to which the feebleness of my frame rendered me totally inadequate. At
length we succeeded in reaching the hole, when Augustus got through, and
Tiger was pushed in afterward. All was found to be safe, and we did
not fail to return sincere thanks to God for our deliverance from the
imminent danger we had escaped. For the present, it was agreed that I
should remain near the opening, through which my companion could readily
supply me with a part of his daily provision, and where I could have the
advantages of breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure.

In explanation of some portions of this narrative, wherein I have spoken
of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear ambiguous to some of my
readers who may have seen a proper or regular stowage, I must here state
that the manner in which this most important duty had been per formed
on board the Grampus was a most shameful piece of neglect on the part
of Captain Barnard, who was by no means as careful or as experienced a
seaman as the hazardous nature of the service on which he was
employed would seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot be
accomplished in a careless manner, and many most disastrous accidents,
even within the limits of my own experience, have arisen from neglect
or ignorance in this particular. Coasting vessels, in the frequent hurry
and bustle attendant upon taking in or discharging cargo, are the most
liable to mishap from the want of a proper attention to stowage. The
great point is to allow no possibility of the cargo or ballast shifting
position even in the most violent rollings of the vessel. With this end,
great attention must be paid, not only to the bulk taken in, but to the
nature of the bulk, and whether there be a full or only a partial cargo.
In most kinds of freight the stowage is accomplished by means of a
screw. Thus, in a load of tobacco or flour, the whole is screwed so
tightly into the hold of the vessel that the barrels or hogsheads, upon
discharging, are found to be completely flattened, and take some time
to regain their original shape. This screwing, however, is resorted to
principally with a view of obtaining more room in the hold; for in a
full load of any such commodities as flour or tobacco, there can be no
danger of any shifting whatever, at least none from which inconvenience
can result. There have been instances, indeed, where this method of
screwing has resulted in the most lamentable consequences, arising from
a