Page 388 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

sel to leak to that degree that I despaired of reaching land
in her, and prayed to the Almighty to send us speedy assis-
tance. For nine days and nights the storm continued, the
men being utterly exhausted. One of the two soldiers whom
we had employed to fish the two pieces of the spanker boom,
with some quartering that we had, was washed overboard
and drowned. Our provision was now nearly done, but the
gale abating on the ninth day, we hastened to put provisions
on the launch. The sea was heavy, and we were compelled to
put a purchase on the fore and main yards, with preventers
to windward, to ease the launch in going over the side. We
got her fairly afloat at last, the others battening down the
hatches in the brig. Having dressed ourselves in the clothes
of Captain Frere and the pilot, we left the brig at sundown,
lying with her channel plates nearly under water.
‘The wind freshening during the night, our launch, which
might, indeed, be termed a long-boat, having been fitted
with mast, bowsprit, and main boom, began to be very un-
easy, shipping two seas one after the other. The plan we
could devise was to sit, four of us about, in the stern sheets,
with our backs to the sea, to prevent the water pooping us.
This itself was enough to exhaust the strongest men. The
day, however, made us some amends for the dreadful night.
Land was not more than ten miles from us; approaching as
nearly as we could with safety, we hauled our wind, and ran
along in, trusting to find some harbour. At half-past two we
sighted a bay of very curious appearance, having two large
rocks at the entrance, resembling pyramids. Shiers, Rus-
sen, and Fair landed, in hopes of discovering fresh water,