158 A NIGHT OF SUSPENSE. 



of the pleasantest. The mate was for running 

 the vessel ashore, as the only possible chance of 

 saving ourselves ; and something decisive was as- 

 suredly required to be done. But, believing that 

 to run the vessel ashore would be certain death, 

 • I ran to the cabin, and seizing pistols, threatened 

 to shoot the first man who disobeyed orders. 

 We were now among the breakers ; both our 

 anchors were gone, and to prevent her from 

 going further was our only chance. We had 

 two field-pieces on the quarter-deck, and these 

 I ordered to be taken forward, and the cable to 

 be bent to them, determined to try if they would 

 hold the vessel. No time was lost in securing 

 the cable to them, and they were thrown over- 

 board. Happily for us, they held the vessel 

 through the night ; but the interval which was 

 passed until daylight was one of awful suspense. 

 The cabin-boys were in tears, the Kroomen 

 quite stupified and the mate useless and bewil- 

 dered. The latter, no doubt, gave what he con- 

 sidered the best advice in such an emergency ; 

 but it had a very dangerous tendency. Some 

 few of the Kroomen might indeed have escaped, 

 being excellent swimmers ; but it would have 

 been utterly impossible for the white men to 



