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acceleration of the impetus； for； presently the heel became too
violent to allow of our keeping pace with it； and； before either of
us knew what was to happen； we found ourselves hurled furiously into
the sea； and struggling several fathoms beneath the surface； with the
huge hull immediately above us。
In going under the water I had been obliged to let go my hold
upon the rope； and finding that I was completely beneath the vessel；
and my strength nearly exhausted； I scarcely made a struggle for
life； and resigned myself； in a few seconds； to die。 But here again I
was deceived； not having taken into consideration the natural rebound
of the hull to windward。 The whirl of the water upward； which the
vessel occasioned in Tolling partially back； brought me to the
surface still more violently than I had been plunged beneath。 Upon
coming up I found myself about twenty yards from the hulk； as near as
I could judge。 She was lying keel up； rocking furiously from side to
side； and the sea in all directions around was much agitated； and
full of strong whirlpools。 I could see nothing of Peters。 An oil…cask
was floating within a few feet of me； and various other articles from
the brig were scattered about。
My principal terror was now on account of the sharks； which I
knew to be in my vicinity。 In order to deter these； if possible； from
approaching me； I splashed the water vigorously with both hands and
feet as I swam towards the hulk； creating a body of foam。 I have no
doubt that to this expedient； simple as it was； I was indebted for my
preservation； for the sea all round the brig； just before her rolling
over； was so crowded with these monsters； that I must have been； and
really was； in actual contact with some of them during my progress。
By great good fortune； however； I reached the side of the vessel in
safety； although so utterly weakened by the violent exertion I had
used that I should never have been able to get upon it but for the
timely assistance of Peters； who； now； to my great joy； made his
appearance （having scrambled up to the keel from the opposite side of
the hull）； and threw me the end of a rope one of those which had
been attached to the spikes。
Having barely escaped this danger； our attention was now directed
to the dreadful imminency of another that of absolute starvation。
Our whole stock of provision had been swept overboard in spite of all
our care in securing it； and seeing no longer the remotest
possibility of obtaining more； we gave way both of us to despair；
weeping aloud like children； and neither of us attempting to offer
consolation to the other。 Such weakness can scarcely be conceived；
and to those who have never been similarly situated will； no doubt；
appear unnatural； but it must be remembered that our intellects were
so entirely disordered by the long course of privation and terror to
which we had been subjected； that we could not justly be considered；
at that period； in the light of rational beings。 In subsequent
perils； nearly as great； if not greater； I bore up with fortitude
against all the evils of my situation； and Peters； it will be seen；
evinced a stoical philosophy nearly as incredible as his present
childlike supineness and imbecility the mental condition made the
difference。
The overturning of the brig； even with the consequent loss of the
wine and turtle； would not； in fact； have rendered our situation more
deplorable than before； except for the disappearance of the
bedclothes by which we had been hitherto enabled to catch rainwater；
and of the jug in which we had kept it when caught； for we found the
whole bottom； from within two or three feet of the bends as far as
the keel； together with the keel itself； thickly covered with large
barnacles； which proved to be excellent and highly nutritious food。
Thus； in two important respects； the accident we had so greatly
dreaded proved to be a benefit rather than an injury； it had opened
to us a supply of provisions which we could not have exhausted； using
it moderately； in a month； and it had greatly contributed to our
comfort as regards position； we being much more at ease； and in
infinitely less danger； than before。
The difficulty； however； of now obtaining water blinded us to all
the benefits of the change in our condition。 That we might be ready
to avail ourselves； as far as possible； of any shower which might
fall we took off our shirts； to make use of them as we had of the
sheets not hoping； of course； to get more in this way； even under
the most favorable circumstances； than half a gill at a time。 No
signs of a cloud appeared during the day； and the agonies of our
thirst were nearly intolerable。 At night； Peters obtained about an
hour's disturbed sleep； but my intense sufferings would not permit me
to close my eyes for a single moment。
August 5。 To…day； a gentle breeze springing up carried us through
a vast quantity of seaweed； among which we were so fortunate as to
find eleven small crabs； which afforded us several delicious meals。
Their shells being quite soft； we ate them entire； and found that
they irritated our thirst far less than the barnacles。 Seeing no
trace of sharks among the seaweed； we also ventured to bathe； and
remained in the water for four or five hours； during which we
experienced a very sensible diminution of our thirst。 Were greatly
refreshed； and spent the night somewhat more comfortably than before；
both of us snatching a little sleep。
August 6。 This day we were blessed by a brisk and continual rain；
lasting from about noon until after dark。 Bitterly did we now regret
the loss of our jug and carboy； for； in spite of the little means we
had of catching the water； we might have filled one； if not both of
them。 As it was； we contrived to satisfy the cravings of thirst by
suffering the shirts to become saturated； and then wringing them so
as to let the grateful fluid trickle into our mouths。 In this
occupation we passed the entire day。
August 7。 Just at daybreak we both at the same instant descried a
sail to the eastward； and _evidently coming towards us！_ We hailed
the glorious sight with a long； although feeble shout of rapture； and
began instantly to make every signal in our power； by flaring the
shirts in the air； leaping as high as our weak condition would
permit； and even by hallooing with all the strength of our lungs；
although the vessel could not have been less than fifteen miles
distant。 However； she still continued to near our hulk； and we felt
that； if she but held her present course； she must eventually come so
close as to perceive us。 In about an hour after we first discovered
her； we could clearly see the people on her decks。 She was a long；
low； and rakish…looking topsail schooner； with a black ball in her
foretopsail； and had； apparently； a full crew。 We now became alarmed；
for we could hardly imagine it possible that she did not observe us；
and were apprehensive that she meant to leave us to perish as we were
an act of fiendish barbarity； which； however incredible it may
appear； has been repeatedly perpetuated at sea； under circumstances
very nearly similar； and by beings who were regarded as belonging to
the human species。 ｛*2｝ In this instance； however； by the mercy of
God； we were destined to be most happily deceived； for； presently we
were aware of a sudden commotion on the deck of the stranger； who
immediately afterward ran up a British flag； and； hauling her wind；
bore up directly upon us。 In half an hour more we found ourselves in
her cabin。 She proved to be the Jane Guy； of Liverpool； Captain Guy；
bound on a sealing and trading voyage to the South Seas and Pacific。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 13 ~~~
CHAPTER 14
THE _Jane Guy_ was a fine…looking topsail schooner of a hundred
and eighty tons burden。 She was unusually sharp in the bows； and on a
wind； in moderate weather； the fastest sailer I have ever seen。 Her
qualities； however； as a rough sea…boat； were not so good； and her
draught of water was by far too great for the trade to which she was
destined。 For this peculiar service； a larger vessel； and one of a
light proportionate draught； is desirable… say a vessel of from three
hundred to three hundred and fifty tons。 She should be bark…rigged；
and in other respects of a different construction from the usual
South Sea ships。 It is absolutely necessary that she should be well
armed。 She should have； say ten or twelve twelve…pound carronades；
and two or three long twelves； with brass blunderbusses； and
water…tight arm…chests for each top。 Her anchors and cables should be
of far greater strength than is required for any other species of
trade； and； above all； her crew should be numerous and efficient… not
less； for such a vessel as I have described； than fifty or sixty
able…bodied men。 The Jane Guy had a crew of thirty…five； all able
seamen； besides the captain and mate； but she was not altogether as
well armed or otherwise equipped； as a navigator acquainted with the
difficulties and dangers of the trade could have desired。
Captain Guy was a gentleman of great urbanity of manner； and of
considerable experienc