oll, for so she was
called. 'Twould but delay my story now. Suffice it to say that we sailed
for a fortnight or so in the West India seas. From some observations
that fell from the mouth of Griggs I gathered that he was searching for
an island which evaded him; and each day added to his vexation at not
finding it. At times he was drunk for forty hours at a stretch, when
he would shut himself in his cabin and leave his ship to the care of
Cockle, who navigated with the sober portion of the crew. And such a
lousy, brawling lot of convicts I had never clapped eyes upon. As for
me, I was treated indifferently well, though 'twas in truth punishment
enough to live in that filthy ship, to eat their shins of beef and briny
pork and wormy biscuit, to wear rough clothes that chafed my skin. I
shared Cockle's cabin, in every way as dirty a place as the den I had
left, but with the advantage of air, for which I fervently thanked God.

I think the mate had some little friendship for me, though he was too
hardened by the life he had led to care a deal what became of me. He
encouraged me secretly to continue to beard Griggs as I had begun,
saying that it was my sole chance of a whole skin, and vowing that if he
had had the courage to pursue the same course his own back had not been
checkered like a grating. He told me stories of the captain's cruelty
which I dare not repeat for their very horror, and indeed I lacked not
for instances to substantiate what he said; men with their backs beaten
to a pulp, and others with ears cut off, and mouths slit, and toes
missing. So that I lived in hourly fear lest in some drunken fit
Griggs might command me to be tortured. But, fortunately, he held small
converse with me, and when sober busied himself in trying to find the
island and in cursing the fate by which it eluded him.

So I existed, and prayed daily for deliverance. I plied Cockle with
questions as to what they purposed doing with me, but he was wont to
turn sulky, and would answer me not a word. But once, when he was deeper
in his cups than common, he let me know that Griggs was to sell me to a
certain planter. You may well believe that this did not serve to liven
my spirits.

At length, one morning, Captain Griggs came out of his cabin and climbed
upon the poop, calling all hands aft to the quarterdeck. Whereupon he
proceeded to make them a speech that for vileness exceeded aught I have
ever heard before or since. He finished by remind