Tuesday 21st October 1808

Dear Diary,
I must have nodded off in the night despite being thrown about my cot. I awoke to find that though the storm appears to have abated somewhat the ship is still being buffeted by the weather. I have grown accustomed to the confines of my accomodation and am certain that there is a crack, low down near the deck, that was not there before in one of the ship's ribs that runs up through my cabin.
I opened the door and stuck my head into the passage. A sailor had just passed by and he was staggering along the pasageway holding onto the walls to prevent himself from doing himself a mischief.
"Excuse me, my good man!" I hailed. He paused and turned then returned along the passageway towards me.
I re-entered my cabin and bent down to examine the crack again. I heard the sailors footsteps at the open door and without looking up said,
"I wonder if you would examine this crack in my futtock?"
I heard him gasp and I straightened and turned to face him. It was the fellow from the other day who had misunderstood my enquiry about his knots.
He was not pleased to see me.