436 



AUDUBON 



the high banks taking in their lading of gypsum. We 

 thought the appearance very singular, but we were too 

 late to watch the tide that evening. Next morning we 

 resumed our station, and soon perceived the water iiow- 

 ing towards us, and rising with a rapidity of which we 

 had previously seen no example. We planted along the 

 steep declivity of the bank a number of sticks, each three 

 feet long, the base of one being placed on a level with 

 the top of that below it, and when about half flow the tide 

 reached their tops, one after another, rising three feet in 

 ten minutes, or eighteen in the hour; and, at high water 

 the surface was sixty-five feet above the bed of the river! 

 On looking for the vessels which we had seen the preced- 

 ing evening, we were told most of them were gone with 

 the night tide. 



But now we are again on board the " Fancy ; " Mr. 

 Claredge stands near the pilot, who sits next to the man 

 at the helm. On we move swiftly for the breeze has 

 freshened ; many islands we pass in succession ; the wind 

 increases to a gale ; with reefed sails we dash along, and 

 now rapidly pass a heavily laden sloop gallantly running 

 across our course with undiminished sail; when suddenly 

 we see her upset. Staves and spars are floating around, 

 and presently we observe three men scrambling up her 

 sides, and seating themselves on the keel, where they 

 make signals of distress to us. By this time we have run 

 to a great distance; but Claredge, cool and prudent, as 

 every seaman ought to be, has already issued his orders 

 to the helmsman and crew, and now near the wind we 

 gradually approach the sufferers. A line is thrown to 

 them, and the next moment we are alongside the vessel. 

 A fisher's boat, too, has noticed the disaster; and, with 

 long strokes of her oars, advances, now rising on the 

 curling wave, and now sinking out of sight. By our mut- 

 ual efforts the men are brought on bo?rd^ and the sloop is 

 slowly towed into a safe harbor. An hour later my party 



