The guard rushed down and
rescued him.
"I knew no one to be seduced into the British service. They tried to
force one of our crew into the navy, but he chose rather to die than
perform any duty, and he was again restored to the prison-ship."
Andros declares that there was no trace of religion exhibited on board
the Jersey. He also says that the prisoners made a set of rules for
themselves by which they regulated their conduct towards each
other. No one was allowed to tyrannize over the weak, and morality was
enforced by rules, and any infraction of these regulations was
severely punished.
He speaks of scenes of dreadful suffering which he witnessed:
"Which things, most worthy of pity, I myself saw,
And of them was a part."
"The prison ship is a blot which a thousand ages cannot eradicate from
the name of Britian. * * * While on board almost every thought was
occupied to invent some plan of escape. The time now came when I must
be delivered from the ship or die. I was seized with yellow fever, and
should certainly take the small-pox with it, and who does not know
that I could not survive the operation of both of these diseases at
once. * * * I assisted in nursing those who had the pox most
violently.
"The arrival of a cartel and my being exchanged would but render my
death the more sure."
Yet he endeavored to promote his exchange by stepping up and giving in
his name among the first, when a list of the prisoners was
taken.
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