nged heavily; and as she tore her way through the waves, she
rolled her yardarms almost into the water, so that it was difficult to
keep the deck without holding on. Nearly at every roll the sea came
washing over the deck, and sweeping everything away into the scuppers.
One might have supposed that the water would have put out the fire, but
it had no effect on it; and it was evident that the coals in the hold
were ignited, and that they would go on burning till the ship was under
the waves. I had sunk into a sort of stupor, when I heard Mr Bell from
aloft hail the deck. I looked up and tried to comprehend what he was
saying. It was the joyful intelligence that the _Mary_ was ahead, lying
to for us; but I was too much worn out to care much about the matter.
We again came up with her; but though the wind had somewhat fallen, the
sea was too high to allow a boat to carry us off the wreck.

We acquitted the kind master of the _Mary_ of any intention of deserting
us. The officer of the watch had fancied that he saw us following, and
had not, consequently, shortened sail. Oh that day of horrors, and the
still more dreadful night which followed! The fire was gaining on us:
every part of the deck was hot, and thick choking smoke issued from
numberless crevices. With dismay, too, we saw the boats on which our
safety so much depended dragged to pieces, as they towed astern of the
_Mary_, as they could not be hoisted on board, and their wrecks were cut
adrift. Even the crew, who, more inured to hardships, kept up their
spirits the best, could but arouse themselves to take a short trick at
the helm. What would we have given, I repeat, for a drop of water! A
thousand guineas would willingly have been exchanged for it. The value
of riches, and all else for which men toil and toil on while health and
strength remain, were becoming as nothing in our sight. One thing alone
called any of us to exertion. It was when some wretch, happier,
perhaps, than we were, breathed his last, and the shrieks and wails of
his relations or friends summoned us to commit his body to the
ocean-grave, yawning to receive us all, the living as well as the dead.
I must pass over that night. It was far more full of horrors than the
last, except that the _Mary_, our only ark of safety, was still in
sight.

Another dawn came. The gale began to lull. I was near Derrick. I
asked him if he thought we had a chance of escape. He lifted his weary
hea