A NIGHT'S PEEIL. 143 



a most alarming effect on her immersion. It became 

 evident that we must at once get rid of the weight, 

 and that it must be done without any additional 

 strain. Our only plan was to slip the cable, and let 

 both it and the anchor go by the run. This I accord- 

 ingly did, but not even in this extreme peril without 

 a pang of regret. Being relieved, she rose instantly, 

 and in a moment was before the wind again. It had 

 been a narrow escape for us, and, but that we had 

 chosen a smooth place, we must have been swamped 

 there and then. She had shipped a great deal of 

 water, and we had hard work to clear her ; and then 

 once more all our work to begin again, for she shipped 

 seas almost as quickly as we could bale them out. 



For some little time we worked like men, and as if 

 we really thought that we might work to good pur- 

 pose. But soon it became quite manifest that we 

 must be beaten. Our utmost exertion barely sufficed 

 to keep her clear; and any little respite that we 

 allowed to ourselves begat a terrible accumulation of 

 water. This could not go on long. Hamilton was 

 the first to admit this conclusion, and to give up the 

 struggle for existence. I observed the particular 

 moment when hope died within him, and noted it 

 by the token of his sinking listlessly on the locker, 

 and expressing in his countenance no sign of interest 

 in our proceedings. To him there remained no more 

 of the interest of speculation ; there was for him but 

 one idea, that of death, present and painful. I can- 



