30 SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT. 



been starless, so that the darkness augmented their 

 sufferings. They were all, except the master, Richard 

 Clarke, praying for death. On the sixth day after the 

 wreck, Clarke, calm and collected, still endeavored to 

 comfort them with the hope of soon making the land. 

 They expressed their doubts that they should ever 

 again cast their eyes on the welcome shore. He told 

 them to throw him overboard if they did not make land 

 on the seventh day ; and this rallied their spiiits, for 

 they seem to have reposed great trust in his skill and 

 knowledge. 



The seventh day broke, and one hour before noon 

 they got a sight of the shore. In the afternoon they 

 lauded, but were so weak that it was with difficulty 

 they could assist each other out of the boat. They, fell 

 on their knees and thanked God for their deliverance. 

 The stronger then helped the more feeble to a brook, 

 where they refreshed themselves with the water, and 

 quenched their intolerable thirst. They gathered and 

 ate of some berries they found growing wild near the 

 spot. 



The next day, Clarke divided them into parties of 

 three, to search for food ; being to rendezvous together 

 at noon, with what they could collect, for the common 

 stock. They were fortunate enough to find a great 

 quantity of peas growing wild. For three days they 

 lived on these peas and on berries, and at night sheltered 

 themselves in a hut, rudely constructed of the boughs 

 of trees. 



They had preserved their boat, and, being a little 

 recovered from their former feeble state, they rowed 

 along the shore, with the design of making the Great 

 Bay of Newfoundland, which was then annually fre- 

 quented by Spaniards engaged in the whale fishery. 

 When hungry, they landed to eat bemes and peas 



