WBECK OF THE MEDUSA. 



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nounced the dark reflections that agitated him. Some persons of 

 a firEher character joined me in consoling these unhappy people. 

 At first our arguments were useless to calm their apprehensions ; 

 and, though we fully partook of them ourselves, a greater degree 

 of mental energy enabled us to dissemble them ; in consequence, 

 with a firm countenance, and consolatory words, we gradually 

 brought them to more reasonable sentiments ; but we never could 

 wholly dissipate the terror so horrible a situation naturally in- 

 spired. However, we succeeded in keeping up the courage of 

 these men, by persuading them in a few days they would have an 

 opportunity of revenging themselves on those who had so shame- 

 fully abandoned us. I own, this spirit of vengeance animated 

 every one of us, and we poured vollies of curses on the boat's 

 crew, whose fatal selfishness exposed us to so many evils and 

 dangers. We thought our sufferings would have been less cruel, 

 had they been partaken by the frigate's whole crew. Nothing is 

 more exasperating to the unhappy than to think those who 

 plunged them into misfortune should enjoy every favour of fate. 

 At last our soldiers and sailors began to encourage one another, 

 and their imaginations were raised to ecstacy ; it is in such immi- 

 nent danger one may remark the great ascendancy of mental 

 above physical energy. In this case a few intrepid men suffice to 

 recall their courage ; their firm countenance soon calls back 

 strength and energy, in place of despair and weakness. What 

 influence has not a courageous chief over those he commands ! I 

 will not (nor no one can) flatter himself with always possessing 

 sufficient firmness calmly to observe the moral and physical 

 changes that take place around us ; I talk to men who have stud- 

 ied nature, and who well know that no mortal can brave with 

 impunity the most urgent calls of nature, joined to the prospect of 

 the most eminent and frightful danger ; for my part, less struck 

 than those about me, in more than one instance I have been able 

 to read in their countenance, the dreadful ravages occasioned by 

 despair and total privation of food. After the first enthusiasm, 

 the soldiers and sailors came to themselves ; our first thoughts and 

 efforts were directed to the means of gaining the land to procure 

 provisions. The imperious desire of self-preservation silenced 

 every fear for a moment ; we put up a sail on our raft, and every 

 one worked with a kind of delirium; not one of us then foresaw 

 the peril that surrounded us. 



