de l'Homme_ had
taken a few days before: "Poor English, come up quickly; we are all
lost!" Presently, the ship struck on a bank of sand, nearly opposite the
town of Plouzenec. Cries of dismay were now heard from every part.
Signals of distress were fired, and several of the guns hove overboard.
Many of the people were soon washed away by the waves, which broke
incessantly over her. At daylight the shore was seen covered with
spectators, but they could afford no assistance. In the meantime, the
stern was beaten in by the sea, and no provisions or water could
afterwards be obtained.

At low water an attempt was made to reach the shore, but two boats which
were brought alongside drifted away and were dashed to pieces on the
rocks. A small raft was constructed to carry a hawser to the shore, by
the aid of which it was hoped that preparations might be completed for
safely landing the people. A few sailors having embarked on it, the rope
was gradually slackened to allow it to drift to land; but some of these
people being washed away, the rest became alarmed, cast off the hawser,
and saved themselves. After a second unsuccessful attempt with a raft, a
petty officer attached a cord to his body and tried to swim on shore;
but he was soon exhausted, and would have perished, but that he was
hauled back to the ship.

On the second day, at low water, an English captain and eight other
prisoners launched a small boat, and landed safely. Their success
restored confidence to the multitude, proving, as it did, how easily all
might be saved, if proper means were quietly adopted. But discipline and
order were wanting; and attempts made without judgment, and without
concert, ended in the loss of all who made them.

Perishing with cold, and thirst, and hunger--for the ship, her stern
now broken away, no longer afforded shelter from the waves, and they had
tasted nothing since she struck--the unhappy crew saw a third day arise
upon their miseries. Still the gale continued, and there was no prospect
of relief from the shore. It was now determined to construct a large
raft, and first to send away the surviving wounded, with the women and
children, in a boat which remained. But as soon as she was brought
alongside, there was a general rush, and about a hundred and twenty
threw themselves into her. Their weight carried down the boat; next
moment an enormous wave broke upon them, and when the sea became
smoother, their corpses were seen floati