Shipwrecked 



bringing up at intervals with a jerk. I thought 

 it was about time to expostulate, and suggested 

 his giving her another shackle of chain to 

 ease her, which, however, he declined to do, 

 knowing that he would have extra trouble in 

 getting it in again should he have done so. 

 When it was dark I told him he ought, seeing 

 that the steamer might come in any minute, to 

 put up his riding light, but this remark he 

 sneered at too, so I left him to his own devices. 

 I did not get to sleep until past twelve that night. 

 Whilst my two companions snored like hogs in 

 their bunks, I was kept awake by the anchor 

 dragging. At last, as it seemed to cease, I 

 dropped off to sleep, and it could only have been 

 for a couple of hours before I was awakened by 

 the horrible sound a ship makes when she takes 

 the ground. This effectually woke up the men. 

 Here we were, broadside on to the beach, with 

 every gigantic sea pounding us, and lifting the 

 ship farther on to the rocks. Thank goodness ! 

 we had struck on the top of the tide, and were 

 therefore close up to the steep cliffs which 

 towered above us. It was my turn now, and I 

 rubbed it into that pair of land-lubbers for 

 their gross carelessness and laziness. They 

 were very humble, and asked me what I meant 

 to do. I told them I was going to try and get 

 ashore. It is curious what small things make 

 an impression on one under these conditions, 



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