Towards the morning I was awakened by a sound of clanking iron, and opening my eyes, I saw that men were at work, by the light of lanterns, knocking the fetters from the dead and the living together.  As the fetters were loosed a rope was put round the body of the slave, and dead or quick, he was hauled through the hatchway.  Presently a heavy splash in the water without told the rest of the tale.  Now I understood that all the slaves were being thrown overboard because of the want of water, and in the hope that it might avail to save from the pestilence those of the Spaniards who still remained alive.

I watched them at their work for a while till there were but two slaves between me and the workers, of whom one was living and the other dead.  Then I bethought me that this would be my fate also, to be cast quick into the sea, and took counsel with myself as to whether I should declare that I was whole from the plague and pray them to spare me, or whether I should suffer myself to be drowned.  The desire for life was strong, but perhaps it may serve to show how great were the torments from which I was suffering, and how broken was my spirit by misfortunes and the horrors around me, when I say that I determined to make no further effort to live, but rather to accept death as a merciful release.  And, indeed, I knew that there was little likelihood of such attempts being of avail, for I saw that the Spanish sailors were mad with fear and had but one desire, to be rid of the slaves who consumed the water, and as they believed, had bred the pestilence.  So I said such prayers as came into my head, and although with a great shivering of fear, for the poor flesh shrinks from its end and the unknown beyond it, however high may be the spirit, I prepared myself to die.

Now, having dragged away my neighbour in misery, the living savage, the men turned to me.  They were naked to the middle, and worked furiously to be done with their hateful task, sweating with the heat, and keeping themselves from fainting by draughts of spirit.

‘This one is alive also and does not seem so sick,’ said a man as he struck the fetters from me.

‘Alive or dead, away with the dog!’ answered another hoarsely, and I saw that it was the same officer to whom I had been given as a slave.  ’It is that Englishman, and he it is who brought us ill luck.  Cast the Jonah overboard and let him try his evil eye upon the sharks.’

‘So be it,’ answered the other man, and finished striking off my fetters.  ’Those who have come to a cup of water each a day, do not press their guests to share it.  They show them the door.  Say your prayers, Englishman, and may they do you more good than they have done for most on this accursed ship.  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.