152 DIFFICULTIES OF THE VOYAGE 



We had been very quiet for the space of half 

 an hour, when we heard something give way, 

 and at the same time some one called out " An- 

 chor's gone." What were we to do ? was our 

 first consideration: we had no other anchor, and 

 our windlass was also carried away ; there was 

 likewise a heavy swell from the south. We or- 

 dered the steam to be got up instantly, but had 

 only one hour's fuel on board. This was ef- 

 fected ; but, during the process, we had drifted 

 into three fathoms water, among the rollers. 

 The little iron vessel laboured strenuously 

 against the powerful swell. Lieutenant Allen, 

 who had now the temporary command of the 

 vessel, to take her to Fernando Po, determined 

 on standing out to sea, to get a good offing. Six 

 signal-guns of distress were fired, but were not 

 heard by the pilots at Bonny, or by any English 

 vessel. 



At daylight the next morning, all were anx- 

 ious to see a sail or descry land, but neither 

 was visible ; and, to add to our forlorn situation, 

 we had only ten gallons of water for twenty-three 

 persons, besides three horses and two goats. If 

 we had been many days out, the probability is 

 that we should have been obliged to eat horse- 



