114 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



" Shipwreck !" The captain, however, did not lose 

 his coohiess and presence of mind, but immediately 

 ordered the sails to be struck. The vicinity of 

 the supposed danger gave wings to the sailors, and 

 the ship was speedily turned aside from the rocks. 

 Thus we had indeed happily escaped the danger, 

 and every one breathed more freely after a moment 

 which had so powerfully affected us all by the 

 image of impending destruction ; however, to sail 

 with greater security during the night, it was 

 thought necessary to put out a small boat to ex- 

 amine the supposed rock. The question now was, 

 whether any of the officers would expose himself 

 in so small a bark to the immense agitated ocean. 

 Lieutenant Logodetti, obeying the summons of the 

 captain, came forward ; and accompanied by some 

 sailors, provided with a compass, a hghted lantern, 

 and some provisions, went on board the boat to 

 proceed towards the supposed breakers. While 

 this was passing, the moon broke forth from the 

 clouds and shed its light on the sea, ruffled by the 

 S.E. wind. The whole crew of the ship, which 

 with only a few sails set, had till now sailed on 

 another tack, looked with anxious expectation at 

 the boat, whose course was indicated by its lantern. 

 We were all uneasy about the fate of our compa- 

 nions who were exposed in a small open boat to 

 the ocean, perhaps to a near rock ; sometimes we 

 saw the distant light vanish, then its re-appearance 

 filled us with joy, but at length we lost sight of it 



