250 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ Vor. III. 
a leak, and was half filled with water before it was observed. The pumps 
were all set agoing, but were of little use, so that after having thrown all 
the heavy artillery and some other things overboard, we found that the 
only way to save ourselves was to crowd sail to the land and run the vessel 
ashore; but it was the opinion of all that she would go to the bottom 
before this could be effected. While dread and consternation were 
depicted on the countenance of every one, I was surprised to find myself 
the least moved on the occasion, which must have been owing to my 
having been so much exposed and inured to danger some time previous. 
At a time when all were agitated in a less or greater degree, some 
stripping to swim, others cursing, swearing and upbraiding their com- 
panions for not working enough at the pumps, others praying, besides 
some who were drinking, I looked calmly on the scene, after I had 
become conscious I could be of no more use. When we were at the 
worst, and expecting every one to go down, one boat which was our last 
hope broke adrift; then indeed our situation was a dismal one. The 
cries and shrieks of a naval officer’s lady with three children affected me 
much more than my own condition. It was really a piteous sight; the 
mother held two of her children in her arms, while the other little inno- 
cent was making a fruitless attempt to stop the water with her hands 
which was running into the cabin, and already flooded it to the depth of 
several inches. “She did,this,’ she said, “to prevent the water from 
drowning her mamma.” At last, to the inexpressible joy of all on board, 
the vessel struck upon a sand bank within fifty yards of the shore. The 
difficulty now was how to be conveyed to land, which it was desirable 
should be done with immediate haste, as we every moment dreaded being 
dashed to pieces by the violence of the surf of the lake. In this situa- 
tion we should have been much at a loss, had not Captain Montresor of 
the Engineers, bravely undertaken to swim to shore, to endeavour to 
bring off the boat which had stranded there. The distance was consider- 
able and the waves running high, and there was much danger of Indians 
being there on the watch; he, nevertheless, accomplished the bold adven- 
ture, and brought off the boat, by which means we ail got safely on shore. 
Expecting the Indians would certainly come upon us, we fortified our 
position in the best way we could, with barrels of provisions, etc. The 
necessity of the measure was soon apparent, for we were soon attacked 
by a large body of them who had watched our movements, waiting 
doubtless till an opportunity offered of our being more off our guard, 
which, in fact we were at that moment. Several of us were walking along 
the beach, when we were of a sudden alarmed by the cries of the savages 
which made every one take to his heels as fast as possible to gain the 
breastwork. JI had very nearly fallen again into their hands on this 
