s resting, but was apparently almost exhausted. As I passed, I told
him that if I could I would come to his help, and I at length managed to
get back to the raft, on to which the three other men had hauled up
their other shipmate.

"I was pretty well tired by this time, and had to rest two or three
minutes before I could again venture into the water. While I was trying
to recover my strength, the man clinging to the log, fancying that no
one was coming, again shrieked out for help. Once more slipping into
the water, at last by shoving the piece of plank before me, I contrived
to reach him; then getting him to take hold of it, I made my way back to
the raft, when we were both dragged nearly exhausted out of the water.

"At first I had hopes that you would discover us and put back to take us
off; but when I perceived that you were on fire, I began to fear that we
should not be observed, though I did not say so to my companions in
misfortune, but endeavoured to keep up their spirits. I told them that
if the ship with which they had been engaged should come back, my
countrymen would not look upon them as enemies, but would treat them
kindly, as people who had suffered a great misfortune. When, however,
they saw you standing away, they began to abuse the English, declaring
that we were a perfidious nation, never to be trusted; and I had some
suspicion that they would wreak their ill-temper on my head.

"My position would have been very dreadful even had I been with
well-disposed companions. The sun beat down upon our heads with
terrific force; we had not a particle of food, nor a drop of water to
quench our thirst. I was thankful when, the sun at length having set,
the men, accustomed only to think of the present, and not suffering much
as yet from the want of food or water, stretched themselves on the raft
to sleep.

"I sat up, hoping against hope that you might come back to ascertain if
any people had escaped, or that some other vessel might pass within
hail. We had no means of making a signal, not even a spar on which to
hoist our handkerchiefs or shirts. The only article which had by some
means or other been thrown on the raft was a blanket. How it had fallen
there I cannot tell. I secured it, and doubling it up, it served as a
rest to my head. I constantly, however, got up to look about, but no
vessel could I see, and at length, overpowered by weariness, I lay down
and fell asleep.

"At daylight I awoke