290 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



sportsman. When flushed, they fly with great vigor and swift- 

 ness, and where the trees and bushes are not too dense, afford a 

 very good mark. 



Ath. — This morning, the wind being fair, we took the pilot on 

 board, and at 8 o'clock, stood out. While in the middle of the 

 passage, the breeze fell very light, and our vessel began to swino- 

 towards the high and dangerous reef which was just beside us. 

 For myself, I gave our good ship up for lost, and was waiting to 

 see her dashed upon the rocks, which I thought was inevitable. 

 This was evidently the opinion of our captain also. As he 

 stood upon the rail, looking out ahead, and casting his eyes 

 anxiously upon the sunken rocks under our quarter, I perceived 

 his countenance change ; but still he was calm, and gave his 

 orders, in obedience to the signals of the pilot, with coolness 

 and precision. At the instant when I fancied, (and I believe cor- 

 rectly,) that we were in the most imminent peril, a light breeze 

 struck our sails, which were soon filled, and the ship made some 

 headway ; then followed a strong puff", and in about five minutes 

 more, we were past all danger. The captain sprang down 

 from the rail, ejaculating, " thank God, thank God !" and he 

 had reason. A fine ship, a valuable cargo, and many lives still 

 more valuable, in all probability, depended upon that single puff 

 of wind. 



After congratulating ourselves upon our escape, we all turned 

 anxiously to look at the situation of a whale ship, which at- 

 tempted the passage a few minutes after us, under the direction 

 of a deputy appointed by the authorized pilot. While in difficulty 

 ourselves, we had enough to do to look after our own ship, but 

 now that it was past, all our sympathy was excited for our fellow 

 probationer. He appeared to have more wind than ourselves, 

 and was coming out beautifully, when suddenly, from a cause 

 to us unknov/n, he sheered towards the reef, and the next mo- 



