CHAPTER V.

PERILS OF THE SAILOR’S LIFE (_continued_). The Value of Discipline—The Loss of the _Kent_—Fire on Board—The 67 Ship Waterlogged—Death in Two Forms—A Sail in Sight—Transference of Six Hundred Passengers to a Small Brig—Splendid Discipline of the Soldiers—Imperturbable Coolness of the Captain—Loss of the _Birkenhead_—Literally broken in Two—Noble Conduct of the Military—A Contrary Example—Wreck of the _Medusa_—Run on a Sand-bank—Panic on Board—Raft constructed—Insubordination and Selfishness—One Hundred and Fifty Souls abandoned—Drunkenness and Mutiny on the Raft—Riots and Murders—Reduced to Thirty Persons—The Stronger Part massacre the Others—Fifteen Left—Rescued at Last—Another Contrast—Wreck of the _Alceste_—Admirable Conduct of the Crew—The Ironclad Movement—The Battle of the Guns