope that I may be able to help in taking
her to sea, if not, mark my words Harry, there will be a good many more
of us down with the fever." H