At length the day broke on the long, long, moist, steamy night, and once
more the sun rose to bless every thing but me. As the morning wore on,
my torments increased with the heat, and I lay sweltering on deck, in a
furious delirium, held down forcibly by two men, who were relieved by
others every now and then, while I raved about Obed, and Paul, and the
scenes I had witnessed on board during the chase, and in the attack.
None of my rough but kind nurses expected I could have held on till
nightfall; but shortly after sunset I became more collected, and, as I
was afterwards told, whenever any little office was performed for me,
whenever some drink was held to my lips, I would say to the gruff
sunburnt, black--whiskered, square shouldered topman who might be my
Ganymede for the occasion, "Thank you, Mary; Heaven bless your pale face,
Mary; bless you, bless you!"
It seemed my fancy had shaken itself clear of the fearful objects that
had so pertinaciously haunted me before, and occupying itself with
pleasing recollections, had produced a corresponding cahn in the animal;
but the poor fellow to whom I had expressed myself so endearingly, was, I
learned, most awfully put out and dismayed. He twisted and turned his
iron features into all manner of ludicrous combinations, under the
laughter of his mates--"Now, Peter, may I be--but I would rather be
shot at, than hear the poor young gentleman so quiz me in his madness.
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