Here, this is the stuff to make drowning easy, and there is more of it on board than of water,' and he handed me the flask of spirit.

I took it and drank deep, and it comforted me a little.
Then they put the rope round me and at a signal those on the deck above began to haul till I swung loose beneath the hatchway.

As I passed that Spaniard to whom I had been given in slavery, and who but now had counselled my casting away, I saw his face well in the light of the lantern, and there were signs on it that a physician could read clearly.
'Farewell,' I said to him, 'we may soon meet again.

Fool, why do you labour?
Take your rest, for the plague is on you.

In six hours you will be dead!' His jaw dropped with terror at my words, and for a moment he stood speechless.