have discovered us, as we had no guns on board, nor any
blue-lights or rockets, to make signals. We had four old rusty muskets,
it is true, but there was scarcely powder enough found to fire them a
dozen times. For the best part of the night we were employed in
defending our lives from the attacks of the drunken emigrants. After
being defeated they would return to the cabin to search for more liquor;
and, not finding any, they would again make a rush upon us, declaring
that we knew where it was hid, and that they would have it. I must do
the crew justice to say, that, with few exceptions, they all kept
sober,--and those under Mr Bell behaved very well. The second mate's
conduct was above all praise; for, though repeatedly invited by those in
the larboard-quarter boat to come off and to take command of her, he
refused to quit the ship.

At length, when the maddening effects of the spirits had worn off, the
emigrants sank down exhausted on the deck, and, had the fire then
reached where they lay, they would have been burnt, unconscious of their
fate. We were now left to consider what was next to be done. Gradually
the fire continued creeping aft, as we could tell by the increasing heat
of the lower deck; and I can scarcely describe the feelings I
experienced as, putting my hand down on the planks, I found them growing
hotter and hotter. The hatches over the hold were, however, wisely kept
closed, to prevent the flames from bursting forth. The ship was already
so full of water, that it would have exposed us to the danger of
drowning if we had pumped more into her. A second day dawned on the
same scene.

We anxiously scanned the horizon in the hopes that a ship might appear
to rescue us, but not a sail was in sight to relieve our anxiety. As
the people woke up from their slumbers, the general cry was for water;
but no water was to be procured. They had uselessly squandered what
might have preserved them. "Water! water!" was repeated by parched
mouths, which were fated never to taste that fluid again. Some stood
aft, and shouted to the captain, who sat comfortably in the boat astern,
and made gestures at him for water. Some, in their madness, broke open
the surgeon's dispensary, and rifled it of its contents, swallowing the
drugs indiscriminately. The effects on them were various, according to
the nature of the drugs. Some, overcome with opium, fell down speedily
in a state of stupor; others were paralysed,