d above the bulwarks. "I scarce know, lad," he replied. "The wind
may be falling, or it may be gathering strength for a harder blow. It
matters little, I guess, to most of us." And he again sunk down wearily
on the deck. How anxiously we listened to the wind in the rigging!
Again it breezed up. A loud clap was heard. I thought one of the masts
had gone by the board; but it was the fore-topsail blown to ribbons.
What next might follow we could not tell. The very masts began to
shake; and it was evident that the fire had begun to burn their heels.
Their working loosened the deck, and allowed more vent for the escape of
smoke. There was again a lull. The foam no longer flew from the
white-crested waves; gradually they subsided in height. The motion of
the ship was less violent, though she still rolled heavily, as if unable
to steady herself.

We at length began to hope that the final effort of the gale was made.
The day wore on--more persons died--the smoke grew thicker, and was seen
streaming forth from the cabin windows. Towards evening there was a
decided change for the better in the weather, and we saw the people in
the _Mary_ making preparations to lower a boat, and to heave the ship
to. Another difficulty arose: to enable the boat to come on board, we
must likewise stop the way of our ship, but we had not strength to heave
her to.

We were too far gone to feel even satisfaction as we saw a boat pulling
from the _Mary_ towards us. We put down the helm as she came near us,
and the ship rounded to. The fresh crew scrambled on board, and,
backing our main-topsail, our ship remained steady, a short distance to
leeward of the _Mary_. A few of the emigrants were lowered into the
boat; some of the crew remained to take care of us, and the remainder
returned on board in safety. This experiment having been successful,
another boat was lowered, and more of our people taken off. They
brought us also a keg of water; and so eager were we for it, that we
could scarcely refrain from snatching it from each other, and spilling
the contents. It occupied a long time to transfer the emigrants from
one ship to the other. They were so utterly unable to help themselves,
that they had to be lowered like bales of goods into the boats, and even
the seamen were scarcely more active.

It was thus dark before all the emigrants were rescued; and, what was
worse, the wind again got up, as did the sea, and prevented any
commun