There  were  times  in  which  cor»^ience  awoke  and  alarmed
me,  by  exciting  my  fears.  But  Ihese  were  only  lucid
intervals  in  my  moral  insanity,  at  which  times,  evil
suggestions  would  present  themselves  m  such  forms  as
*  these :  **  Why  trouble  yourself  about  these  things  i  You
are  young  yet — leave  such  foolish  thought*  for  old  age.
How  do  you  suppose  you  can  get  along  in  this  world  if
you  give  way  to  such  nonsense  ?  What  is  the  use  of
living,  if  you  cannot  enjoy  life's  pleasures  now  ?  Take
your  shipmates'  motto  for  your  own,  "A  short  life  it  may
be,  but  a  merry  one  let  it  be,  at  all  risks."  Thus
Satan  continued  to  deceive  and  blind  me,  and  I  to
believe  and  be  led  by  him ;  and  giving  way  with  reckless
3  33


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34  FIFTV   YEARS   AMONG   SAILORS.
stupidity    to   temptation,    I    sank    deeper   and   deeper
in  sin.
