345
Petersen brought in five Ptarmagan, cheering
news for it enables me to give one rare meal
a day to the sickest of our sick. This is
enough to sustain the health working impression
of the diet. McGeary and Ohlsen
begin to use their legs a little and McGeary
yesterday visited the deck, and thanked
God by the sunshine.
Tuesday
Mar. 20.
This morning I received information
from Stephensen that Bill had declared
his intention of leaving the brig to day
at some time unknown. John being now
really lame could not accompany him. This
Stephensen overheard in whispers during the
night, and in faithful execution of his duty
conveyed to me.
I kept the news to myself but there
was no time to be lost. William therefore was
awakened at 6. a.m. (I had sat up all night)
and ordered John Wilson to cook breakfast awakening me
at 8. a.m. Mean time I pretended sleep and
watched him. At first he appeared troubled
and had several stealthy whispered interviews
with John. Finally his manner became
more easy and he cooked and served our
breakfast meal. I now felt convinced that
he would meet John outside, as soon as
he could leave the room and that either
one or both would start at once. I therefore
dressed and armed myself, bringing
in Bonsall & [William Morton|Morton]] to a knowledge of my
plans. This done I crawled out of our
dark passage and concealed myself near its
entrance.
I had hardly waitd half an
hour, pretty cold work too, before John
crawled out, limping and grunting. Once
emerged the scoundrel looked furtively around
EN