ll the provisions that could be got out of the hold.

To expedite this proceeding we got another hawser carried on shore. Our
lives might depend on the amount of provisions we could save. All day
we worked on, till towards evening the water had risen so much in the
hold that nothing more could be got out. The heat was intense, but so
important was the work that we scarcely stopped even to take food. No
one had thought all this time of the captain and mate, the real cause of
their misfortunes. Suddenly I recollected that they had been left in a
side-cabin asleep. I hurried down. I was but just in time; the water
was up to their heads, and in another minute would have washed over
their faces and drowned them as they lay sleeping off their debauch. I
shouted out their names, and called them to come on deck. They started
up, their countenances exhibiting their horror and alarm, as they
believed that the ship was sinking beneath them. Out into the water
they tumbled. The mate slipped, and caught hold of the captain to save
himself. Over they went, struggling together. I fancy that they
thought themselves overboard; right under the water they dragged each
other, once more to get their heads out, spluttering and shouting, and
swearing most fearfully. At last, fearing that they might after all be
drowned, I seized the mate, who was the smaller man of the two, and
dragged him on deck, calling out to O'Carroll to assist in getting up
the captain. He came to my assistance, and we hauled both the men on
deck. Their sea bath and the struggle had brought them to their senses;
but when, after staring around for some time, they saw that the ship was
a hopeless wreck, cast away on an apparently barren island, they very
nearly lost them again. To find fault with them at such a moment would
have been folly. "Come, I advise you to go on shore, for very likely
the ship will go to pieces during the night, if the wind rise again," I
said quietly. They were far from disposed to thank me for my advice,
though, after looking about for a few minutes, they took it, and were
hauled on shore. After collecting everything of value to be found in
the cabin, compass, charts, and some nautical books, I followed.
O'Carroll was the last man to leave the ship. William and his messmate
had been very active on shore, and got a tent rigged for the poor women
and children, and some food cooked for them by Jacotot.

No sooner was a fire ligh