But now they were in a new danger; for they were afraid of eatingtoo much, even of that little we gave them. The mate, orcommander, brought six men with him in his boat; but these poorwretches looked like skeletons, and were so weak that they couldhardly sit to their oars. The mate himself was very ill, and halfstarved; for he declared he had reserved nothing from the men, andwent share and share alike with them in every bit they ate. Icautioned him to eat sparingly, and set meat before himimmediately, but he had not eaten three mouthfuls before he beganto be sick and out of order; so he stopped a while, and our surgeonmixed him up something with some broth, which he said would be tohim both food and physic; and after he had taken it he grew better.In the meantime I forgot not the men. I ordered victuals to begiven them, and the poor creatures rather devoured than ate it:they were so exceedingly hungry that they were in a mannerravenous, and had no command of themselves; and two of them atewith so much…