eiving they had no means left them ever to leave the island,
and we on board utterly unprepared to struggle with the fury of the seas
and winds we were now exposed to, and expecting each moment to be our
last.

CHAPTER 28.
ANSON CHEERS HIS MEN--PLANS FOR ESCAPE--RETURN OF THE CENTURION.

The storm which drove the Centurion to sea blew with too much turbulence
to permit of either the Commodore or any of the people on shore hearing
the guns which she fired as signals of distress, and the frequent glare
of the lightning had prevented the explosions from being observed; so
that when at daybreak it was perceived from the shore that the ship was
missing, there was the utmost consternation amongst them. For much the
greatest part of them immediately concluded that she was lost, and
entreated the Commodore that the boat might be sent round the island to
look for the wreck; and those who believed her safe had scarcely any
expectation that she would ever be able to make the island again; for the
wind continued to blow strong at east, and they knew how poorly she was
manned and provided for struggling with so tempestuous a gale. And if the
Centurion was lost, or should be incapable of returning, there appeared
in either case no possibility of their ever getting off the island, for
they were at least six hundred leagues from Macao, which was their
nearest port; and they were masters of no other vessel than the small
Spanish bark, of about fifteen tons, which they seized at their first
arrival, and which would not even hold a fourth part of their number. And
the chance of their being taken off the island by the casual arrival of
any other ship was altogether desperate, as perhaps no European ship had
ever anchored here before, and it were madness to expect that like
incidents should send another here in a hundred ages to come; so that
their desponding thoughts could only suggest to them the melancholy
prospect of spending the remainder of their days on this island, and
bidding adieu forever to their country, their friends, their families,
and all their domestic endearments.

A MELANCHOLY PROSPECT.

Nor was this the worst they had to fear: for they had reason to expect
that the Governor of Guam, when he should be informed of their situation,
might send a force sufficient to overpower them and to remove them to
that island; and then the most favourable treatment they could hope for
would be to be detained prisoners for life; sin