e fast, it was let go.
Meantime the quarterboat was lowered and several men got into her, but
their painter was too short, and before they had got their oars into her
she broke adrift and dropped astern. The men in her lifted up their
hands for help; the captain, who was still on deck, hove them an oar,
and we hove another, but they missed both of them, and before long a sea
struck the boat and turned her over. It was very sad, for we could give
her no help. We, meantime, in the longboat, were not in a very much
better condition, for we were shipping a great deal of water. The
captain now ordered us to haul up the boat, that the people might get
into her; but while we were so doing, the roughness of the sea causing a
sudden jerk on the rope, it parted, and we dropped astern. Cries of
despair rose from many of those on board when they saw what had
occurred. We instantly got out our oars and endeavoured to pull up to
the ship, but the quantity of water in her made all our efforts
unavailing. To prevent the boat going down we were obliged to turn to
and bail. Away we drifted, every moment, increasing our distance from
the ship, and lessening our hope of being able to return. There stood
our late companions on the poop of the sinking ship, some waving to us,
some shouting and imploring us to return. Summoned by the captain, we
saw that they then were endeavouring to form a raft. The thought that
the lives of all on board depended mainly on our exertions stimulated us
once more to attempt to pull up to them. We got out the oars, and while
the landsmen bailed we pulled away till the stout ash-sticks almost
broke. By shouts and gestures I encouraged the people; every muscle was
stretched to the utmost--no one spared himself--but our strength could
not contend with the fearful gale blowing in our teeth. The seas broke
over us, and almost swamped the boat; still, if we could but hold our
own, a lull might come before the ship went down. But vain were all our
hopes; even while our eyes were fixed on the brig, her stern for an
instant lifted up on a foam-crested sea, and then her bow, plunging
downwards, never rose again. Most of those who remained on board were
engulfed with the wreck, but a few, springing overboard before she sank,
struck out towards us. It would, indeed, have required a strong swimmer
to contend with that sea. One after another the heads of those who
still floated disappeared beneath the foaming