of Lord North's Island. 233 
side. But as he had only the small complement of thirteen men, 
he considered it prudent to keep them off, which he did by 
firmg a few six-pound shots in an opposite direction to the canoes 
some of which were.then within pistol-shot. At the same time his 
attention was suddenly arrested by hearing cries in the English lan- 
guage from some persons in the canoes, begging to be taken on 
board the ship; a boat was despatched from the ship towards the 
canoes, in order to ascertain the cause of the cries, when it was 
found, that there was an American in one of the canoes. The ship’s 
boat was sent back a second time, with strict orders to act with 
caution, and the man, having got from the canoe into the sea, was 
taken up by the boat and brought on board the ship. He then 
informed the captain that there was another of his countrymen in 
the canoes. It was instantly decided, that, if the canoes could be 
dispersed, every thing practicable should be done for the release 
of the other captive. The canoes were all dispersed but three, 
and the ship’s boat being again despatched in search of the re- 
maining seaman, soon found him, but in a most deplorable con- 
dition, afflicted with a fever from the effects of a miserable sub- 
sistence. Both of them were entirely naked, and had suffered 
severely under the burning sun of that latitude; and the last of 
them would not probably have survived more than two or three 
days longer. 
By the humane attentions of Captain Short and his officers and 
crew, the two Americans gradually recovered their health, in some 
degree, and were at length enabled to reach the shores of their 
own country, where they arrived in feeble health and in a most 
destitute condition, and were obliged to throw themselves upon 
the charity of their countrymen. They were made known to me, 
in Boston, by the owner of the ship in which they had been 
