NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SPITZBEIIGEX. 



j57 



impelled me to endeavour to obtain some repose. I 

 had already been fifty hours without rest, which 

 unusual exertion, together with the anxiety of mind 

 I endured, caused my legs to swell, and become so 

 extremely painful, that I could scarcely walk. 

 Spreading, therefore, a mattrass upon a few boards 

 laid on the snow, within one of the tents, notwith- 

 standing the coldness of the situation and the ex- 

 cessive dampness that prevailed from the constant 

 fog, I enjoyed a comfortable repose of four hours, 

 and arose considerably refreshed. 



Immediately afterwards, (about 8 P. M. of the 1st 

 of July,) I proceeded with all hands to the ship, 

 which, to our surprise, we found had only sunk a 

 little below the 16 feet mark externally, while the 

 water but barely covered a part of 'tween decks with- 

 in. Perceiving that it was not likely to sink 

 much farther, on account of the buoyancy of the 

 empty casks, and of the materials of which the ship 

 itself was composed, we applied all our purchases ; 

 but, with the strength of above 150 men, we could 

 not heel her more than 5 or 6 strakes. When thus 

 careened, with the weight of two anchors suspended 

 from the masts acting with the effect of powerful levers 

 on the ship, I accompanied about 120 men on board. 

 All these being arranged on the high side of the 

 deck, ran suddenly to the lower side, when the ship 

 fell so suddenly on one side, that we were appre- 

 bcnsive she was about to upset ; but, after turning 



