vessel, but without success; and nothing but death stared them in the
face, as the schooner was gradually sinking. Lieutenant Wilson
ascertained that there were three common knives among the party, and it
was resolved to make a raft of the main-boom and gaff, and such other
floating materials as remained above water. These they secured by such
ropes as could be cut and unrove from the rigging, and a small quantity
of cordage was retained to make good any defects they might sustain by
the working of the spars; a small topgallant studding-sail was obtained
for a sail; and upon this miserable raft the ten persons made sail for
the coast of Africa, distant 200 miles, without rudder, oar, compass,
provisions, or water.

Being almost naked, and washed by every wave, their sufferings were very
great. Destitute of food or fresh water, scorched by a burning sun
during the day, and chilled with cold during the night, they thus
remained twenty days. Delirium and death relieved the raft of part of
its load of misery, two blacks being the first to sink under their
sufferings.

The question naturally suggests itself, How did the survivors support
life? Some persons would be almost afraid to put the question, or hear
the answer. There is nothing, however, to wound our feelings, but much
to admire in the admirable conduct of Lieutenant Wilson and his men
during these melancholy and miserable twenty days. Showers of rain
occasionally fell; they caught some water in their little sail, which
they drank, and put some into a small keg that had floated out of the
vessel. The sea was almost always breaking over the spars of the raft,
which was surrounded by voracious sharks.

The famishing sailors actually caught with a bowling-knot a shark eight
feet in length, with their bare hands, and hauled it upon the raft; they
killed it, drank the blood, and ate part of the flesh, husbanding the
remainder. In this way three other sharks were taken, and upon these
sharks the poor fellows managed to prolong their lives till picked up
(in sight of the land) in what may be termed the very zero of living
misery. Lieutenant Wilson and four seamen survived, and recovered their
strength. Order and discipline were maintained upon the raft;
fortitude, forethought, a reliance upon Divine Providence, and good
conduct, enabled these Englishmen to surmount such horrible sufferings,
while the Kroomen and Portuguese sank under them.

CAPTURE OF A SLAVE