336 CAPTAIN CAETWRIGHT'S 



panied by a heavy gale of wind dead on the shore ; 

 but at mne o'clock, judging that we were abreast 

 of the start; a full council was called, to deter- 

 mine what we should do, when every man except 

 general Arnold, unanimously concluded, that it 

 would be better to put before the wind and make 

 the land at all events, than to keep the sea in our 

 crippled state, as we did not think it possible to 

 clear Portland; in which case, we must run on 

 shore in the night. Having made our election, we 

 bore away; and never did I see so much anxiety 

 in the countenances of men, as appeared in every 

 one on board; for every minute we expected to 

 see a rocky shore not far distant, and most likely 

 to run upon it. At two in the afternoon the fog 

 cleared away, and we then got sight of Berry 

 Head, with Tor Bay right a head. A frantic joy 

 now pervaded every one, almost to madness, and 

 continued for near an hour; by which time, we 

 had four fishing-boats from Brixham along-side, 

 and in a short time, all the passengers, except 

 general Arnold and his servant, got into them 

 and went on shore; leaving the vessel safe at an 

 anchor in Babicam Bay. At six o'clock I landed 

 at Brixham, and regaled myself on a luxurious 

 and plentiful dish of beef-steakes; which was the 

 first good meal I had made, since the commence- 

 ment of our misfortunes. Here I learned that 

 great numbers of vessels, particularly Newfound- 

 landers, had been lost, and others greatly dam- 

 aged in the late gales; one belonging to this port, 

 got in here this morning, a greater wreck than 



