pollard is actually related to owen coughin.and they come to the point they know if they do nothing, they'll probably all die of starvation. but in the custom of the sea and they draw lots and execute the person who got the short straw and consume his body, the rest will have a chance to live. i mean, can you imagine to be in that situation? and when pollard was rescued, it would be pollard and a kid with the last name of ramsdale who would be found in their whaleboat, they were clutching the dead bones of their mess mates. that's how it was described. and pollard would come onto the deck of the whaleship that rescued them. that night, i don't know how he did it, would tell the story of what happened and it was recorded by a captain paddick, nantucketer, who listened to this. can you just imagine the drama of this man who's been at sea for three months, living skeleton, reciting how they drew lots and his much younger cousin drew the short lot. pollard reputedly said, you know, my boy, no one's going to touch you if you don't wa