At first he did not think he was much injured but as his leg kept on swelling, the captain strongly advised him to go to the marine hospital and conveyed him there in a cab.

The ward in which Paul was placed contained about one hundred and fifty little iron beds filled with unfortunates like himself.

The hospital authorities ran the institution on the principle that the less they gave the patient to eat, the sooner he would recover and get out.

Breakfast consisted of a slice of bread and a little cup of very weak wine; dinner of some very feeble soup, bread and the same kind of wine.

The supper was a repetition of the breakfast.