s, then," said I, as I perceived she was letting them
go, "or we shall be broadside to the waves again."

I took the rudder lines from her, and steered the boat, while she again
resorted to the bladder of spirits.

"Take another sip," said she, after she had filled the milk-can; "it
won't harm you."

I thought the same, for I was wet through, and the wind, as it howled,
pierced me to the bones; I took a small quantity as before, and then
continued to keep the boat before the wind. The sea was increasing very
much and although no sailor, I felt fully convinced that the boat could
not live much longer.

In the meantime the woman was becoming intoxicated very fast. I knew
the consequence of this, and requested her to bale out the boat: she did
so, and sang a mournful sort of song as she baled, but the howling of
the wind prevented me from distinguishing the words.

I cannot well analyse my feelings at this time--they were confused; but
this I know, self-preservation and hope were the most predominant. I
thought of my mother, of my aunt, of Captain Bridgeman, Captain Delmar,
and Bob Cross; but my thoughts were as rapid as the gale which bore us
along, and I was too much employed in steering the boat, and preventing
the seas from filling it, to have a moment to collect my ideas.

Again the woman applied to the bladder of spirits, and offered some to
me; I refused. I had had enough, and by this time she had had too much,
and after an attempt to bale she dropped down in the stern sheets,
smashing pipes and everything beneath her, and spoke no more.

We had now been more than four hours adrift; the wind was as strong as
ever, and, I thought, the sea much higher; but I kept the boat steady
before the wind, and by degrees, as I became more accustomed to steer,
she did not take in so much water; still the boat appeared to be sinking
deeper down, and after a time I considered it necessary to bale her out.
I did so with my hat, for I found it was half full of water; and then I
execrated the woman for having intoxicated herself, so as to be useless
in such an emergency.

I succeeded in clearing the boat of the major portion of the water,
which was no easy task, as the boat, having remained broadside to the
wind, had taken in the sea continually as I baled it out. I then once
more resumed the helm, and put the boat before the wind, and thus did I
continue for two hours more, when the rain came down in torrents, and
the s