The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 461 pages of information about The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories.

The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 461 pages of information about The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories.
Cox told me last night that there is getting to be a good deal of ugly talk among the men against the captain and us aft.  They say that the captain is the cause of all; that he did not try to save the ship at all, nor to get provisions, and that even would not let the men put in some they had; and that partiality is shown us in apportioning our rations aft.... asked Cox the other day if he would starve first or eat human flesh.  Cox answered he would starve.... then told him he would only be killing himself.  If we do not find those islands we would do well to prepare for anything. .... is the loudest of all.

     Reply

     We can depend on ..., I think, and ..., and Cox, can we not?

     Second note

I guess so, and very likely on ...; but there is no telling .... and Cox are certain.  There is nothing definite said or hinted as yet, as I understand Cox; but starving men are the same as maniacs.  It would be well to keep a watch on your pistol, so as to have it and the cartridges safe from theft.

     Henry’s Log, June 5.  Dreadful forebodings.  God spare us from all
     such horrors!  Some of the men getting to talk a good deal.  Nothing
     to write down.  Heart very sad.

Henry’s Log, June 6.  Passed some sea-weed and something that looked like the trunk of an old tree, but no birds; beginning to be afraid islands not there.  To-day it was said to the captain, in the hearing of all, that some of the men would not shrink, when a man was dead, from using the flesh, though they would not kill.  Horrible!  God give us all full use of our reason, and spare us from such things!  ’From plague, pestilence, and famine; from battle and murder, and from sudden death, good Lord, deliver us!’
[Diary entry] June 6.  Latitude 16 degrees 30 minutes, longitude (chron.) 134 degrees.  Dry night and wind steady enough to require no change in sail; but this A.M. an attempt to lower it proved abortive.  First the third mate tried and got up to the block, and fastened a temporary arrangement to reeve the halyards through, but had to come down, weak and almost fainting, before finishing; then Joe tried, and after twice ascending, fixed it and brought down the block; but it was very exhausting work, and afterward he was good for nothing all day.  The clue-iron which we are trying to make serve for the broken block works, however, very indifferently, and will, I am afraid, soon cut the rope.  It is very necessary to get everything connected with the sail in good easy running order before we get too weak to do anything with it.

     Only three meals left.—­Captain’s Log.

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The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.