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the fmall breath of wind which had jufl rifen failed 

 us in our greateft need. 



Had the calm continued for ever fo fhort a while, 

 there had been an end of us. A moment after our 

 fails filled a little, and we had a mind to bring the 

 (hip about ; but me, contrary to cuftom, refufed to 

 flay, and that twice running a certain proof that 

 the current which acled upon her was very ftrong. 

 We now thought ourfelves paft all hope, becaufe 

 we were too near the rocks to rifk wearing her ; but 

 after all we had no other method left. We therefore 

 fet hand to the work, more that we might have no- 

 thing to reproach ourfelves with, than from any 

 hope of faving our lives - 5 and in that very inftant 

 we experienced the truth of this maxim, that God 

 helps thofe who help themfelves. The wind Ihifted 

 to the north, and frefhned by little and little, fo 

 that towards feven o'clock in the evening we had 

 quite cleared the point of Anticofti, which had filled 

 us with fo much apprehenfion. 



This ifland extends for about forty leagues from 

 north- eaft to fouth-weft, a! moil in the middle of 

 the river St. Laurence, being at the fame time ex- 

 tremely narrow. It had been granted to the Sieur 

 Jolier, on his return from the difcovery of the 

 Miffiffippi, a prefent of no great value ; this ifland 

 is abfolutely good for nothing. It is ill wooded, its 

 foil barren, and without a fingle harbour where any 

 velfei can lie in fafety. There was a rumour fome 

 years fince, that a filver mine had been difcovered 

 on it, and for want of miners a goldfmith was fent 

 from Quebec, where I then was, to make an effay 

 of it y but he made no great progrefs. He foon 

 perceived by the difcourfe of him who had given 

 information of- it, that the mine exifted only in the 



brain 



