’When we were reduced to the last pinch, and out of everything, having been more than three weeks abroad, we were cheered with the sight of a low, uninhabited island, which we reached in hope, but were bitterly disappointed.  There were some barren bushes and many rocks on this forlorn spot.  The only provision that we could procure were a few birds and their eggs:  this supply was soon reduced; the sea-fowls appeared to have been frightened away, and their nests were left empty after we had once or twice plundered them.  What distressed us most was the utter want of fresh water; we could not find a drop anywhere, till, at the extreme verge of ebb tide, a small spring was discovered in the sand; but even that was too scanty to afford us sufficient to quench our thirst before it was covered by the waves at their turn.

’There being no prospect but that of starvation here, we determined to put to sea again.  Three of our comrades, however, chose to remain, and we pledged ourselves to send a vessel to bring them off, if we ourselves should ever escape to a Christian port.  With a very small morsel of biscuit for each, and a little water, we again ventured out on the wide ocean.  In the course of a few days our provisions were consumed.  Two men died; we had no other alternative than to live upon their remains.  These we roasted to dryness by means of fires kindled on the ballast-sand at the bottom of the boats.[44] When this supply was spent, what could we do?  We looked at each other with horrid thoughts in our minds, but we held our tongues.  I am sure that we loved one another as brothers all the time; and yet our looks told plainly what must be done.  We cast lots, and the fatal one fell on my poor cabin-boy.  I started forward instantly, and cried out, “My lad, my lad, if you don’t like your lot, I’ll shoot the first man that touches you.”  The poor emaciated boy hesitated a moment or two; then, quietly laying his head down upon the gunnel of the boat, he said, “I like it as well as any other." He was soon despatched, and nothing of him left.  I think, then, another man died of himself, and him, too, we ate.  But I can tell you no more—­my head is on fire at the recollection; I hardly know what I say.  I forgot to say that we had parted company with the second boat before now.  After some more days of horror and despair, when some were lying down at the bottom of the boat not able to rise, and scarcely one of us could move a limb, a vessel hove in sight.  We were taken on board, and treated with extreme kindness.  The second last boat was also picked up at sea, and the survivors saved.  A ship afterwards sailed in search of our companions on the desolate island, and brought them away.’

Captain Pollard closed his dreary narrative with saying, in a tone of despondency never to be forgotten by him who heard it, ’After a time I found my way to the United States, to which I belonged, and got another ship.  That, too, I have lost by a second wreck off the Sandwich Islands, and now I am utterly ruined.  No owner will ever trust me with a whaler again, for all will say I am an unlucky man.’