454 



EFFECT A LANDING. 



May 



condition, but might prevent their drifting past the rocks and 

 nearer to the shore ; both anchors, however, were kept in readi- 

 ness, in case the water astern should deepen, which might have 

 happened had they struck upon an isolated shoal, like the 

 Dormido. 



Soon after the moon rose, at about two in the morning, land 

 was seen astern of the ship, not far distant. It seemed to be 

 rather extensive, though not high ; and as there was no longer 

 any doubt of their having struck upon the mainland, better 

 hopes of saving life relieved the torturing, anxious suspense 

 they had hitherto endured. Daylight shewed them the shore on 

 which they were. Near the ship lay an extensive sandy beach, 

 and beyond it, gradually rising in the interior, a thickly 

 wooded country appeared to reach to distant mountains. The 

 mizen-mast was then used to form part of a raft ; the jolly- 

 boat was lowered over the stern ; and in her Mr. A. Booth 

 (mate), after a long struggle, reached the shore, with the end 

 of the deep-sea lead-line. Mr. Gordon (midshipman), next tried 

 to land in another boat, to assist in hauling a rope ashore, but 

 the boat was upset, rolled over and over, and Mr. Gordon and 

 one of the men were drowned. The other man was saved. Mr. 

 Gordon was one of the most active and able young men of his 

 age, and very much esteemed by all his shipmates.* His fellow- 

 sufferer, John Edwards, was one of the best men in the ship. 



A stream of tide or current, setting two or three knots an 

 hour, along the shore, much increased the difficulty of reaching 

 it, or of assisting those who were making the perilous attempt. 

 Meanwhile, each succeeding heave of the sea forced the ship 

 higher upon the sandy beach, and rendered the situation of 

 those on board less critical. 



The men who reached the land safely, hauled stouter ropes 

 ashore with a line ; rafts were then made ; the large boats 

 got overboard ; the sick landed, and a party was sent ashore 

 to protect them. A few Indians appeared at a distance, whose 

 approach, with numbers of their countrymen, was a serious 

 evil in prospect. 



* He had anxiously sought to go in the first boat. 



