In obedience to the mate’s orders, I went back to my berth; but a more miserable night I never wish to spend.  I never felt the curse of sickness so keenly in my life.  If I could only have been on deck with the rest where something was to be done and seen and heard, where there were fellow-beings for companions in duty and danger; but to be cooped up alone in a black hole, in equal danger, but without the power to do, was the hardest trial.  Several times, in the course of the night, I got up, determined to go on deck; but the silence which showed that there was nothing doing, and the knowledge that I might make myself seriously ill, for no purpose, kept me back.  It was not easy to sleep, lying, as I did, with my head directly against the bows, which might be dashed in by an island of ice, brought down by the very next sea that struck her.  This was the only time I had been ill since I left Boston, and it was the worst time it could have happened.  I felt almost willing to bear the plagues of Egypt for the rest of the voyage, if I could but be well and strong for that one night.  Yet it was a dreadful night for those on deck.  A watch of eighteen hours, with wet and cold and constant anxiety, nearly wore them out; and when they came below at nine o’clock for breakfast, they almost dropped asleep on their chests, and some of them were so stiff that they could with difficulty sit down.  Not a drop of anything had been given them during the whole time (though the captain, as on the night that I was on deck, had his coffee every four hours), except that the mate stole a pot-full of coffee for two men to drink behind the galley, while he kept a lookout for the captain.  Every man had his station, and was not allowed to leave it; and nothing happened to break the monotony of the night, except once setting the main topsail, to run clear of a large island to leeward, which they were drifting fast upon.  Some of the boys got so sleepy and stupefied that they actually fell asleep at their posts; and the young third mate, Mr. Hatch, whose post was the exposed one of standing on the fore scuttle, was so stiff, when he was relieved, that he could not bend his knees to get down.  By a constant lookout, and a quick shifting of the helm, as the islands and pieces came in sight, the ship went clear of everything but a few small pieces, though daylight showed the ocean covered for miles.  At daybreak it fell a dead calm, and with the sun the fog cleared a little, and a breeze sprung up from the westward, which soon grew into a gale.  We had now a fair wind, daylight, and comparatively clear weather; yet, to the surprise of every one, the ship continued hove-to. ``Why does not he run?’’ ``What is the captain about?’’ was asked by every one; and from questions it soon grew into complaints and murmurings.  When the daylight was so short, it was too bad to lose it, and a fair wind, too, which every one had been praying for.  As hour followed hour, and the captain showed no sign