200 WRECK OF THE ALMA,. 



children. Wine, which was also to be had, no one could 

 stand; it heated the blood to such a degree that those 

 who tried to drink it got ill. The first two days all went 

 passably well, but then great lassitude and despondency 

 began to set in. Faithful old servants refused to 

 perform small services, even though gold pieces were 

 offered them. Even the sheep and dogs, which had 

 been brought to land, lost all vitality. They pushed 

 with resistless force under the tent-covers, and chose 

 rather to be killed than subjected to the pitiless rays 

 of the sun. The pigs alone excelled even the human 

 beings in endurance; they kept incessantly exploring 

 the island, until they dropt dead in their struggle for 

 existence. 



On the third day a small number of us , who 

 still possessed sufficient force and self-control to per- 

 form work when the sun was low, succeeded in 

 breaking through the outer wall of the ship and 

 obtaining access to the ice-room. Certainly there was 

 no longer any ice to be found there, but a moderate 

 quantity still of cold water. This was likewise reserved 

 for the numerous women and children, but every one 

 who had assisted in the work received as reward a 

 glass of cold fresh water. Many years after I have 

 often gratefully remembered that refreshing draught 

 when tormented and parched with thirst. 



When the fourth day passed without prospect of 

 release , dull despair took possession of even the 

 stoutest hearted. A steamship , whose smoke we 

 descried in the far distance had gone its way without 



