350 SIR JOSEPH BANKS. 



at once. Nothing could possibly be more desperate 

 than this appearance of things. Nevertheless, the sense 

 of imminent danger produced the strictest discipline ; 

 no attempts at insubordination were perceivable ; nor 

 any discontent ; but rather an alacrity, approaching to 

 cheerfulness, was shown by all ; and it was observed 

 that their awful situation restrained any loose or pro- 

 fane expressions, so that not an oath was to be heard 

 any more than a murmur. To lighten the ship, was now 

 the first object. Every thing, therefore, was thrown 

 overboard which could be spared, guns, heavy lumber, 

 ballast, stores; and yet two tides elapsed before she 

 could be got afloat. The moment of her floating was 

 truly an anxious one ; for the water had gained so fast 

 that there was a great probability of her going down 

 when no longer supported by the rocks. Every one 

 saw in his neighbour's countenance a reflection of the 

 despair he felt himself; but none gave way to such 

 feelings, and the suspense continued in silent anxiety 

 and dread. To their exceeding relief, at ten in the 

 morning, when she rode in deep water, the leak was 

 found to gain no faster than before, though her bottom 

 was by that time considerably damaged. The water, 

 however, could only be stemmed by the unceasing- 

 labour of the crew at the pumps night and day. The 

 men were so exhausted, that finding the leak still gain 

 upon them, they were on the point of giving it up in 

 despair, when one of the midshipmen suggested the 

 having recourse to an expedient which he had seen 



Practised on a voyage to America, called fathering. 

 b consists in drawing under the ship's bottom a sail in 

 which there are stitched down oakum, flax, dung, and 

 other thick and light substances. The motion of the 

 leak draws in the sail with its stuff, and thus stops or 

 lessens the leak. He represented this process as having 

 proved so successful when he saw it tried, that the 

 vessel was allowed to make her homeward voyage 

 without further repair. Happily, being now tried, it 



