and only clung to his breast an instant, when it died without a moan.

He found the sailors bringing up some fowlingpieces and powder, with a quantity of clothes and provisions, and stowing them in the boats, which were fitted with yard and stay tackle, and hoisted away. But the manner in which they had been secured on drifting made them unhandy, and a surge of the sea caught the bottom of the long-boat as it swung in the weather roll, and dashed it to pieces. The next wave grappled the ship, shook her from stem to stern, and flung her on a sunken rock. The terror of the crash was heightened by the conduct of the crew, who lost all self-control, "behaving like cowards," " and by the frantic cries of the women and children, the roar of the storm and the sea, the quivering of the ship, and the spectacle of the foaming waters, almost lighting up the darkness. "That horrible scene," writes Lieutenant Douglas, "baffles all description, nor can the most lively imagination conceive half its horrors.' Again and again the ship struck the rock, each time with the same violence and the same terrible effect. But she still drifted towards the shore, and this was not more than a quarter of a mile distant; so there were hopes that it might be reached in the remaining boat. It had hitherto been in shadow, but the moon now appeared, and showed a black iron coast, rising perpendicularly from the breakers. There could be no doubt that it was uninhabited, and every heart quailed at its bare wild

992

1 Copy of letter from Lieutenant Douglas to Captain Frazer, in the 'Douglas Papers.' 2 Ibid.

aspect, hardly less frightful than the gulf between. The Captain called on the crew to man the tackle and lower the boat, but only the two mates and the carpenter responded. These were joined by Lieutenant Douglas and two of his comrades, Lieutenants Caddy and Forbes; but their united efforts could hardly get the boat over the side. It then seemed that she would stave the ship, and Douglas jumped in to keep her off, followed by Forbes and Caddy. But the boat was already half full of water, and they were obliged to spring back, in doing which Douglas missed his footing and fell into the sea. The boat dashed against the ship the same moment, breaking in pieces, but he kept afloat by swimming till a wave lifted him up and Forbes seized his collar and dragged him on deck. This did not place him in safety, for the vessel was found to be sinking and every one expected instant destruction. A few awaited their fate with composure, some broke into a frenzy of terror, others threw themselves on their knees in prayer, and those who could swim stripped themselves for a last struggle with the waves. But the ship drifted on for a quarter of an hour and then settled on the slope of a bank, which kept her deck above water, and it became possible that she might hold together till daylight. "We stood during the remainder of that long, long night," says the letter of Lieutenant Douglas, "wet through with the continual dashing of the breakers, eagerly wishing for day." And day took away their last hope the hope that had buoyed them through the night; for it showed them the impossibility

1 Now General Forbes, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery.

of reaching the shore without assistance, the space between being studded with rocks, through which the high waves surged in floods, forming a caldron of foam; and they saw themselves cut off from escape within fifteen yards of the land. The situation nerved one of the crew with the courage of despair, and he suddenly jumped overboard and struck boldly out, rising on a high sea and wrestling with the waves. He disappeared in the surging foam, but rose again, lifted himself over the breakers, and gained the beach. Here he was caught by a rushing surf, which dashed him against the rocks, and he was seen no more.

His progress had been watched from the ship as if every life depended on his-with strained eyes and bated breath. They were so absorbed by the sight that they heeded neither the drenching spray from above nor the quivering of the ship under their feet, and they burst into a cry as they saw him perish. But he had gained the beach before he was swamped, and this brought forward one of the artillery officers, who undertook to make fast a hawser to the shore, and thus rescue all. The name of this brave lad was Barclay, and his good nature had won the esteem of every one on board; but he could not be dissuaded from the step he proposed, though eyes filled with tears as he threw off his clothes. He took an affecting leave of his brother officers, gave one look round, and plunged into the sea. They watched for his reappearance, but only to see him throw up his arms and sink for ever.

The horror of the incident was scarcely felt in the danger of the moment, for a mountainous wave struck the ship, and threatened all with the same fate. Lieu

tenant Barnes was washed out of the forechains, where he had posted himself to watch Barclay, and engulfed in the sea. Another wave broke over the deck and tore Mrs. D'Ellmonville from the arms of her husband, sweeping her overboard in the same way, and a soldier's wife was seen holding her two children above the wave till they sunk together. Sea upon sea struck the ship, and successive breaches carried off half a dozen others, Lieutenant Barclay's servant following his master and bearing with him one of the boys who had accompanied Lieutenant Douglas aloft.

All were drenched to the skin and almost frozen with exposure, while they had now been many hours without food, but the motion prevented them going below for supplies, and they famished with abundance at hand. In this extremity the mate secured a piece of raw pork and a cheese which he saw floating in the scuppers, and these were cut up and distributed amongst the company, every one receiving a share. It formed the only meal of the day, and again night closed around, while the storm raged unabated.

The prospect of another night on the wreck appalled the bravest, and the women became stupified with terror, crouching over their children, whose cries they could not still. The wind howled through the rigging; the sea washed the deck, or burst against the bulwarks, throwing over torrents of spray; the masts threatened to snap or go by the board; and the roar of the breakers was deafening. The after part of the ship began to settle, and every lurch shook the cabin bell, which rang disinally, and blended with the whine of Douglas's dog, seeming to knell their doom. A sailor

made a push at the dog, and shoved it overboard to see if it would reach the shore; and soon it was heard from the nearest point, where it remained all night whining and howling. Such were the sights and sounds for hour on hour.

The women lost their hold of the ropes and were washed overboard, with one exception: nor did the strongest men expect to see morning. Four of the crew determined to seek refuge below, and contrived to descend the main hatchway, where they obtained a light, and broke into the store-room. Here they found a cask of rum, and their draughts were deep and long, till they became mad drunk; and the gale brought up their shouts of laughter, mingled with curses and snatches of song. It was like the revelry of demons, exulting in the darkness and tempest, and heightening their horrors. But these orgies hushed as the night advanced; nothing was heard but the raging of the storm, and the hatchway gave out the silence of death. The drunkards had sunk into sleep, and two of them never awoke.

The weather moderated towards morning, and it became possible to move about the deck, which suggested immediate action; and Lieutenant Douglas proposed the construction of a raft capable of bearing two or three men, who might aid the rescue of the rest. His counsel was adopted, and two of the crew succeeded in landing. But they wandered off inland, without carrying out their orders, and regardless of shouts from the wreck and the Captain's signals, which they showed no intention of obeying. Their desertion caused the more dismay, as the wreck was found to be sinking, and the chance of escape lessened with