SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT. 29 



of the vessel was seen to be inevitable, he was advised 

 to save himself by the boat, or, at least, to make the 

 attempt. He spurned the counsel, refusing to set the 

 example of deserting the ship and abandoning the larger 

 portion of the crew, who could have no hope of escape. 

 He continued to the last to exhort those on board not 

 to give way to despair ; and firmly upon the deck of 

 his vessel he awaited, with magnanimous resignation, 

 the termination of the catastrophe. He could not endure 

 the apprehension of a reproach for leaving his ship, 

 even when hope was extinguished. The master, named 

 Richard Clarke, was one of those preserved in the boat. 



During two days, in this destitute situation, and 

 without provisions of any kind, they drifted before the 

 tempest. It was feared the boat could not live much 

 longer in such a sea unless lightened, and one of the 

 party, by name Headley, proposed that lots should be 

 drawn, and those who drew the four shortest of the 

 number should be thrown overboard. Thus a better 

 chance would be afforded to the survivors of keeping 

 afloat and reaching land. The master nobly answered, 

 " No, we will all live or die in company ! ; The con- 

 duct both of the captain and master of this vessel 

 exhibited that striking heroism to which bravery in the 

 field of battle is but secondary. 



The third and fourth day passed over the heads of 

 these unfortunate men without sustenance. They picked 

 up the weed borne on the surface of the foaming waves 

 around them, and eagerly devoured it, drinking the 

 sea-water. Their strength was rapidly leaving them, 

 and death, in its most fearful form, was before them. 

 The man called Headley, and another, died on the fifth 

 day. All wished it would please God to take them out 

 of their misery. Since they had left the ship, the sun 

 had been but once visible. All the nights but one had 



