The armorer returned to the ship, and I was left among strangers.
I now had leisure to reflect on my situation.

My hopes of visiting the "north-west coast" were suddenly destroyed.

A cripple, in a strange land, without money or friends, a cloud seemed to rest on my prospects.
During the remainder of the day and the succeeding night I suffered much from "the blues." My spirits were out of tune.

The scanty hospital fare that was offered me I sent away untouched, and sleep refused to bury my senses in forgetfulness until long after the midnight hour.

This, however, might have been partly owing to the involuntary groans and murmurs of unfortunate sufferers in my immediate vicinity.