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because of his broken hip； was very bad。 It was the surgeon's
opinion that both of Northrup's feet were hopelessly frozen。
The longboat was deep and heavy in the water； for it was burdened by
the entire ship's company of twenty…one。 Two of these were boys。
Benny Hardwater was a bare thirteen； and Lish Dickery； whose family
was near neighbour to mine in Elkton； was just turned sixteen。 Our
provisions consisted of three hundred…weight of beef and two
hundred…weight of pork。 The half…dozen loaves of brine…pulped
bread； which the cook had brought； did not count。 Then there were
three small barrels of water and one small keg of beer。
Captain Nicholl frankly admitted that in this uncharted ocean he had
no knowledge of any near land。 The one thing to do was to run for
more clement climate； which we accordingly did； setting our small
sail and steering quartering before the fresh wind to the north…
east。
The food problem was simple arithmetic。 We did not count Aaron
Northrup； for we knew he would soon be gone。 At a pound per day；
our five hundred pounds would last us twenty…five days； at half a
pound； it would last fifty。 So half a pound had it。 I divided and
issued the meat under the captain's eyes； and managed it fairly
enough； God knows； although some of the men grumbled from the first。
Also； from time to time I made fair division among the men of the
plug tobacco I had stowed in my many pocketsa thing which I could
not but regret； especially when I knew it was being wasted on this
man and that who I was certain could not live a day more； or； at
best； two days or three。
For we began to die soon in the open boat。 Not to starvation but to
the killing cold and exposure were those earlier deaths due。 It was
a matter of the survival of the toughest and the luckiest。 I was
tough by constitution； and lucky inasmuch as I was warmly clad and
had not broken my leg like Aaron Northrup。 Even so； so strong was
he that； despite being the first to be severely frozen； he was days
in passing。 Vance Hathaway was the first。 We found him in the gray
of dawn crouched doubled in the bow and frozen stiff。 The boy； Lish
Dickery； was the second to go。 The other boy； Benny Hardwater；
lasted ten or a dozen days。
So bitter was it in the boat that our water and beer froze solid；
and it was a difficult task justly to apportion the pieces I broke
off with Northrup's claspknife。 These pieces we put in our mouths
and sucked till they melted。 Also； on occasion of snow…squalls； we
had all the snow we desired。 All of which was not good for us；
causing a fever of inflammation to attack our mouths so that the
membranes were continually dry and burning。 And there was no
allaying a thirst so generated。 To suck more ice or snow was merely
to aggravate the inflammation。 More than anything else； I think it
was this that caused the death of Lish Dickery。 He was out of his
head and raving for twenty…four hours before he died。 He died
babbling for water； and yet he did not die for need of water。 I
resisted as much as possible the temptation to suck ice； contenting
myself with a shred of tobacco in my cheek； and made out with fair
comfort。
We stripped all clothing from our dead。 Stark they came into the
world； and stark they passed out over the side of the longboat and
down into the dark freezing ocean。 Lots were cast for the clothes。
This was by Captain Nicholl's command； in order to prevent
quarrelling。
It was no time for the follies of sentiment。 There was not one of
us who did not know secret satisfaction at the occurrence of each
death。 Luckiest of all was Israel Stickney in casting lots； so that
in the end； when he passed； he was a veritable treasure trove of
clothing。 It gave a new lease of life to the survivors。
We continued to run to the north…east before the fresh westerlies；
but our quest for warmer weather seemed vain。 Ever the spray froze
in the bottom of the boat； and I still chipped beer and drinking
water with Northrup's knife。 My own knife I reserved。 It was of
good steel； with a keen edge and stoutly fashioned； and I did not
care to peril it in such manner。
By the time half our company was overboard； the boat had a
reasonably high freeboard and was less ticklish to handle in the
gusts。 Likewise there was more room for a man to stretch out
comfortably。
A source of continual grumbling was the food。 The captain； the
mate； the surgeon； and myself； talking it over； resolved not to
increase the daily whack of half a pound of meat。 The six sailors；
for whom Tobias Snow made himself spokesman； contended that the
death of half of us was equivalent to a doubling of our
provisioning； and that therefore the ration should be increased to a
pound。 In reply； we of the afterguard pointed out that it was our
chance for life that was doubled did we but bear with the half…pound
ration。
It is true that eight ounces of salt meat did not go far in enabling
us to live and to resist the severe cold。 We were quite weak； and；
because of our weakness； we frosted easily。 Noses and cheeks were
all black with frost…bite。 It was impossible to be warm； although
we now had double the garments we had started with。
Five weeks after the loss of the Negociator the trouble over the
food came to a head。 I was asleep at the timeit was nightwhen
Captain Nicholl caught Jud Hetchkins stealing from the pork barrel。
That he was abetted by the other five men was proved by their
actions。 Immediately Jud Hetchkins was discovered； the whole six
threw themselves upon us with their knives。 It was close； sharp
work in the dim light of the stars； and it was a mercy the boat was
not overturned。 I had reason to be thankful for my many shirts and
coats which served me as an armour。 The knife…thrusts scarcely more
than drew blood through the so great thickness of cloth； although I
was scratched to bleeding in a round dozen of places。
The others were similarly protected； and the fight would have ended
in no more than a mauling all around； had not the mate； Walter
Dakon； a very powerful man； hit upon the idea of ending the matter
by tossing the mutineers overboard。 This was joined in by Captain
Nicholl； the surgeon； and myself； and in a trice five of the six
were in the water and clinging to the gunwale。 Captain Nicholl and
the surgeon were busy amidships with the sixth； Jeremy Nalor； and
were in the act of throwing him overboard； while the mate was
occupied with rapping the fingers along the gunwale with a boat…
stretcher。 For the moment I had nothing to do； and so was able to
observe the tragic end of the mate。 As he lifted the stretcher to
rap Seth Richards' fingers； the latter； sinking down low in the
water and then jerking himself up by both hands； sprang half into
the boat； locked his arms about the mate and； falling backward and
outboard； dragged the mate with him。 Doubtlessly he never relaxed
his grip； and both drowned together。
Thus left alive of the entire ship's company were three of us：
Captain Nicholl； Arnold Bentham （the surgeon）； and myself。 Seven
had gone in the twinkling of an eye； consequent on Jud Hetchkins'
attempt to steal provisions。 And to me it seemed a pity that so
much good warm clothing had been wasted there in the sea。 There was
not one of us who could not have managed gratefully with more。
Captain Nicholl and the surgeon were good men and honest。 Often
enough； when two of us slept； the one awake and steering could have
stolen from the meat。 But this never happened。 We trusted one
another fully； and we would have died rather than betray that trust。
We continued to content ourselves with half a pound of meat each per
day； and we took advantage of every favouring breeze to work to the
north'ard。 Not until January fourteenth； seven weeks since the
wreck； did we come up with a warmer latitude。 Even then it was not
really warm。 It was merely not so bitterly cold。
Here the fresh westerlies forsook us and we bobbed and blobbed about
in doldrummy weather for many days。 Mostly it was calm； or light
contrary winds； though sometimes a burst of breeze； as like as not
from dead ahead； would last for a few hours。 In our weakened
condition； with so large a boat； it was out of the question to row。
We could merely hoard our food and wait for God to show a more
kindly face。 The three of us were faithful Christians； and we made
a practice of prayer each day before the apportionment of food。
Yes； and each of us prayed privately； often and long。
By the end of January our food was near its end。 The pork was
entirely gone； and we used the barrel for catching and storing
rainwater。 Not many pounds of beef remained。 And in all the nine
weeks in the open boat we had raised no sail and glimpsed no land。
Captain Nicholl frankly admitted that after sixty…three days of dead
recko