This barbarous piece of revenge incensed me so much against the
author, that I vowed, with bitter imprecations, to call him to a
severe account, if ever it should be in my power; and the agitation
of my spirits increased my fever to a violent degree. While I
lay gasping for breath in this infernal abode, I was visited by a
sergeant, the bones of whose nose I had reduced and set to rights,
after they had been demolished by a splinter during our last
engagement; he, being informed of my condition, offered me the use
of his berth in the middle deck, which was enclosed with canvas, and
well aired by a port-hole that remained open within it. I embraced
this proposal with joy, and was immediately conducted to the place,
where I was treated, while my illness lasted, with the utmost
tenderness and care by this grateful halberdier, who had no other
bed for himself than a hencoop during the whole passage. Here I
lay and enjoyed the breeze, notwithstanding which my malady gained
ground, and at length my life was despaired of, though I never lost
hopes of recovery, even when I had the mortification to see, from
my cabin-window, six or seven thrown overboard every day, who died
of the same distemper.
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