dden decrease in the force of the sea as the tide went down.
Between the ship and the land there was comparatively calm water,
spotted here and there with black-looking rocks just showing above
water.

Knowing that when the tide again rose we might again be exposed to the
heavy seas which were still running, the sailors at once called upon the
passengers to help them to construct a raft; for every boat had been
either smashed or carried away, and several small dark objects moving
rapidly through the water showed that sharks were ready to seize on any
human being, who ventured into their element.

A raft was soon constructed, and the females were first conveyed to the
shore. I followed on the second journey, and then the raft went
backwards and forwards, conveying to the shore some provisions,
clothing, valuables, two or three guns and pistols, with ammunition, a
large sail to serve as a tent, and other articles that might be deemed
necessary.

The men worked till past mid-day, when the tide rose, and with it the
wind, and it was no longer possible to make use of the raft. We were
all, however, busy on shore, making a sort of "lean-to" out of the sail,
cooking provisions, and searching for water; and we thus passed our
first day, the wind again blowing a hurricane. We lay down to rest that
night, thanking God for our escape; for although our future was
uncertain, yet we were better off than were the poor fellows who had
been washed overboard, and by this time had probably been eaten by
sharks.

On the following morning there was no sign of the wreck, but the shore
was strewn with her timbers and cargo: the latter, when not utterly
spoiled by the sea-water, were collected and piled up near our tent.

During the morning the men had been talking together as to what was best
to be done. It was hoped that some ship would pass the coast, and that
by aid of a flag which we had saved from the wreck, we could signal to
the ship, and thus be relieved from our position. One question which
could not be decided was on what part of the coast we had been cast.
Some of the sailors thought we were near Saint Lucia Bay, east of Natal,
others that we were nearer the Great Fish River. Of inhabitants or
houses we saw nothing, but at night we heard the cries of animals, some
of which I recognised as made by jackals, for round Delhi there were
hundreds of these animals which used to serenade us at night. We were
fortunate in findi