Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/244

 generally in a state of putridity immediately after death; and the decay, particularly in warm climates, is very rapid. A few hours after Quid's death, the body emitted certain effluvia denoting the necessity of immediate interment. It was accordingly sewn up ma hammock; and as the ship lay in deep water, with a current sweeping round the bay, and the boats being at the same time all employed at the dock-yard, the first-lieutenant caused shot to be tied to the feet, and, having read the funeral service, launched the body overboard from the gangway, as the ship lay at anchor.

I was walking the deck, in no very happy state of mind, reflecting seriously on parts of that Bible which for more than two years I had never looked into, when my thoughts were called to the summons which poor Quid had received, and the beauty of the funeral service which I had heard read over him—" I am the resurrection and the life." The moon, which had been obscured, suddenly burst from a